Hello, and I love this forum. I think I might have a bad fuel pump. When I go to start my truck, it seems to crank 4 or 5 seconds before it will fire up. A friend told me to turn the key on and wait until I hear the electric fuel pump stop. Then turn it back off and repeat. I have to do this 3 times and then it starts right up. Is this a bad fuel pump? It seems as though it "loses its prime" after sitting for a few minutes. Is there a easy fix for this or do I have to replace the fuel pump? If I do, I assume I will have to remove the fuel tank to replace the pump. Its a 2001 Ram 2500. Thanks for any help or advice!

 

When my fuel pump went, it wouldn't run at higher speeds(65-75mph). The best way to tell is put a pressure gauge on the fuel rail.

 

Welcome to DF!

I agree (once again) with halfamil. Grab a Haynes manual, and follow the pressure testing procedure with a pressure gauge on your fuel rail's test port.

 

Thanks for the help. I'll do that this Saturday and let you know the results. I think though that there won't be any pressure until I turn the key off and on three or four times. Any bets???

 

Well sorry it took so long to reply. I drive OTR and usually am home only on the weekends. Checked fuel pressure its good only ONLY AFTER I turn the key on, then off, then on 3 times. If I wait for about 5 minutes then retest, the pressure is still good. If I wait longer than that, then I have to do the key thing again. Its the same during normal operation. If I shut it off and wait no longer than 5 minutes, it will fire right back up. Longer than 5 minutes or so, I have to turn the key off and on again! When I first turn the key on I can hear the fuel pump run for about 2 seconds, then stop. After I turn the key on for the third time, I can hear a the pitch in the sound change like it has finally built up pressure. To my way of thinking, (which has been known to be wrong in the past, LOL), it seems like the fuel is running back to the tank from the engine. Then the pump has to cycle those three times to pump the fuel back. Is there maybe a "check valve" or something to prevent this from happening or should I just get it through my head that I might need a new pump?

Thanks