Hello all, first time poster here.

My '98 Ram 1500 5.2L (26 gallon gas tank) doesn't start. It cranks, but then I realized that the fuel pump doesn't run when I put the key in the "on" position. I looked in the Chilton book and figured out that the procedure to get to the fuel pump is rather difficult for me, so I will probably take the truck to a mechanic to do the work. My question to you all is: Is there any way I can be sure that it is the fuel pump that has gone bad? I don't wana cough up 200 bucks for a fuel pump and have it be something else that is broken/messed up. Would something like this come up with the error codes? I could probably pick up a error code key tomorrow to check it out if that would tell me what is wrong. All input is appreciatated. Thanks.

959LoVeR

 

As far as I know no error codes for this. You can either have them check the fuse or relay for the fuel pump before you go as far as changing the pump its self.

 

first thing that came to my mine is your fuel pump relay has gone out.

 

yea if you didnt hear the pump come on then id check the fuze first,,,never seen one blow but its a start

 

pull the relay and jump it to turn the pump on. if you dont hear it, check the relay contacts to verify 12 volts is available, if so then you'd have to drop the tank, or take the bed off to get to the pump. some guys swear by the bed removal method, i'd drop the tank or take it to a shop.

I would also verify that you have no fuel pressure at the rail before dropping the tank

 

I already checked all pertinent fuses/relays, and they all seemed fine. My family had the fuel pump relay broken on another car so we already knew to try and bypass the relay, but still nada.



Would I be able to check this even though the truck won't start? If I can check it, then where exactly would I hook up the pressure tester?

Thanks.

 

The truck started today!!! What the heck is wrong with it? What could make it start sometimes and not start at other times? A loose connection somewhere? All help is appreciated, thanks.

959LoVeR

 

Ok, sounds easy, but did you check all your conections at the tank and along the frame to make sure all are connected good? Maybe the ground at the tank is coroded and only making contact part of the time. The pump could still be bad, it is still an electric motor, if it had time to cool or had enough voltage shot to it, could start up again. Remember the old fan in your house, when it would quit running, and your dad would spin it to give it a kick start and it would work again till you shut it off or it over heated. Also not sure if this could be it, but how about the ignition switch? If it is on its way out, it may not be making contact correctly all the time either. Just a few things to check.

 

maybe theres a harness somewhere related to your pump thats loose... get a chilton or haynes... whats different now? can u hear the pump kick on now? maybe the pump is sloweley dyin...

 

I didn't take anything apart yet. All I did was let it sit in the driveway for a day, then I tried starting it the next day then viola. My mechanic of a bro says that its probably a loose connection somewhere between the pump relay and the pump itself. I'll check the fuel pressure tomorrow to see if the pump is going back, and then I'll take it to my mechanic to fix everything. I'll post my results/further questions. Thanks.