Hi, new guy again. Wanted to bounce my scenario off y'all. 97 Ram 1500 5.2, stock coil, replaced plugs cap and rotor and wires a few hundred miles ago. Have routed the plug wires per the TSB. Truck ran like a top. Issue now is I've been letting my very lazy son in law drive it to work ( works at a gas station btw) few days ago went to run compression test, that's all I did. I didn't even pay attention to the fuel gauge, performed test , jumped in to start it , low fuel light on and ran rough as a cob. and backfiring. I double and triple checked plug wires going to correct cylinder's and all boots seated all the way. it briefly started sounded better so took for road test, made it a few miles and started running very poorly had to stay in 2nd to even keep it moving immediately turned around to get to house. Made it to last 4 way stop before the house, truck died would not re start. made him come tow me with wife's SUV lol. Pulled codes, P0300, P0307, P0305, P0307. Noticed fuel odor, pulled plugs on odd bank, 3 out of 5 were fuel soaked. Let sit overnight went out in morning and started but she was very unhappy just for grins pulled valve cover and #7 intake spring looked kinda weird like maybe broken, pulled spring and it was fine.put every back together and re rain compression test, 1,3,5,7 all between 120 and 125. Wondering if pulled crap up from bottom of tank . Light has never been on in 11 years I've owned truck. And figured if that was the case why would it only effect one bank. or maybe killed injectors from plugging up? Forgot to mention before road test 10 gallons of fuel and 1 bottle of heat added to fuel tank. he has been only one driving it short distance to his work. But that has stopped. No excuse for a low fuel light to be on if you work at a gas station. sorry venting lol. Just seeing if anyone has any ideas from my gone with the wind length post lol. Thanks. Sorry forgot to add truck has single car, bought it in Virginia, I live in Missouri and closest and fastest to get me in for inspection caught that it has no converter, due to very tight budget had to buy cheapy walker y pipe w single converter and new O2 sensors this was about a thousand miles ago. Thanks again.
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When my low fuel light comes on, I still have 8 gallons in the tank. (34 gallon tank though) The smaller tanks are likely similar. There are several filters in the tank though, before the gas even gets to the pump, so, I really don't think that is the problem. Now, if the gas were contaminated with water.... I could see how getting low on fuel would make that show up quicker. Still and all, I would be tempted to first check fuel pressure, and see what it looks like, and second, have a look at the the two wire engine temp sensor. Of course, that's the one beside the thermostat housing, behind the a/c compressor..... and the most fun to get to. Make sure it is in decent condition, and plugged in good.

 

Thanks, I'll check those tomorrow once monsoon stops. On the rare occasions he does fuel it it's from Casey's where he works. I have no idea about their fuel quality.i just keep scratching my head about it being only on one side

 

Well, the odd side is the side where the fuel inlet to the rail is. There is a small crossover tube at the back of the rail to get to the other side. And, I think the inlet is right between 5 and 7......

 

Gotcha, thanks , I know I needed to check fuel psi but live in very small town and even the chains in next bigger towns don't stock them, will be ordering one online and expedite shipping. To me it sounds fuel related kept beating myself up thinking could have been something from after the compression test I did lol

 

Don't just replace the pump out of hand. At least, not until you verify it is indeed the problem. Can you rent/beg/borrow a fuel pressure gauge anywhere?

 

Oh I wasn't going to, I've had it down once after I got it just to replace pump because I had done so much other work to engine and was staring at a trip from VA to MO with it. Wasn't fun. Just for grins is there a preference from y'all about dropping from underneath versus taking 6 foot bed off to get to pump if it's that. I appreciate the help.

 

Actually, you can just unbolt the side of the bed where the pump is, loosen the others, and tilt the bed up. (support it REALLY well though, while not specifically designed as such, it does make a pretty good guillotine.....) Given the mileage though... not sure how much rust you will be dealing with. My bed bolts would NOT come out.... and mine only had around 150K or so.... Of course, I live in the rust belt too.....

 

Yeah was worried about hardware breaking loose, it's been a southern truck all its life.

 

At the risk of asking a dumb question, if the odd bank is possibly getting fuel starved , could the 3 injectors still be soaked with fuel? Since this started when I get out of truck after having ran it I get very prominent fuel odor.