I just had my 2004 Dodge Ram 1500 in to the dealership for a serious detail job including the engine and underbody. When I went to pick it up the truck would not start and I am now told that the Electric Fuel Pump on it has gone and needs to be replaced. Is it possible that this was caused by the detail job that was done on the truck, or just a coincidence?

 

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Coincidence. Nothing a detailing job would do to cause this unless maybe they got water or something else in the PDC under the hood. Hope they didn't use a pressure washer

 

Absolutely it could have been caused by a under hood detail!!! If the PDC was already compromised by age and corrosion, any water coming in contact with it could cause the issue you are describing. Weedahoe, I wish you would consider someones question more carefully before answering. I love this site, and have learned much about my truck, very rarely do I have a question. Yesterday I lost all turn signals and hazards, and you suggested I check my fuses.. Come on, with all the info you have, you have to know 06 has tipm, and now you tell this guy his fuel pump not operating after an underhood detail is coincidence?? And then contradict yourself by saying I hope they didn't use a pressure washer?? Even if they didn't use a pressure washer, they certainly soaked the heck out of the engine bay.
Don't get me wrong, you certainly are a great help to a lot of people with your service manuals and other literature. But being a moderator and having 17k + posts, I would think you would have more insightful advise.
Being a moderator and a very popular person on this forum, I know I'm going to catch flack for this one, if not being outright banned. I like to think I have helped people on this site, and I do know from a few thank you's that I have. But when someone really needs help, the last thing they need is some bland generic guesses.
In my case, "check the fuses" was just that.
Sorry Weed, I had to vent, and I hope you don't take this as a slam, but as constructive criticism.

 

Thank you for the feedback so far. This is a frustrating position given this truck has never had an issue starting ever. The dealership tells me that this is 100% not related to the engine detail and polishing which I find completely unacceptable. They want $840+ tax to repair and am contemplating small claims court so all of your advice will be very helpful so that I am further educated to understand my position.

 

Wow, that's extreme considering you're going to have to prove the dealership damaged or caused damage to the vehicle thereby rendering the fuel pump inoperable.

Are you intent on suing for damages or a remedy?

FWIW, just because your vehicle has "never had a starting issue" doesn't mean, as was earlier stated, it's a coincidence. There is nothing in your post or your profile to indicate your location or the number of miles on the vehicle in question, all of which are factors.

 

That is the interesting point, proving a dealerhip wrong comes at a cost, which at this point I'm prepared to pay...and then make it very public. It seems that the failure happened while the truck was powered off after the cleaning....literally in the span of about 2.5 hours.

So if you picture the scenario- The truck was cleaned aggressively to get all the debris off the engine and engine bay. The truck is then fully cleaned in and out driven back to a parking spot. And then 2.5 hours later the fuel pump is considered dead.

There are a few things that could cause that pump to die I would think, shorting out from water at the PDC, just a bad connection or something got disconnected, the pump seiezd on its's own, over voltage (most likely not realistic?) Maybe water got into the gas tank...not likely again I would think.

Given that it broke in their care and its been a strong truck with zero signs of problems - Yes I'm prepared to sue/small claims but would rather a happy negotiation with the dealer.


is there someone with experience (deep experience) with this specific fuel pump and how they can fail. Engineers/Dodge mechanics?

 

Everyone has their own oopinion. I'm not here to ban anyone for their opinion. But do me a favor and read my post. I said what you already did. To recap what I said, IMO I feel it is a coincidence. However if during the detail they used a pressure washer, they yes, it could have caused an issue.

However, it could have already been an issue to begin with and it tipped the scale in the direction of failure. However, again, it could have been 100% coincidence. Good luck proving it.

 

As for a repair and resolution, go download a copy of the Service Manual from the links in my signature. Go the the electrical section and use it to find the relay for the pump in the PDC. Take a volt meter and test accordingly. If it is fine support the fuel tank and lower it. Of the four wires to the tank, use the Service Manual to find the pin output and find the one for 12v. Use the meter and have someone else turn the key on to see if voltage will be on the wire. Remember, it will only run for about 2 secs before the ASD relays turns it off.

Now, if you want, take an extra battery or charger or even jumper cables from your battery and jump 12v to the correct wire to the pump and see if you can get it to run and verify if the pump itself is good or bad.

There are pics in my signature of the tank pump and wiring

 

If you strike out with your claim then save yourself 600 bucks and do it yourself. Mines went bad me this winter. Just four bolts to release the straps and a couple of fuel lines to disconnect and the electrical connection. I think the pump costs me about 180. My pump worked but the filter gets too clogged after a while and it's all one unit.