stuck in Denver

[billy]

On my way from Nebraska to Denver to pick up my hotrod
My ram Cummins 3500 pooped out.
It started missing and smoking badly so I tried replacing the fuel filters and various other things
No dice
It will run fine for five miles or so and then poop out again
Used AAA to tow it to a shop
It took three hours for a big enough tow truck to get to me
Now I am just waiting for the call to find out how much money....
Crap

 

[I-R-POPS]

I feel your pain. You better be prepared the injection pump blues.
If you hadn't moved to never never land, I could have saved you half a pot
full of money.

Keep your chin up, it could be worse. You could be driving a Ford.

 

[JBailey]

This may seem weird, but did you check the coolant? Not sure about the Dodges, but on Powerstrokes if the coolant is low they run and act how you're describing.

 

[Yankee Transplant]

JB that would be crappy if all it needed was a half gallon of water , Billy I hate it for ya ... nothin worse that your truck being down and in some body else's hands to fix

 

[Willowbilly3]

What year is it?

 

[Bamamav]

It could well have a low water sensor, lots of newer diesels have them. They will shut it down in a short time to protect the engine. I'm thinking it might be the transfer pump, Dodge seems to have a lot of trouble with them.

 

[Yankee Transplant]

2001 willowbilly3

 

[Yankee Transplant]

Bama is this a pump on the frame or in the tank ?

 

[Bamamav]

I think it's on the frame near the tank, but I'm not 100% sure on that. A friend of mine has a 2010 Dodge 2500, he just had to replace the transfer pump on his. He did it himself for less than half what the dealer wanted.

 

[Yankee Transplant]

that pump went out on our fire truck (bush truck) and it didnt shut down just wouldnt get over 30 mph it took them a while to get that one figured out . I had no clue what was wrong with it , the chevy place put there computer on it and in 10 min. they found what it was .

 

[Hollow65]

My 04 cummins had the mechanical pump on the block. Tap it with a screwdriver. I run an airdog fuel system now. Mounted behind the cab with full access under the bed to the water spectator, fuel filter. Cost like $600 or so.

 

[I-R-POPS]

He put a FAS transfer pump on it not long ago. I would bet money
that's where his problem lies. Problem is when the transfer pump
fails is starves the injection pump which is lubricated or not lubricated by the fuel transfer pump pressure or lack of.

The only way to diagnose is to check pressures. He said it was running fine,
stopped for fuel and things went pot.

Lots of expensive possibilities. I just hope he has someone with a little knowledge and lot on integrity working on it. Not just a parts changer.

 

[Hollow65]

Being an 01 it's most likely injection pump. That was the first electronic fuel system for the cummins 98-02 I think.

 

[billy]

is the high pressure fuel pump
from the dealer here it is $3800 installed at the shop
I am putting the truck in storage until I can buy my own part
for $1000 and then have it installed for $500
my wife is coming to get me

 

[Bamamav]

Ouch! That's why I will never own a diesel pickup, too expensive to maintain.

 

[Dirtyrat]

Ouch! That's why I will never own a diesel pickup, too expensive to maintain.

These are the vehicles that extended warranties are great for!

 

[I-R-POPS]

That's what I thought was going to be the verdict Bill. That engine is
one of the best on the road but it does have it's quirks as we have discussed.

Did they check the pressure of the transfer pump? If it is junk, you have a
subject of conversation with the people you got it from. The fine print on
your invoice from them will probably have a disclaimer in it concerning the
Injection Pump but I'd still talk to them. They will probably claim it was starved for fuel tho.

I'm sorry you have this problem but you're not the first and won't be the last for sure.

When you get ready to do your pump, let me know and I'll see what I can get you one for. You might also consider having yours rebuilt. Sometimes you can save a little that way. Its no big deal replacing it but it is critical to make sure you don't have a problem somewhere else. Like transfer pump, filtration, supply lines in good shape and not sucking air.

The fuel system maintenance and service is more critical on this engine than the lubrication system which it relatively trouble free.

You also might consider a fuel pressure gauge in the cab. But you'd have to watch it to catch a pressure drop. Most people don't do that until something is wrong with the way the engine is running and then they look at the gauges.

If you get fed up with the Pickup I'll buy it back. You got it for a good price and it is worth fixing. Don't give up on it would be my suggestion.

Let me know also if you want me to bring you your "stuff" We can work something out. I'm easy.

 

[billy]

Thanks pops
Yeah I will have you bring my stuff
I love this POS truck and will keep it
The way I look at it
This thing has had over a quarter million trouble free miles and this is the first expensive repair.
In the big picture
That ain't bad.
It sucks right now but all things will pass.

 

[billy]

I am amazed that I have not gotten ****ed off about this
Either I am calming down in my old age or just getting better at controlling my temper

 

[I-R-POPS]

I am amazed that I have not gotten ****ed off about this
Either I am calming down in my old age or just getting better at controlling my temper

And you said you'd never grow up.
It seems to me that the older I get the more I realize what is really important
in life. It's only a truck.