911 update.... 04 dead in the water

[jelag]

I wrote about my 04 pulling a trailer dying along side the road with no codes and it would start and run for a few seconds and die again....

I was emailed today to post this as an update for those who'd like to know... and since my first post was in 911 I felt it should go here... if now please move it.....

I had installed a helper Holley Red pump when the last lift pump failed and was replaced with the injection pump under warrranty at 90K miles...

The truck died returning from Canada with the trailer behind it at 144K miles... we towed the truck back and went back after the trailer just this side of the border....

Upon inspection we found that there was little or no fuel... we'd open the drain at the fuel filter and it would come out in dribbles...

Opening the fuel line at the helper pump found that the pump ran and pumped a large amount of fuel..... easily a gallon a minute....

We pulled the lift pump to find that it wouldn't function... wouldn't hum, or do anything... we powered it up on the bench and it as dead.... and we COULD NOT blow through it... so it failing wouldn't allow he helper pump to run the truck....

We went to purchase another lift pump and found it was no longer being made and Dave Smith has 8 or so on the shelf at about 200 bucks each... my local dealer wanted 680 for the change over kit but didn't have one...

The change over kit is the new fuel sender and wiring to put the pump in the tank.. like my sons 04.5 and my 05.....

We later found the kit to be on national backorder but Dave Smiths computer guy said there was one the shelf in SD and we called that dealer... he sold me the kit for 280 something plus next day air charges.... Dave Smith said the kit was on backorder with 600 kits and no deliver.... the kit has the pump, float, and extra wiring and hoses to convert the truck from a lift pump to a pump in the tank... I'm sorry I don't have the part numbers with me..

We flew the kit in... fixed the truck and left the helper pump on the frame with plugs in the lines and the wiring hooked up except for the fuse.... so if it fails again we can maybe use it....

We learned that the helper pump won't pump enough fuel through the lift pump to keep the truck running....

I've since been to one of my vendors in LA.... actually here now.... and he was telling me he builds gauges and pumps for OE D/C for the cars... I sent him my old gauge assembly and he thinks he can match it up to the gauge/float/pump assembly they build.... they don't use part numbers we know or use.... If I can get my hands on this new assembly I'll offer it as a service part when the pump in the tank fails..... more on this later... but this is at least 2 months away.....

BTW I've now pulled the siskiyou's and the grapevine.. nice hills with the new setup and all seems to be fine....