Heard so much good news about the cummins motor I decided to buy one and get into 5th wheeling. Found a nice looking 2003 4x4 3500 with 106 gal aux tank, 5th wheel hitch, 6 speed manual, and 98500 miles. Bought the truck from the orig. owner in LA area and drove it the 250 miles to our home in Henderson NV. The truck seemed to start hard, as in, needed to be cranked for 10 seconds or so before it would start. That problem got worse and worse until it finally wouldn't start. Not knowing anything about diesels I used some common sense and decided to change the fuel filter, which seemed to fix the problem....at least for a day. The same problem developed and I'm now at a loss as to why the vehicle won't start. I let it sit for a few days then tried to start it....nothing. I try a few more times....nothing. I decide to check the fuel filter again. I take it our and look at it and reinstall it and ......it starts. A friend checked the fuel pressure at the filter and then after it. The reading is 9.5 psi. Within spec's I'm told. Anyway, I take the truck to the dealer who runs the 101.00 diagnostic test on it and tells me the clutch fan is bad! I ask them if any other codes show up and the answer is no. What that has to do with the starting problem....I don't know. In any case, I do not authorize the 550.00 replacement of the fan and go to pick up the truck... but now it won't start. They run more tests and tell me the fuel pump in the tank is shorting out and that's my problem. I auth. the 600.00 job to "fix it" and they now tell me that it did not fix it and they want to change two more parts at an additional cost of 800.00! I told them to put my old part back on and give me my truck. I'm waiting to hear from the upper management on that. If anyone has any suggestions on what I should do, please share them. Your input would be much apprecaited. Sorry for the length of the expanation. George

 

Well, I dont know how much you like to work on trucks, but for $600, I would ditch the stock lift pump and go with a FASS pump or anything aftermarket because stock liftpumps (especially in earlier years) SUCK. Ask them what the problem is... Sounds definately like a fuel problem and its not the CP3 of the costs would be in the thousands..

 

Thanks for your quick response. What's a CP3? Where can I get a FASS pump? The one they changed is in the fuel tank. Does this FASS pump also mount in the fuel tank?
George

 

FASS can be purchased all over the net. I would recommend Mark Craig (sponsor on the board), he works for DPP and they have great deals. The FASS is an aftermarket lift pump (from the tank to the injection pump). Your 03 had an external lift pump next to the tank...the newer 05's and 06 have an intake pump (and is actually the warranty work these days on lift pumps) but aftermarket is still better. The FASS gets mounted to the frame rail...pretty easy install really, just time consuming.

CP3 is the injection pump (dont quote me, im still new to it all too) and is freakin EXPENSIVE if it goes out.

 

Thanks again. The FASS, I'm told, is way noisy and I'm better off going with another line of pumps. I'll keep researching. Picked up the truck about an hour ago and it still has the same problem, the only difference is .......I'm 676.00 poorer because of their 101.00 diagnostic test and the 575.00 fuel pump they replaced in the tank. Should have known better then to take it to the dealer. It's in the driveway now and will stay there until I replace the fuel press. relief valve and fuel reg. on the inj. pump. tonight........myself! I'll post an update so others can learn something from my trial. George

 

I would make sure you get your old pump back and contact your local Bureau of Automotive repair and file a complaint gainst the dealership and demand your money back from them replacing a part that was not bad. (if indeed the part is still good) I can see charging you for initial diagnostic time, but for repairs that did not correct the problem and for false diagnosis. You are being taken for a ride allright

 

FASS is sorta loud cause its a metal bracket mounting to a metal frame...You can but rubber anything in between to help the vibration

 

There is a problem with the stock lift pump....I thought it was covered under the 100k warranty, there is a TSB....Get a FASS which is now quieter or a Glacier Diesel setup.....Anything is better than stock....then never go to the dealer again.....find a performance diesel shop near you and check on here for their reputation and enjoy your truck. ks

 

only thing covered for 100k is the motor...tranny is 70k along with the rear end. Everything eles is 36k

 

If that is true why did DC warranty the lift pump on my 2000 cummins with 85000 miles ??
Is the cp3 pump covered past the 3/36???
How did the dynostic test show the fan clutch was bad (its not electronic on the 03-04 right)??

 

beats me... All I know is that the cummins motor and its parts are related. If it comes from cummins to dodge to put into the truck, its covered under the 100k mile warranty. The tranny and rear end are covered under 7/70. Everything else is 3/36. Maybe you were lucky

 

Lift pump is apart of the fuel system, which is covered by the cummins 100K warranty!!

 

Fuel system and components thereof are covered by the engine warranty. This truck in question should have had a filter mounted pump unless it already had the update done. The dealership should have done the TSB and relocated the pump to the in tank version, for free under warranty because as this guy states his truck has 98.5k on it unless he didn't pay the extra buck or buck and a half for the transfer of warranty to the second owner in which case he could have done that day.

Next, the FASS is not as noisy as other pumps on the market. I mounted mine on a box rail just over the filler neck. That isolates it from the cab and the noise harmonic, what there is, doesn't transfer.

I would take ABC's advice, if you don't work on these yourself find a reputable shop that does and not the dealer. Anyone can throw parts at it for pete's sake.

 

Cool..i was under the impression that the fuel system was only part of the 3/36 warranty

 

Thank you all for the replys. The truck was checked out by Chapman Dodge and they concluded that in order to fix the truck the fuel transfer pump needed to be changed due to an internal short. I have the old pump and hope the dealer who now has the truck will be able to check it out to confirm. After the pump didn't fix my truck they said they wanted to change the fuel press relief valve and fuel control actuator........needless to say, it's at another dealership as I type. I pray that they can find it's problem. My good friend who is a professional, gas vehicle, mechanic referred me to his diesel mechanic ( where I should have taken the truck in the first place), since my friend also owns a Dodge diesel 02 model. I trust that at the very least I'll be given the truth about which parts are bad and what it will take to fix it. I'll find out next week and post the results. Thanks for your suggestions guys. George