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Dan M
Dodge Dakota
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3/25/2005
10:00:11
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 Subject: fuel pump ? electrical problem?
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Last weekend I finally got around to replacing my fuel sending unit. The low fuel light went out, but the fuel guage never registeres less than 7/8 of a tank. If I fill up, the guage registers just over the full mark (alway has), but it never registers when I am less than 1/8 from full.
For the last 3-4 weeks (even prior to replacing the sending unit), whenever I would run low (6-7 gallons of gas left in a 22 gallon tank) on fuel, the truck would start to miss out, idle bad, alomst die sometimes. It does this at any speed, cold or warm. The first time it happened on the highway driving 65-70. Whenever it does this, if I fill up, it runs fine until I am back down to the 6-7 gallon of fuel left. Last night, it started doing this on my way home. Once home, I put in 2 gallons of gas left over that I got for the lawn mower and the problem went away until almost all the way to work this morning. It appears to be related to the level of gas in the tank, but does not have to be full.
The truck is a '95 CC 4x4 with 3.9L auto. The fuel filter is part of the pump assembly.
Is this a fuel filter/pump issue or is this an issue with the electrical connection to the pump assembly? I am not sure if the drivablility issue is related to the fuel guage not working.
Any suggestions on how to troubleshoot is appreciated. I can always just replace the fuel pump assembly, but would rather not spend the money if that is not the issue.
Anyone ever just emptied their fuel tank and checked for contaminants? cleaned it out? Mine is a plastic tank.
- Dan M
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ehofer
Dodge Dakota
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3/25/2005
14:29:25
| RE: fuel pump ? electrical problem?
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theres gotta be another fuel filter on the truck other than the pump filter. change it.
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Figols
Dodge Dakota
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3/25/2005
15:01:45
| RE: fuel pump ? electrical problem?
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I don't know about the 95 Dakotas, but my fathers 95 Stratus only had an in tank filter as does my '00 Dakota.
It does sound like a classic fuel pump problem though. Rule of thumb for me has always been to replace everything at once if you have to drop the tank.
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Dan M
Dodge Dakota
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3/25/2005
21:23:55
| RE: fuel pump ? electrical problem?
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Did not mention that it does not always run bad. It starts when I have 6-7 gallons, always goes away when I fill up.
It does not have another fuel filter as far as I know, only the one in the tank.
- Dan M
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GT
Dodge Dakota
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3/26/2005
09:13:33
| RE: fuel pump ? electrical problem?
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I recently had the same problem as you. I have a '95, 3.9L 5-speed 4X4. I replaced my fuel pump three times in three years. The third time I replaced the pump, the motor started skipping around a quarter of a tank. I would keep the gas level above quarter tank-ran good. In the course of two months, I had to keep the gas level at half full before it would start skipping. I took the truck to the dealer. They dropped the tank and emptied the gas into two 5-gal. pails. The gas had water and rust particles in it. My options were: replace both filters on the fuel pump @ $96.00 or a new fuel pump @ $191.00. I had them replace the pump and clean the plastic tank. I haven't had any problems in six weeks and the fuel level has been below quarter of a tank a couples of times. Good luck-hope this helps you!
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Dan M
Dodge Dakota
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3/26/2005
15:05:49
| RE: fuel pump ? electrical problem?
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Thanks for that info GT. I think I have the same issue as you with the tank and fuel having crap in it. Next weekend I'm going to remove the pump, empty the tank and clean it.
- Dan M
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dan
Dodge Dakota
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3/28/2005
04:17:40
| RE: fuel pump ? electrical problem?
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Just remember not to look into the tank using your lighter to light up the inside...hehe Try to drive all the gas out of it. I know that I helped a friend change an in tank fuel pump and because of a baffle in the tank for filling we could not siphon the tank. That meant we had to drop the tank with all of the gas that was in it. Oh yeah find a buddy, it will make it a lot easier.
Dan
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MacDaddy
Dodge Dakota
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3/28/2005
08:50:29
|  RE: fuel pump ? electrical problem?
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Message:
I hadthe same problem My guage was all over the place.
I went and Bought a New pump from Carter and I have not had any more problems after I got the Pump installed correctly.
Yea It took me 2 times to get before the guage would read correctly. I just took my truck on a trip and it has been running great after I replaced the fuel pump.
95 5.2/5SPD/RC
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Dan M
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
3/28/2005
10:32:13
| RE: fuel pump ? electrical problem?
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I removed the bed to access the tank to replace the sending unit. Once the bed is removed, I can just loosen the pump and siphon the rest of the gas out. Then I can remove the tank and clean it. Then I can put it a few gallons of new fuel and test it with the bed off. This way, If i do need a new fuel pump, I can easily just go pick one up (i checked and some of the local places do stock it.
- Dan M
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gen1dak
Dodge Dakota
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3/28/2005
11:22:57
|  RE: fuel pump ? electrical problem?
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You HAD to remove the bed? Couldn't you just drop the tank? Seems like a lot of work.
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BlackDog
Dodge Dakota
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3/28/2005
13:06:32
| RE: fuel pump ? electrical problem?
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Message:
OK. Here we go with the fuel pump problems again. GT: which dealership? Most shops or all have a fuel tank pump that will drain the tank into fuel cans. Five Gallon Buckets??? WTF. Drop the TANK? That is muuuuuch more complicated than lifting the bed 10 inches, blocking it, and doing anything you need to do to the fuel lines, pump, tank, and a dozen other things. You can fix the dancing fuel gage problem while you're in there. Rub the eraser end of a pencil to remove the black carbon off the fan contact. Cut the fuel line outside of tank and install a fuel filter of your choice. Work smarter. And stop buying the cheepest gas you can find. The bed bolts need a small dab of blue stuff to lock the threads when you put them back in.
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Dan M
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
3/28/2005
13:23:45
| RE: fuel pump ? electrical problem?
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I've found it easier to remove the bed than drop the tank. I did not HAVE to, just chose too.
- Dan M
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B_Dog
Dodge Dakota
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3/28/2005
16:27:47
| RE: fuel pump ? electrical problem?
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Compared to dropping the tank, lifting the bed is a piece of cake.
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Dan M
Dodge Dakota
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4/03/2005
12:26:46
| RE: fuel pump ? electrical problem?
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Message:
I pulled the bed, emptied the tank, cleaned it. Put in new gas. Still the gas guage did not work. Truck still ran a little rough. I replaced the fuel pump. Gas guage works fine and it runs smooth as a baby's behind!
I recommend the fuel pump from napa. It's made by carters and is the same vendor as the ones that autozone and advance carry, but looks better. I didn't like the cheap looking filter on the autozone/advance pump (it was just a flat screen???) vs the napa pump which had the round one and was the same as the factory one. And the napa pump was like $15 more expensive.
- Dan M
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