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JSAZ
Dodge Dakota
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5/22/2008
18:45:32
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 Subject: Fuel pressure test
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Message:
I've been having slow starts for about a week now with my '97 3.9, 150k miles. The battery is fine & the starter is cranking normally. I pressure tested using the test port on the fuel rail & it was between 43 & 46 psi at idle. When it was turned off, the pressure dropped to zero immediately. Most manuals say it is either the pressure regulator/filter or the injectors. How can I adequately test the injectors to see whether they are leaking or not? (I'm hoping it's not the pressure reg/filter, so I don't have to drop the tank!) Any help would be great!
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chrimarl
Dodge Dakota
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5/22/2008
22:07:44
|  RE: Fuel pressure test
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I had the exact same problem on a 93 3.9. I pulled the Injectors and found that some were cracked but no sign of leaks. Bought new ones from 50MS cause it was time, but the same prob. It was the Fuel Pump not holding the pressure. It most likely wouldn't be the filter cause that would restrict the pressure and yours is fine. The regulator doesn't stop the back flow on a 93. On a 97 can't say for sure.
Hope that helps.
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JSAZ
Dodge Dakota
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5/22/2008
22:52:31
| RE: Fuel pressure test
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Message:
Thanks for the info. I'm going to change out the fuel pump assembly (includes filter & regulator) tomorrow. I hope this will solve the problem, if not I will have to pay closer attention to the injectors.
Anyone who has dropped the tank and done this before? I'm doing it alone, so taking the bed off is not an option.
Any tips would be appreciated!
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sport02
Dodge Dakota
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5/23/2008
00:25:07
| RE: Fuel pressure test
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Message:
best advice would be to get someone to help you and take the bed off. Unless you have a lift this job is going to be hell!! and even if you have a lift you'll still need your tank to be almost completely empty because of the weight and then you need some kind of jack stand that is used to remove trannys or tanks. Taking the bed off is going to be much faster and easier! Also another thing to consider is the straps holding your tank in are more than likely rusted to the point they are not going to loosen up and you will need to cut them thus needing to buy new ones and they can be expensive. If you take the bed off you don't need to worry about that plus you don't have to disconnect fuel lines, etc.
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Warren
Dodge Dakota
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5/23/2008
07:40:53
| RE: Fuel pressure test
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I dropped my tank alone and had the pump replaced and tank back on in 2 and 1/2 hours, alone. Use a good floor jack and place it under the center and you won't need anyone to help, it's easy and safe.
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chrimarl
Dodge Dakota
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5/23/2008
10:16:14
| RE: Fuel pressure test
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Message:
I dropped my tank alone also. Not too bad, but you will need to get the rear end up high enough to get the tank past the rear end. The hardest part was getting the metal shroud on the drive shaft side of the tank strapped back on. The Rear strap bent a little. Also make sure you align the Pump the same as the old one. Not aligned correctly and the Float will hit the Tank Wall and not raise correctly and the Fuel Gauge will show empty all the time. Float facing too far towards the rear end and your Fuel Guage will move wildly when the gas moves around in the tank. Going downhill it will show empty and uphill will show full. On Mine the Fuel Lines, both Out and Return have plastic clips holding them on. They get brittle so be careful not to break them, I suggest getting new ones ahead of time and save yourself some hassle in case one breaks.
My next project is to put an access door in my bed to get at the Fuel Pump. Should have done it 2 pumps ago.
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TexasTodd
Dodge Dakota
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5/23/2008
11:54:43
|  RE: Fuel pressure test
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It is not hard to do. Just takes time.
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JSAS
Dodge Dakota
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5/23/2008
15:31:13
|  RE: Fuel pressure test
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Well, I finally finished siphoning 5 gallons out of my tank (it only had 1/8 tank). Went to loosen strap bolts, got one nut off easily, but can't get strap loose from the little tab on the frame. The other side is worse, the stud is spinning when I try to loosen it. I'm going to try to wedge a screw driver in to pry the one loose from the frame (with a little wd40). I guess I could just back the whole stud out of the other side???
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not me
Dodge Dakota
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5/24/2008
01:00:32
| RE: Fuel pressure test
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Message:
"I finally finished siphoning 5 gallons out of my tank"
the biggest reason it is soooooo much easier to remove the bed!
8 bolts and and the tail light wires un-plug
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sport02
Dodge Dakota
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5/24/2008
01:16:30
| RE: Fuel pressure test
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Message:
diddo!!!
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JSAZ
Dodge Dakota
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5/24/2008
16:27:43
|  RE: Fuel pressure test
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Update: I finally finished swapping out the fuel pump assembly. I will agree with those who said removing the bed would be easier...but I didn't have anyone to help me with it, so I had to drop the tank.
I learned...the straps are a pain in the rear! The electrical connector with the red locking mechanism is not much better (it has to be taken all the way out in order to disconnect, which is difficult to do underneath the truck). It is easier to put the straps back in the slots before putting the tank back in place.
I don't know if it worked yet, because in the process of putting the heat shield back on under the straps I tweaked my shoulder pretty bad & had to quit...I'm going to give it a couple days rest & finish up on Monday. It stinks to be literally 10-15 minutes away from completing the project and then be unable to!
Thanks for all the help and suggestions!
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sport02
Dodge Dakota
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5/25/2008
01:03:49
| RE: Fuel pressure test
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oh well, it's good experience! You'll know now if you ever have to do it again or help someone else. Hope it fixes the problem.
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Darwinsgreed
Dodge Dakota
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12/10/2013
14:20:51
| RE: Fuel pressure test
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So what was the outcome of this adventure, did the fuel pump solve the problem? I was really getting into this story, plus I'm having misfire problems with my 2003 Dakota as well.
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Please hell
Dodge Dakota
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12/13/2013
10:19:55
| RE: Fuel pressure test
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Message:
From Message
Jon
Gen II
12/13/2013
10:17:46 Subject: RE: Fuel pressure test
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I have a 97 3.9 I hit a pot hole and now the fuel pump won't
work, I've replaced the fuel pump with two new ones thinking
one might have been bad, ran a hot wire and ground wire to
bypass everything just to make sure it worked and it didn't. It'll
run for 10 minutes then die out. It shows 38psi when the fuel
pump should be close to 50. Any idea what would cause this?
I've heard maybe the crank or cam sensor?!
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Chloe
Dodge Dakota
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3/04/2016
10:52:01
| RE: Fuel pressure test
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Message:
My 01 Dakota Quad 2wd 3.9l recently takes longer cranks to start. The first 2-3 times after starting, it sputters and dies. If it keeps running, and I drive off, it sputters as I give it gas. The more I gas it the more it sputters with some backfiring If I go uphill, it really sputters. Do you think my 3yr old fuel pump is going out, or something else?
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