1999 Ram fuel pump

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

Steve K - 08 Dec 2005 18:30 GMT

I was quoted $500.00 to replace a fuel pump in my 1999 Dodge ram 4X4
quad cab with a 26 gallon fuel tank. Although it may be completely
covered under my Guardian insurance plan.

Does that price sound crazy?

One other thing. For about 8 months now, my fuel gauge has not been
working correctly. I found this out when I ran out of gas with 1/4 of a
tank still showing on the guage. So I've been using the odometer since.

Now the fuel pump appears to have gone bad. Are the fuel guage and the
fuel pump related? Would it seem plausible that the fuel guage system
craps out 8 months before the fuel pump? And if I get a new fuel pump
will that automatically fix the fuel guage problem?

Thanks

Reply to this Message

TBone - 08 Dec 2005 20:10 GMT

> I was quoted $500.00 to replace a fuel pump in my 1999 Dodge ram 4X4
> quad cab with a 26 gallon fuel tank. Although it may be completely
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
> craps out 8 months before the fuel pump? And if I get a new fuel pump
> will that automatically fix the fuel guage problem?

That high price comes from the high price of the pump (especially if it's
from Dodge) and the pain in the a.s it is to replace it. You could probably
do better if you shop around. Your fuel sending unit mounts to the pump
assembly but IIRC, is not included when you get the new pump. There may
actually be nothing wrong with the gauge or its sending unit. The pump has
a pre-filter attached to the bottom of it and if that union failed, it is
possible that the pump will begin sucking air at 1/4 tank which would make
you think that the gauge was wrong. Does the gauge operate properly above
1/4 of a tank? If so, this is the most likely cause. Another thing that
could happen if it leaks there is that the pump now has to deal with all of
the crap in the tank that the pre-filter would have stopped and could cause
excessive wear to the pump and the main filter to plug up and stop flow to
the engine. There is sadly know way to know any of this without removing
the pump and the pump should be covered (minus any deductibles) from your
plan. The fuel sending unit is cheap compared to the pump and should add
nothing to the cost of labor so you might want to have it replaced since the
y don't last forever.

Signature

If at first you don't succeed, you're not cut out for skydiving

Reply to this Message

Coasty - 08 Dec 2005 21:52 GMT

>> I was quoted $500.00 to replace a fuel pump in my 1999 Dodge ram 4X4
>> quad cab with a 26 gallon fuel tank. Although it may be completely
[quoted text clipped - 33 lines]
> the
> y don't last forever.

I replaced mine this summer when it started to act up, I paid around $150.00
for the pump unit. Over all it was not a tough job took me about 4 hours
including draining the tank down.

Coasty

Reply to this Message

TBone - 08 Dec 2005 23:46 GMT

> >> I was quoted $500.00 to replace a fuel pump in my 1999 Dodge ram 4X4
> >> quad cab with a 26 gallon fuel tank. Although it may be completely
[quoted text clipped - 37 lines]
> for the pump unit. Over all it was not a tough job took me about 4 hours
> including draining the tank down.

4 hours at around $80 an hour plus the $150 fuel pump comes out to $470,
pretty close to his $500 estimate.

Signature

If at first you don't succeed, you're not cut out for skydiving

Reply to this Message

smk17 - 09 Dec 2005 01:18 GMT

> The pump has
> a pre-filter attached to the bottom of it and if that union failed, it is
> possible that the pump will begin sucking air at 1/4 tank which would make
> you think that the gauge was wrong. Does the gauge operate properly above
> 1/4 of a tank?

Yes, the fuel gauge works fine until it reaches 1/4 tank. Then the
gauge just stays there basically. When it was working correctly I would
hear a "ding" and a light would come on the dash saying the fuel was
low. Using the odometer as a fuel gauge, on a full tank it runs out of
gas after going 300-320 miles. But yet even when I keep driving it at
300 or so miles, meaning it is real low on gas, I haven't heard that
"ding" in many months.

Thanks for the info.

Reply to this Message

Carolina Watercraft Works - 11 Dec 2005 20:00 GMT

I just went through a similar situation...although I purchased a
replacement unit from NAPA. I've been going by the odometer
for a long time now. Once I dropped the tank and removed the
assembly, my only problem was a clogged filter which can be
cleaned very easily. It mounts to the bottom of the pump via
2 clips. Once that was cleaned and I removed the crap gas left
in the tank from the station, all was good. I then returned the fuel
pump assembly back to NAPA for a full refund. Napa unit is much
less.

As for the sending unit, you will see the obvious problem with that
when u take it out. I've got some pics I took of mine, to give you
an idea of what is possibly going on with yours, if you'ld like to see
them.. The sending unit is available seperately from Dodge and cost
is about $40.00. A little time and you can do it all yourself.

>I was quoted $500.00 to replace a fuel pump in my 1999 Dodge ram 4X4
> quad cab with a 26 gallon fuel tank. Although it may be completely
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
>
> Thanks

Reply to this Message