Fuel starvation issue

[jtman04401]

I have read a few posts but have yet to find an answer so I will post my issue, hopefully someone can give me a positive answer.

I have a 95 Dodge 1500 with a 318 auto in it, 80k miles. The other day I was driving and it started to lose power.. almost like it was starving for fuel.. but I was driving on a slightly sloped grade so it kept its speed. If I floored it, it cut out. I was hoping it picked up a little water so I kept driving.. I cam to a hill.. not a BIG hill but a upward grade and slowly but surely it lost power to the point that it would bearly run. I kept feathering the gas, pumping it fast and it chugged about a 1/2 mile then stopped. 5 minutes later it started back up for about 3 or 4 seconds then died again. Well I had a friend come with a tow strap and we towed it about 500 feet to a parking area and left it. I came back later that night... about 4 hours or so it started right up and ran fine so I headed it back home.... about a 1/2 way home or so it did it again... So we hooked the tow strap to it again and towed it home. Now the truck runs great usualy. The low fuel light just blinked on as I was driving it home.. but I have run it for a few miles after the light came on many times before and had no issues. I read some posts on here saying that the 318 fuel pumps are known to do this when they are going bad.. when there is not enough fuel in the tank to cool them they overheat and die till they cool down. Well I picked up 6 gallons of fuel and poured it in and started the truck tonight. I let it run for 3 hrs at idle.. ran perfect. Revved it up b4 I shut it off... runs perfect. My question is this.. Is how this is acting the normal signs of a 318 fuel pump going bad? Also if it is any idea on cost of a new one? And can you purchase just the pump or do you have to replace the whole assembly? If not the pump... any ideas on what it might be?

Thank you for any info and help on this.

[BleedDodge]

If it's not the fuel pump it could be the catalytic converter at fault. Is your check engine light on?

That's not very many miles for either to be failing though, in a sense. Anything is possible though.

[Stevo2]

If you need a new fuel pump get a Mopar one online...one place that gives 25% off is www.makeitmopar.com

[tony36]

A pump will run around 95 bucks. Simple to replace. Just drop the tank and replace, easy job. It acts exactly ike a bad fuel pump. You can have someone check the fuel pressure to be sure if that is the problem, but is is most likely your problem. The pumps are made with a reservoir on the bottom of them to keep them from heating up when you run low on fuel. You have low miles true, but age can be a factor with the pump going bad also. By the way, the only fuel filter on these trucks is built on the pump, so don't try searching for one to replace. Any way, sounds like that is the problem, it acts very typical of a bad pump, but if you want to be sure, have the pressure checked.

[jtman04401]

Originally Posted by tony36

A pump will run around 95 bucks. Simple to replace. Just drop the tank and replace, easy job. It acts exactly ike a bad fuel pump. You can have someone check the fuel pressure to be sure if that is the problem, but is is most likely your problem. The pumps are made with a reservoir on the bottom of them to keep them from heating up when you run low on fuel. You have low miles true, but age can be a factor with the pump going bad also. By the way, the only fuel filter on these trucks is built on the pump, so don't try searching for one to replace. Any way, sounds like that is the problem, it acts very typical of a bad pump, but if you want to be sure, have the pressure checked.

Yes I am thinking the same thing... however, If it is running perfect with more fuel in it then I am sure the preasure will be clost to normal and will not show low preasure untill it does it again... I heard the pumps on these were really expensive.. $100.00 isnt bad at all. This is my 1st Dodge so I am not very in tune with the cost of things. I have always been a Ford man... still own 2 Windstars.. This truck was just too good a buy to pass up.

[tony36]

It is possible that it has a leak somewhere in the pump that allows it to suck air when the fuel level drops below a certain point. These pumps are known to go bad and only act up once in a while. I had one go bad over a six month period before I broke down and changed it. Here is a free manual download if you need it. http://www.neonix.org/nero/files/2001ramsrvcmanual.zip

[2000mudder]

not trying to sound stupid but do you think that if the low fuel light came on just after having problems and it ran fine after you put 6 gallons in it do you think you were just low on gas and when you went up or down an incline, all the gas went to the back of tank. those long tanks will do that. you did say it didn't do it after you put gas in it right. a low fuel light could mean your enpty, not just low. it's a gauge not ment to be 100% accurate.

[MT-2500]

Originally Posted by 2000mudder

not trying to sound stupid but do you think that if the low fuel light came on just after having problems and it ran fine after you put 6 gallons in it do you think you were just low on gas and when you went up or down an incline, all the gas went to the back of tank. those long tanks will do that. you did say it didn't do it after you put gas in it right. a low fuel light could mean your enpty, not just low. it's a gauge not ment to be 100% accurate.

10-4 On that.
Rules of the road are always keep at least 1/4 tank of fuel.
Do not leave home without it.
People that run the down to the E always get the pleasure to replace more fuel pumps.
MT

[jtman04401]

Originally Posted by 2000mudder

not trying to sound stupid but do you think that if the low fuel light came on just after having problems and it ran fine after you put 6 gallons in it do you think you were just low on gas and when you went up or down an incline, all the gas went to the back of tank. those long tanks will do that. you did say it didn't do it after you put gas in it right. a low fuel light could mean your enpty, not just low. it's a gauge not ment to be 100% accurate.

No its not that.. THe gauge read just under 1/4 tank.. I have had it down to empty b4 and the light on for a while so I pretty much know when its really close to empty. Also.. The light did not come on till the 2nd time it did it. It also started before I went up the incline.. I think I mentioned that b4. I ended up going about 2 miles b4 it finally died.. Also where I parked it was pretty much flat and it still didnt run after I parked it, after about 2hrs or so I went backand it started back up and ran perfect so I headed home and I made it about 3 miles then it started doing it again..
I have talked to a few people and most agree dodge pumps tend to do this, when they are starting to go they tend to run fine untill the fuel tank gets low then they overheat...

[tony36]

Originally Posted by jtman04401

No its not that.. THe gauge read just under 1/4 tank.. I have had it down to empty b4 and the light on for a while so I pretty much know when its really close to empty. Also.. The light did not come on till the 2nd time it did it. It also started before I went up the incline.. I think I mentioned that b4. I ended up going about 2 miles b4 it finally died.. Also where I parked it was pretty much flat and it still didnt run after I parked it, after about 2hrs or so I went backand it started back up and ran perfect so I headed home and I made it about 3 miles then it started doing it again..
I have talked to a few people and most agree dodge pumps tend to do this, when they are starting to go they tend to run fine untill the fuel tank gets low then they overheat...

I still think it is the pump. THe gas lights sre designed to come on with 4-5 gal. of fuel left in the tank. The pumps are designed with a reservoure so that when you run low it reduces the risk of overheating the pumps, but it can still happen. Yours acts very typical of a pump. If you pressure test it even when it's running fine, it will usually still read a lower pressure with a bad pump. Good luck

[john m]

If you look on page 2 ---97 Ram dies, you'll find almost the identical sysptoms. The problem was fixed by replacing the fuep pump assy, which was the pump, filter, etc.The cost was $194 BUT this was on a 97 1500 with 5.9l engine. Good luck. John M.