After changing my fuel filter i can't get the primmer bulb to prime the system, nothing at all. Took it all back apart checked o-rings, good to go there but no fuel. Any ideas? Please help! Truck is dead in the driveway.
Thank you!

Try putting it in the "RUN" position for a couple of seconds then "OFF". Try this a couple few times then prime it.

fill the fuel filter with clean fuel then install it. and it should prime up for you then.

took the filter back off and filled it up with clean fuel. the primer bulb will never pump up tight even after getting fuel out of the bleeder cap. it is almost like the primer bulb is turning the fuel to foam. also, when i back off on the bleeder cap it seems to pull in as much as blow out.

I had the same problem and someone on here suggested taking my air compressor set at about 5-10 psi, stick it in the filler neck of the tank and wrap some rags around it and hold it tight to get a seal. Open the bleeder valve and let the pressure push the fuel to prime the system. I did this method, and it worked for me. Good luck.

how much fuel in the tank?

1/4 tank of fuel right now. i also took the primer bulb apart, cleaned eveything and reassembled. found fairly big pieces of trash in there. still no prime. off this am to get a new filter assemble and hope that works. just hope the fuel lines come off without major problems.
thanks for the input, i'll keep trying and updating.

pretty sure you got a bad bleeder cap shouldn't allow air to suck in unless you have a leak in the system sometwhere, usually on the bleeder cap try replacing the bleeder cap.... also make sure you are trying to install the correct fuel filter for your make and model d-max had that problem once myself good luck friend.....

Read my current thread, what fuel filter are you using? Try pushing the primer pump with the bleed screw closed down. Check to see if any fuel/air is hissing out the sides of the filter right at the filter head.

http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/showthread.php?p=3228290#post3228290

Did you retighten the fuel filler cap?

Bad primer pump, maybe? As mentioned, pressurizing the fuel tank should get you going.

:confuzeldI had a mechanic at the dealer tell me it was not necessary to open the bleeder valve if all you did was change the fuel filter.He said the reason it was on there was if you run out of fuel.?????????????:confuzeld

In a sense you did run out of fuel. Open the bleed screw, pump until the bubbles stop coming out and it is just fuel and that should do it.

In a sense you did run out of fuel. Open the bleed screw, pump until the bubbles stop coming out and it is just fuel and that should do it.


Wouldn't this get you the same result as priming a new fuel filter? Whether you run out of fuel or replace the filter, the filter needs to be primed!

Wouldn't this get you the same result as priming a new fuel filter? Whether you run out of fuel or replace the filter, the filter needs to be primed!



Yes, but the dealer is telling him he didn't need to open the bleed screw.

This may not apply and be totally off. You mentioned you checked the O-ring etc. However I had a similar problem and it turns out the o-ring from the previous filter stuck up underneath.
Good luck. Hope you figure it out soon.

The last time I change my fuel filter, the O-ring stuck on. Lucky I noticed it before I tried pushing the new one on.

A loose O-ring on a vented filter has nothing to do with priming the new filter, but it definately would affect the system when the truck is running.
The filter housing has three check valves, two of them needed for priming. One is on suction side of hand pump, (this must close when depressing hand pump to prevent pushing fuel back to tank), and the other check is on discharge of hand pump, (this must close when pump is going up, to prevent sucking air from vented filter, and allow the suction of hand pump to suck fuel from tank). If either of these don't seal, the hand pump will not work well.
There's a third check valve on housing discharge nipple. I believe this is used to maintain filter housing outlet tube to IP full of fuel after shutdown.
Another possible problem is that one of the two seals on hand pump are worn. If the O-ring and the vent on filter seal tight, the hand pump should get hard to pump with vent closed.
As mentioned above, another option is to pressurize tank to 3-5 PSI and open filter vent until fuel flows. This will work much easier with someone helping.
I built one of these fuel tank caps with Schrader fitting installed for times like these, (even though I have a lift pump and don't need the priming hand pump at all).
http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=185111&highlight=cap

Frank Blum has pics of a fuel filter assembly in his garage:
http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/garage.php?do=view&g=2853

theres something in the valve kepping it from being sealed. wore out or a little piece of debrie. my brother had a piece of plastic from a titan tank change in his valve. check the valves really close we took it off the truck to get at it better. hope this helps