Right when I need it most......of course.

Loaded and sitting in the driveway, nose slightly up. Started it up this AM and it ran for about 15 seconds. Sounded a bit funny, idle moved around a bit and then it died.

I undid the bleeder screw and pumped the primer until fuel came out and tightened the screw as I was pumping. Tried to start it again, nothing. Repeated bleeder routine, still nothing.

How do I get this thing started?

I also released the vacuum in the tank (55g). I can't get it to lite.

Do the procedure again and this time after you get fuel from the bleeder screw tighten the screw and pump, don't tighten while you pump you could be getting air into the system or someone else can correct me........:D

I can't get fuel from the bleeder screw......I pump and pump and pump (a lot longer than it took before to prime an empty filter) but nothing ever comes out. Through the bleeder screw, (when open) I hear air rush in when I push the primer pump and then rush out when I release it.

Ugh,.

So you put a new filter on?

Double check, make sure your Oring is not pinched on the filter.

Double check your WIF sensor to make sure its seated good and the drain is closed.

I like to add diesel to my filter when i put them on, less pumping, but since i have a lift pump priming is a breeze.

The question in my mind is why did you lose prime in the first place? If it's because you changed the fuel filter that's an easy fix, but I don't see where you said that. It sounds like you must have an air leak between the tank and the filter at this point, or something in the filter priming mechanism has failed causing it to allow the fuel to flow away from the filter after and now during it being primed. When WAS the last fuel filter change?

Could a faulty fuel filter mount cause this condition? It sounds like he cant even get fuel up to the filter, so thats why I bring up the mount.

http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=318141


Has several good ideas....

I actually had a WIF sensor back out of the canister once and cause the same problem. The darn thing leaked in the same spot where the A/C drained, so it took a bit to figure out.

If you run biodiesel the fuel filter head will eventually develop a leak. This also will cause you to lose prime.

I have already replaced mine already due to this.

There is a company that rebuilds them(found out after i threw my old one away) with better seals for biodiesel.

Oh shit.....I heard those things cost about 600 bux.

No way to fix this temporarily?

How can I be sure that it is the filter head?

I already had a gasket / sealing problem that was biodiesel related with the TDI....now this.....but on the TDI the problem showed up after doing a tank of D2. That caused the Orings to shrink. The truck has never really been off of Biodiesel.

So I need to buy a new head? Dship? I need the truck!!!!!!!

I just replaced my filter head after having the same problem, now it's fine. I waited about four months before I changed it though.

You can try and blow air into the fuel filler neck with the bleeder open, that works sometimes. I just hooked up an electric fuel pump to mine and took off one of my duel fueler hoses. When I started pulling fuel I clamped the hose shut and reconnected it. I only changed the head because I wanted to change the filter without going through the hillbilly priming session again.:D

I found that having someone crank the truck whilst pumping (like a maniac) on the primer pumper will get her going.....The only problem is that I might not always have a helper!

Ron, do you remember the name of the company that sells the parts to reseal?

should make a sticky out of this for the biodiesel people here, i run b20 on rare occasions i had no idea biodiesel would do this.

Manny,

I do not remember who sells the rebuilt filter head assembly but I got found out about it from someone on here who had theirs failed. I will try to find it.

Another option that will fix it so you can drive is to install a lift pump. I know they are expensive but you can get one to you quick and the install is not that bad. I have one of the original Airdog's from Charlie before he sold to pureflow. The only issue is your fuel assembly will weep because it is under pressure. When i replaced my injectors on my dime I purchased a new filter head. They are not $600 but I think I got mine online for about 350.00.

found them: http://www.dmaxwrenchkit.com/FuelFilteradapter.html

A leaky filter, WIF, or vent fitting has nothing to do with not being able to pump fuel out of the vent when using the manual pump. A leak here would be a problem when truck is running.

-The manual pump has two check valves, one on inlet and one on outlet. One of these could be defective or have debris stuck in it, preventing manual pump from drawing a vacuum.
-Maybe the manual pump seals are worn.
-Rubber fuel lines between filter housing and tank could be leaking air into system. See if any are loose or cracked.
-Possible cracked FF housing

Build a non-vented fuel tank cap with Schrader valve to pressurize tank to prime, and use it to find leaks in fuel system.
http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=185111&highlight=fuel+cap

Be careful not to over-pressurize system.
You would need an air source to use this. A bicycle air pump should be enough.

Frank Blum has FF housing pics in his garage:
http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/garage.php?do=hall&u=98

I found that having someone crank the truck whilst pumping (like a maniac) on the primer pumper will get her going.....The only problem is that I might not always have a helper!

Ron, do you remember the name of the company that sells the parts to reseal?

PM sent on eBAY'r pump rebuilder.
If it were me, I'd call Eric and get a used take-off pump. Probobaly somewhere around $50-$75.

Maybe just ditch the expensive stock fuel filter and fabricate a head mount and run another CAT filter on there with a lift pump added for priming duties....pry could do that for less than $200 bux......not to mention you'd save 30 bux every time you change the fuel filter.......(Cat costs $20, factory one cost $50).....

Hmmm.....would be nice if I could just buy the gasket and fix the head on my own....can't be that complicated.....

We'll see how she starts tomorrow......

As for the biodiesel / diesel issues........I found this out on the TDI too. Biodiesel causes most seals to expand while low aromatic ULSD causes them to shrink. Running BD and then D2 causes this issue to be even worse. Even without BD, the LSD/ULSD switch caused problems and this is a known issue with the Dmax biodiesel or not.

The O-ring on the TDI was pretty cracked.....it was apparently not Viton. Hopefully Viton will be better at dealing with these fuels. I don't know about the rest of you guys, but when I go on trips I end up running out of BD and going back to D2. Unfortunately that's the last place you want to have issues with your vehicle....

I thought you where stuck and needed a quick way to pressurize your fuel system? Using air as modified and I both suggested would have worked if it is a bad head (primer) and not just a leaky seal.

Priming it with an electric fuel pump from the front also works. Mine lasted four months and was still starting strong everyday, I only changed the head because I was ready for a filter change and figured I'd just get it over with.

Did you get it started yet or is it still sitting there?

It died in the driveway on thurs AM...I had to leave and came back at 4pm or so and did the crank while pumping on the primer. It fired up and worked for a few hours. Also started ok on Friday with just a little stumble within the first 20 seconds of idling...

You said that the primer can go bad or it can be a leaky seal? I assume you mean the seal around the fuel filter itself?

I think if it turns out to be the primer, Ill just put my own head on there with a CAT filter and rig up a lift pump to run back by my Nicktane setup....

Jim what do you like for a life pump on a truck that won't ever make more than 400 hp (crank)?

probably one of the smaller air dog setups, I use SD lift pumps but I run big HP.

I had that problem on mine.. found the primer pump went bad.. GM replaced it under warranty. I then added an airdog..2nd best thing I ever did on the d-max. (Best was the titan tank)