Ram Fuel Pump

Fuel pump has stopped in my 99 1500 5.2 Ram 4x4. Luckily Dodge put it in the tank where it is easy to get at! I'm thinking I'll lift the p/u bed off and get it from the top rather than dropping the tank. I don't have a vehicle lift, but I do have a front end loader. Any problems with this plan?
Thanks,
Chris

I did my 1996 a few years ago. I dropped the tank. 2 bolts and a floor jack with a board on it. 35 gals. and clear full ! I think it would be harder to pull the bed and prevent damage from lifting ? Plus then you can get at the brake and fuel lines behind the tank and clean them up and coat them or replace them if too far gone.

You can always cut a hole in the bed if not worried about damage ?

Convert your pickup with a dump hoist. Now you will have access.

OTOH, you may find that the fuel module is partially obscured by a cross-member. It's that way on my '98 Dodge/Cummins one-ton

I agree. Been there, done that, nearly full tank as well. Couple of screws hold the filler neck, couple more hold the straps, was a pain getting to the connectors at the fuel pump. Was not easy, I remember that, but if think handling a full tank is tough, handling a bed after undoing the electrical or the lighting has got to be harder.

One thing is for sure. I remember was a very small retaining clip of some sorts at the fuel pump. Can't remember if was fuel line or electrical, but was fragile and I broke mine...a locking tab, and Dodge garages do not stock it, so it had to be ordered, and as turned out, had to be ordered from another Dodge garage that ordered one but did not need it, so had it setting on the shelf. It took a week to get it, so be careful because that was before Chrysler went belly up. How long to get one now? May not even get one now...especially after the whole cash for clunkers thing. They may not even make it anymore for that reason alone. Hey, I still have my '96 as well and am going to get a million miles out of it.

Regardless, when you start unconnecting stiff around the fuel pump, be very careful. Is a small locking something or other that is very fragile, if for no other reason than age. DO NOT BREAK THAT LITTLE FRAGILE LOCKING TAB, or you will hate yourself. With the Christmas holidays coming up...don't do nothing to be hating yourself.

Mark

I have a 89 dodge 250 , have dropped the tank 4 times to change the fuel pump. Always with a full tank. About 2 years ago I used a air cutoff wheel and cut a hole into the bed about 16 inches square, welded some band iron to the cutout so it would fit and sit back on the floor. Now I can change the fuel pump in about 20 minutes from the bed floor.

The short box has six bolts holding it on, and the long box 8, 18mm heads. Pull the taillight wiring, the fuel fill hose, and providing you don't have a goose neck in it, can usually lift off the box in about 20 minutes. They aren't as heavy as one thinks. 4 medium guys can lift off the box, if you do man handle it, take the back bumper off too, saves a lot of lifting. I use a fork lift from the back, and run two chains to the front tie downs. If you're working on the ground, may be easier than dropping the tank, about equal in time.

I did that job last summer on my '97 shortbox 1500. I didn't actually remove mine bed completely, I just loosened it to tilt the bed enough to fit the fuel pump in. It's not too bad if the bolts aren't too rusted. Make sure you disconnect the wiring and fuel filler neck. The whole project took me about 4 hours in my driveway. The biggest problem for me was making a tool to remove the locking nut from the tank. Good luck.