Cummins 5.9L fuel pump problems

Many guys with that era of Cummins in Ram trucks put lift pumps on them I believe. Your pump is the VP44? which have been known to have issues in my readings over the the Cummins forum.

I have the same RV and engine you do. I haven't had a fuel pump quit on me yet, but I was having problems starting mine a few months ago. I still have not replaced it but they are a known problem on these engines.

Best thing you can do is replace it with a factory cummins pump at about $170, or upgrade to an FRRP or something similar from FASS fuel systems. The upgraded ones are about $300 plus installation which is easy to do yourself. I am upgrading mine here in the next month or two before dune season.

Be careful, the lift pump goes bad and will rapidly take out your injection pump with it. That's a $3,000 part installed. Be on the safe side and just upgrade pumps.

5.9 must have good fuel delivery or spend big bucks to replace the famous VP44.

My FASS pump has worked for over 10 years in my 2001 pick up. First time lift pump broke, I went to Dodge and they wanted to put in the tank a pump that looked like an aquarium pump. Seemed really mickey mouse to me. So I paid to have a FASS system installed. I could do it myself but time was not on my side as pick up was my daily driver. Also put in a led light that lights up if fuel pressure goes below 7 or 10 psi. Makes it so much easier to change filters. Only thing I don't like is what I pay for filters. Pricey IMO. But still better than alterative.

I just spoke with my mechanic. It appears the problem in not with the injection pump. My coach
has a simple electric lift pump and that is what failed 3 times. He is looking into getting a different brand. Thanks to everyone who chimed in.

Keld, you are missing the most important part of the above posts... your injection pump is easily ruined by not getting enough fuel pressure. Spend the $238 on a FASS Pump instead of paying $3000+ when you ruin your injection pump

The issue with the Dodge 3500, 5.9 began with the 24 valve engines. Problem being the pump that feeds to primary injection pump. These lift pumps lose the pressure to the primary causing problems (galling) and then failure. Repair is quite expensive as is all work on our diesel engines. The FASS pump is probably the best recommendation to solve the fuel feed problem these engines experience. The earlier 5.9 had a few issues like the KDP (Killer Dowel Pin) and there was the # 50 block that had an issue cracking in one place.
I am not sure if the MH's have the same issues.
We are in the early stages of MH Fever that will be treated within the next few months.

Sluper, the block problem is a 53 block, not a 50 block just for those reading this. I am also doing the FASS pump in my RV before it leaves my lot again.

glamisorbust wrote:
Sluper, the block problem is a 53 block, not a 50 block just for those reading this. I am also doing the FASS pump in my RV before it leaves my lot again.

Yes indeed block 53 was in Rams and MH's. Can't remember the VIN code for em but they were from Brazil. They are fixable before a rod goes south, but expensive. The next biggest flaw is this VP44 pump.
I thought these were all 12 valve engines up till 1999 when the 24 valve engine was introduced :H

Thanks to all that replied.
I will discuss all this with my diesel mechanic tomorrow.

The block 53 issue may have been in the 12 valve years but the fuel pump issues began with the introduction of the 24 valve engines introduced in January 1998, early 1997 models were the 12 valve version. The 24 valve was to meet next EPA mandates introduced for the diesel engines. These mandates were the cause of the 7.3 Power Stokes demise.