Hello! I have a 97 Dodge Ram 1500 5.9 4x4. Some weird stuff has been happening with the fuel pump and I’m stumped. Here’s the story…
I was driving and suddenly the engine cut out. Electrical on, but engine just dead. Stuck on the side of the road I could crank just fine and maybe get it to sputter and run super rough and then die. Mostly wouldn’t start at all. Luckily I had a friend in the car and we figured out if I bang on the gas tank with a mallet while she turned, it would start, run for a few miles, and then it would happen all over again. After this happening 3 times I finally got home. (Weirdly I could never hear the pump turn on while turning the key half on while stuck on the side of road - doesn’t mean it wasn’t, but maybe this info will be useful…)
I have now replaced the fuel pump, but now am not getting ANYTHING. The previous banging method does not work. I have put a power tester light on to each of the connections in the power harness and it does not light up, not even for a second when I turn the key. So it seems new pump may be good but it’s not getting any power? But then how was the pump running before if even for a few miles all the way up until I replaced the pump? I switched the relay out with horn and relay works, I tested where the relay plugs in and it is getting power.
Any ideas??? Thanks!