Community Forums

mperry · 08-12-2018, 06:19 AM

I recently installed the Titanium Series Fass Fuel Pump on my 2002 Dutch Star. I have a 350 Cummins and Spartan Chassis. I purchased the pump from Brazels RV Performance and went by their recommendation for installation. I took a 100 mile trip after installation just to make sure everything worked properly after installation and no problems. Yesterday, I left home for a 2 week vacation and about 250 miles into the trip my service engine light came on and it reduced power. It starting running hotter than normal. I limped in to a campground in Memphis. I used the on board diagnostic sequence and it is showing code 268 and 452 which both relate to fuel. I also installed a fuel pressure gauge during pump install. I did notice since the install that when under a load such as climbing a long hill, the fuel pressure would fluctuate a lot. It had some fluctuation when not under a load but not near as much when pulling hard. Has anyone else had this problem or have any suggestions? Also is there anyway to clear the codes without a scan tool?

BigLar368 · 08-12-2018, 07:41 AM

Curious on what you find out. I just did same exact thing except I just bought the pump through an independent dealer and copied what others have done on here. We are going to make a 200 mile test trip this coming Tuesday. Wish I could offer more help.

mperry · 08-12-2018, 08:19 AM

Thank You. I am pretty mechanically inclined and I even called Brazels to make sure I was correct on everything. The pump sounds like it is cavitating when sitting still with the key on. Maybe that is normal but it does not seem like it would be. It holds a steady 16 psi when not running or idling but under a load the pressure fluctuates from 5-25 psi. I would love to be able to clear the codes and see what happens. I do not understand the engine temp rising once going into limp mode either.

jporietis · 08-12-2018, 10:12 AM

Where did you mount the pump in the original location near the engine or up front near the fuel tank

mperry · 08-12-2018, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jporietis

Where did you mount the pump in the original location near the engine or up front near the fuel tank

I mounted it in the rear of the coach so I would have easy access to the filters. I also confirmed that it would work fine there through Brazels.

jporietis · 08-12-2018, 10:46 AM

Make sure none of your fittings of filters are leaking air. The new pump has a lot more volume than the original lift pump

mperry · 08-12-2018, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jporietis

Make sure none of your fittings of filters are leaking air. The new pump has a lot more volume than the original lift pump

I will recheck them. Thank You

TR4 · 08-12-2018, 08:52 PM

Did you install a fuel pressure snubber? Is your fuel sending unit installed after the secondary filter? My Fass install is about three years old. Fuel pressure at idle is about 16 psi. On a long hard pull it will drop to about 10 psi. This is with filters that were installed at the same time as the pump. The gauge has no wild fluctuations (I installed a fuel pressure snubber). I do not hear cavitation in the pump.

You might have an air leak on the suction side of the pump. If your seeing 5 psi with this pump, your filters are bad or your pulling in air.

Bill

BigLar368 · 08-13-2018, 05:59 AM

I know my pump made a ton of racket the first few times I started it up. It has since quieted down. I mounted mine close to the tank cause I figured it's easier to push the fuel rather than pull from a long distance. I would start by changing fuel filters.

mperry · 08-13-2018, 04:51 PM

Problem Solved!!! I went to the Cummins dealer this morning and explained my troubles and gave him the fault codes that I had. He advised to change the fuel pressure sensor on back of the injector pump. I purchased one and went back to campground and changed it. Fired it up and no check engine light anymore. He said that sometimes you have to clear the codes with a scan tool and sometimes they will just go inactive when you fix the problem. I am going to purchase a snubber as TR4 recommended and see if that helps the fuel pressure fluctuation. The pump was quieter than when I first installed and pressure did not spike as much but still more than I think it should. I did tighten one fitting on the suction side a little more. Apparently, it was just a coincident that the pressure sensor went bad after installing the FASS pump. I do not think they are related. I will also purchase a scan tool to keep with me though. I would have purchased the Inline mini from Cummins this morning but they did not have one in stock. Thank You to everyone that offered their suggestions and help. Let me know if I can ever return the favor.

Airstreamer6 · 08-14-2018, 02:12 PM

In my experience, a fuel pressure snubber is used on piston or diaphragm pumps, usually mechanical, in order to quell the "water hammer" type effect caused by the reciprocating piston design. Without some type of supressor, the readings are often jerky and hard to interpret and the mechanical gauges and the senders on electric gauges are sometimes damaged.

On the other hand, electric fuel pumps are usually not piston designs, so they typically don't suffer from the "water hammer" effect and therefore don't need snubbers.

BigLar368 · 08-15-2018, 04:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mperry

Problem Solved!!! I went to the Cummins dealer this morning and explained my troubles and gave him the fault codes that I had. He advised to change the fuel pressure sensor on back of the injector pump. I purchased one and went back to campground and changed it. Fired it up and no check engine light anymore. He said that sometimes you have to clear the codes with a scan tool and sometimes they will just go inactive when you fix the problem. I am going to purchase a snubber as TR4 recommended and see if that helps the fuel pressure fluctuation. The pump was quieter than when I first installed and pressure did not spike as much but still more than I think it should. I did tighten one fitting on the suction side a little more. Apparently, it was just a coincident that the pressure sensor went bad after installing the FASS pump. I do not think they are related. I will also purchase a scan tool to keep with me though. I would have purchased the Inline mini from Cummins this morning but they did not have one in stock. Thank You to everyone that offered their suggestions and help. Let me know if I can ever return the favor.

Glad you got it figured out and also glad you came back and described the fix. We drove ours yesterday about 160 miles without any problems. The only fuel gauge I have is on top of the filter housing in the engine compartment. The pressure started out at 18 psi then when we got home it was around 15 psi. It's a liquid filled gauge and being it was probably pretty hot back there that may have caused the fluctuation. The pump we bought has a return at the pump which keeps pressure steady. Fingers crossed for big trip next month...lol.

mperry · 08-15-2018, 02:36 PM

Glad to hear yours worked good. Hope it continues. My FASS Pump also has a return and that's why I think the pressure should not spike like it does. I am going to call FASS when I get a chance and discuss it with them. It seems like a snubber would just mask the problem but I am not an engineer.

MoePo · 03-09-2019, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mperry

Glad to hear yours worked good. Hope it continues. My FASS Pump also has a return and that's why I think the pressure should not spike like it does. I am going to call FASS when I get a chance and discuss it with them. It seems like a snubber would just mask the problem but I am not an engineer.

I’m looking to do the same thing. How did you install yours?