turbodave
New Member
We got the vehicle with 140K on it - it's now done 169k.
Since we got it the fuel pump has been noisy; but it got worse in the past few months. Thinking that the pump might be on its way out (hardly surprising with this milege) - which has probably been hindered by a filter never having been changed, I decided to drop the tank over the weekend to fit a new mopar filter an an 'ebay' junkyard pump with 50K miles on it.
Well, the tank drop was easy.
Re-install was a PITA though, as the 'new' (used) pump from ebay was dead. Luckilly, I had decided to check this with the tank on the ground and the harness connected up.
So, slid it out again, removed the pump, and took a good luck at the old/new pumps. I then decided to remove the two 'suction filter bags' off the 50K pump and fit these onto the old pump. The new mopar filter was also hooked up.
Re-installation was easy (these tanks are super-light being plastic) the only PITA was the large push-in pipe on the breather cannister. The only way i could connect this was with grease on the fitting, and by pulling (stretching) the pipe through the cross-member, then using a set of vise-grips to hold it proud - keeping it from flopping around. The breather pipe on the tank easilly plugged in after that!
Priming the fuel pump the first time - it was clear something was very different - for the first time ever - I can't hear the fuel pump!
Also - the engine for the first few times of starting - flared up a LOT more than normal - suggesting more fuel (flow/pressure) than before. after several starts and runs on Sunday, it since settled back to what it should be.
So - after throwing the old filter in the trash, i then hauled it out and cut it open... And It's no wonder the old pump was making a complaining noise. this thing is VERY nasty - the worst filter I've ever seen (the little dark grey pieces in the pic 1/4 way up are from sawing open the pump body).
I did the usual 'not reccomended' thing of trying to blow through this, and it was very restrictive... (blarg)
So, If you can 'hear' your pump - and have any kind of miles on your jeep - I definately recomend swapping out the filter for sure. I doubt the pump suction bags are available from the dealer, but these could also benefit from changing if there is any opportunity.
At least this does show that even when dirty, and with high miles, the stock filter is still effective at doing what it should; kinda takes away the impetus / concern about changing it at 100K (or less).
Dropping the tank was a lot easier than what I've heard about opening up the access panel in the trunk as well... We had 1/8 fuel in when we droped it - and empty when re-fitting.
Here is the pic (link rather than posted as it's large)!
http://www.davecoxon.co.uk/filter_169K.JPG
Since we got it the fuel pump has been noisy; but it got worse in the past few months. Thinking that the pump might be on its way out (hardly surprising with this milege) - which has probably been hindered by a filter never having been changed, I decided to drop the tank over the weekend to fit a new mopar filter an an 'ebay' junkyard pump with 50K miles on it.
Well, the tank drop was easy.
Re-install was a PITA though, as the 'new' (used) pump from ebay was dead. Luckilly, I had decided to check this with the tank on the ground and the harness connected up.
So, slid it out again, removed the pump, and took a good luck at the old/new pumps. I then decided to remove the two 'suction filter bags' off the 50K pump and fit these onto the old pump. The new mopar filter was also hooked up.
Re-installation was easy (these tanks are super-light being plastic) the only PITA was the large push-in pipe on the breather cannister. The only way i could connect this was with grease on the fitting, and by pulling (stretching) the pipe through the cross-member, then using a set of vise-grips to hold it proud - keeping it from flopping around. The breather pipe on the tank easilly plugged in after that!
Priming the fuel pump the first time - it was clear something was very different - for the first time ever - I can't hear the fuel pump!
Also - the engine for the first few times of starting - flared up a LOT more than normal - suggesting more fuel (flow/pressure) than before. after several starts and runs on Sunday, it since settled back to what it should be.
So - after throwing the old filter in the trash, i then hauled it out and cut it open... And It's no wonder the old pump was making a complaining noise. this thing is VERY nasty - the worst filter I've ever seen (the little dark grey pieces in the pic 1/4 way up are from sawing open the pump body).
I did the usual 'not reccomended' thing of trying to blow through this, and it was very restrictive... (blarg)
So, If you can 'hear' your pump - and have any kind of miles on your jeep - I definately recomend swapping out the filter for sure. I doubt the pump suction bags are available from the dealer, but these could also benefit from changing if there is any opportunity.
At least this does show that even when dirty, and with high miles, the stock filter is still effective at doing what it should; kinda takes away the impetus / concern about changing it at 100K (or less).
Dropping the tank was a lot easier than what I've heard about opening up the access panel in the trunk as well... We had 1/8 fuel in when we droped it - and empty when re-fitting.
Here is the pic (link rather than posted as it's large)!
http://www.davecoxon.co.uk/filter_169K.JPG
