Fuel Filter Head Feels Dead?

dieseldave · **Posted:** Wed Jul 09, 2014 6:26 pm

I am building absolutely no pressure when trying to bleed the air out of the fuel system. The pump feels completely dead and there doesn't appear to be any leaks. Curiously, the mule runs great. The filter head appears to have been replaced about a year ago and I put a filter on it about 6 months ago. Has anyone run in this? No leaks...dead primer...runs great? Weird.

Thanks...Dave

racertracer · **Posted:** Wed Jul 09, 2014 7:53 pm

Check to see if the old fuel filter gasket is still in place along with the new one.

Although you replaced the filter, did you check to see if the old round plastic washer came out along with the old filter, sometimes it gets fused to the underside of the fuel head and can be the cause of air leaks.

dieseldave · **Posted:** Wed Jul 09, 2014 11:25 pm

Yes, I'll check that but it has been fine until just now; I find it odd that it would have taken so long to show up. About once a week I would bleed the air out and there has always been at least some air to bleed. I'll probably buy a new filter head since I will be assured that it is all new. I don't recall ever reading about anyone's primer pump going bad but I suppose this could be the first.
Dave

dieseldave · **Posted:** Thu Jul 10, 2014 9:06 am

Anyone else ever experience a dead primer pump?

papaindigo · **Posted:** Thu Jul 10, 2014 10:31 am

There has been one posted instance of the primer pump popping the seal around the pump shaft and leaking fuel/air from that location. If I understand your post correctly that's not the case. In your case the vehicle runs fine, hence no air in the fuel, but when you pump the primer it won't build pressure. I strongly suspect that the primer pump is similar to the pump in a garden sprayer where there is a "check" valve/flapper of some sort that, in the fuel head, lets fuel be pushed into the fuel had on the down stroke and prevents fuel from escaping on the up stroke. If so that valve is shot/stuck so all the pump is doing is "sloshing" fuel back and forth between the fuel head and the fuel lines.

Whether that is repairable or not I don't know. Likely you need to replace the fuel head. Remember it comes with a new filter and WIF sensor installed. Also if you already have the 2 gen head (bright blue heater element plug on battery side) there is no need to spring for a new wiring pigtail.

EAB · **Joined:** Tue Sep 06, 2011 9:39 pm **Posts:** 141

I pulled a filer head apart in this thread viewtopic.php?f=5&t=72088. I even stated that a piece of anything could get stuck in the primer section due to the lack of filter.

flman · **Posted:** Mon Jul 14, 2014 6:45 am

The primer pump in my Sport does not work either, I used to use a shop vac to pressurize the fuel tank for bleeding, now I have an under the hood lift pump.

Fuel Filter Head Feels Dead?

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