If you use a vehicle from Duramax, it most likely has a CP3 pump. It’s better than a CP4 pump, and they overall last longer too. But just like the other parts of your vehicle, it can get worse after a few years. This is why some people are looking for Duramax CP3 pump failure symptoms.
And although there can be many symptoms, the most common ones are black smoke and hard startup or no startup. Other slight symptoms can be white or blue smoke when your car is idle. There might also be some knocking noise.
However, there’s much more to it than just that. So today, I’ll be covering all about Duramax CP3 pumps, failure symptoms, and how to fix them.
What Is A CP3 Pump?
In a nutshell, it’s used to regulate high-pressure fuel in your car. The CP3 pump controls the fuel pressure to the rail system according to the ECM’s need.
It’s incredibly reliable and can last you for over 250,000 miles, so you won’t need to worry about its durability. However, the pump can fail after a few years due to heavy use or damage.
There can be other reasons as well, such as a bad injector or dirty fuel. Overall, you should keep an eye on your car to look for any symptoms since your CP3 pump failing while driving can be dangerous.
If you want a deeper dive into knowing all about Duramax and how they made the CP3 pump, you can check out DieselWorldMag or their official website Duramax.
How To Test CP3 Pump On Duramax?
Testing your CP3 pump can get challenging sometimes. By far the easiest way to test it is by using Efilive or Tech 2. They’re the most user-friendly and the most efficient way, but they do cost a hefty amount.
So if you’re not willing to spend a lot of money just to get your CP3 pump tested, you can consider using a gauge. You’ll need a 30,000 PSI gauge, though.
Other than that, the second easiest way is to test it manually. First, you need to have your injector stuck open while checking the demanded fuel rail pressure with a program like EFI.
After that, you can stimulate the max CP3 pump output volume by unplugging the fuel sensor. Then to check it, you’ll need to pull out the glow plugs and look at the fuel coming out from the plugs. The one that has the most fuel will be stuck open.
6 Common Symptoms Of Duramax CP3 Pump failure
There can be tons of different symptoms when it comes to detecting a CP3 pump failure, but I’ve narrowed them down to the most common ones that are easy to detect. Let’s take a look at them —
1. Hard Or No Start
This is the most common symptom of a CP3 pump failure. To check, monitor the rail pressure and make sure it exceeds 4000 PSI while cranking. If there isn’t any smoke from the tailpipe within 15 seconds of cranking, then no smoke is getting to the cylinders.
If your high-pressure injection pump valve leaks during cranking or idle, it also is a clear symptom of CP3 pump failure.
2. Black Smoke
Black smoke can often occur due to other car damages, but it can also be a sign of CP3 pump failure. This is mostly caused when the exhaust is blocked, or the CP3 pump fails and emits black smoke.
To diagnose any smoking issues, you might need to disconnect the exhaust pipe. Poor-quality injectors or low compression can also cause black smoke, so check if you have any of these.
3. Loud Knocks
This can happen at idle because of no or low fuel in the supply pump pressure. So if you hear knocking, check it immediately.
4. White or Blue Smoke
Usually, the smoke should clear within a minute or so. But if it doesn’t, and your eyes start burning, it’s white-blue smoke caused by unburnt fuel. This can be caused due to cold combustion and is a clear symptom of CP3 pump failure.
5. Slow Deceleration
High RPMs can cause slow deceleration, and they usually occur when your CP3 pump has been damaged or when it fails.
6. Dilution Issues
Dilution is caused by a bad upper injector O-ring that doesn’t seal properly. To verify, check for any cracked injectors.
If you have any of these, you should take a better look at your CP3 pump and verify if it failed or not.
What Causes CP3 Pump Failure On Duramax?
There can be tons of reasons for CP3 pump failure, but the most common one is because of bad injectors. These will create excessively low pressure instead of defaulting out at 26,107 PSI when you unplug the control actuator of the fuel. Although this is the most common reason, there are tons of other reasons.
For example, no fuel can be getting into the cylinders of your car, leading to a hard start. Another common reason is the engine hanging at a higher RPM, making it slower to decelerate. If this is the case, you need to replace the injection pump.
Other than these and leaks, the other reasons can be too complicated to even bother to fix. For this reason, I’d recommend you change your injectors or patch up any leaks to stop your CP3 pump from failing.
How To Fix Duramax CP3 Pump Failure?
As surprising as it is, CP3 pump failure is really easy to fix, and you won’t need any special equipment or tools most of the time. Here’s a simple step-by-step guide on how to fix it —
- Wear a pair of gloves
- After verifying the symptoms, inspect the fuel lines and patch up any leaks
- Clean the exhaust of your car
- Replace the oil of your car if it’s dirty
- Replace the injectors of your car
These are all the steps you need to follow. You won’t need any equipment other than a pair of gloves, and you might need to buy new injectors.
But even if you do these and you still get CP3 pump problems, you might have not inspected the symptoms entirely. I’d recommend getting a technician if you continue to get any more issues with the pump. You can find some on Precisionar.
people also ask (FAQs)
1. How much does it cost to replace a CP3 pump on a Duramax?
A full CP3 pump replacement can cost 3,500$, including labor on a Duramax. This might seem like a lot, but the price is justifiable comparing it to a CP4 pump which can require 8,000$+ without labor to replace the pump.
2. How long does a Duramax CP3 last?
A Duramax CP3 can last up to 250,000 miles. There are tons of other factors determining how long they last, though. This especially includes faulty injectors or poor maintenance.
3. What’s the difference between CP3 and CP4?
CP3 pumps are a superior version to CP4 pumps and can last a much longer time and are much safer. They cost less to fix too, and they don’t explode when they fail, unlike a CP4 pump.
Is Your Cummins or Duramax CP3 Pump Bad >> Check out the video below:
Conclusion
Hopefully, now you know all about the Duramax CP3 pump failure symptoms. Most of the time, you can get away with just changing the injector, but there can be some issues such as leaks or dirt stuck in your car parts.
But as a final note, I’d highly recommend you to wear gloves while trying to find leaks. Never touch the leaks with your bare hands, as the high-pressure fuel can enter your bloodstream, which can cause you to lose your life or amputate your limb.
But with that warning out of the way, good luck fixing the CP3 pump failure, and cheers!
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