Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) 2002 with in-tank lift pump...

[CM_Guest]

Like a moron I ordered an Airdog Raptor replacement lift pump for my truck without checking the style of fuel system. It turns out it has the lift pump in the fuel tank. I'm going to use a Superchips FlashPaq controller on the truck so I want to make sure my supply pressure is up to snuff. I've read varying opinions on the in-tank lift pump. What is the real story on the in-tank pumps and if they're junk what is the proper "fix"?

A draw straw and external lift pump? This truck has kind of a funky idle at times, the current VP44 says "remanufactured" on it and I have no idea what if anything has ever been done to the fuel system beyond that. I plan on keeping this truck forever as a "good" truck for long trips and I'm strongly considering gathering up all the parts over time to basically replace the whole fuel system at once with a new VP44, nozzles, supply system, etc so I know what I've got going forward. There is a piece of velcro under the hood on the main underhood load center that suggests to me its had a "tuner" on it before but there's nothing on it currently.

I think the full-blown FASS/AirDog systems would be overkill for what I'm going to be doing with this truck. Will the Raptor pump I bought work with a changeover to a draw straw? What is there now really only has to last another month or so and one 1000-mile trip to get my '94 brought home and repaired so it can resume daily driver duties. I bought this truck when the '94 laid down on a long trip. It sounds like a rod bearing or possibly a scored hole but I'm going to fix whatever is wrong with it and keep driving it.

I'm taking the '02 to the dealer tomorrow for a reflash, tranmission service and a few other odds and ends. Which brings up one more question. The lady at the dealership said they can reflash it "if a reflash is available". I assume that since it doesn't have the cold start fast idle and such that the software isn't current. I wanted to have the current software in the ECM before I go changing "tunes" with a programmer. Any input is appreciated.

 

[SnoKing]

The dealer re-flash will turn your oil pressure gauge into an idiot light I believe. If will read 40 pounds or zero! Find someone with a Smarty to load the latest ECM software, theirs has the cold weather high idle and 3 cylinder idle. Read my reply to your question in the other thread that you posted or here it is again. The Edge EZ were normally on the under hood load center!

***"Dodge required the intank pump when installing their new/reman VP44. Take your VIN to a dealer and they should have a record of the VP44 install. Install a Vulcan draw straw and bypass the intank pump. Be sure to install a screen like 100mm filter before the pump with the draw straw as you are not using the stock pickup with a screen. You could Y valve the stock intank beyond the Air Dog and have a backup system by switching the electrical connection and switching the Y valve.

http://www.vulcanperformance.com/category-s/220.htm

Why a Superchips, they have never been very popular for the Dodge/Cummins? Edge, Smarty, BullyDog were the popular choices. I would look for an used Smarty!"***

***VolsFan wrote in the other thread: "Not to get off topic, but I second what snoking said about the flashpaq. I had one and didn't much care for it, especially how long it took to download a different tune. Shift on the fly boxes is where it's at. My comp on 2x2 has way more power than the flashpaq on performance mode. Also, my truck came w an air dog installed on the frame and it did develope a leak back last fall but after replacing some push lock fittings all is well and doesn't get down past 15 psi ever. Hopefully itll hang in there and be trouble free for some time to come."***

Why are you having a shop service your transmission? I thought you were a diesel mechanic? Again why a Superchips, send it back! Get a Smarty and it will have the best stock software for your truck, without the dealer screwing it up.

Someone else will chime in on the oil pressure gauge issue, or you can contact MAD/Smarty about it. I have the fast idle re-flash installed when back in 2002 and oil pressure gauge still works as a gauge not a idiot light.

Most knowledgeable people avoid the dealers like a plague!!!!!

Chris

 

[CM_Guest]

I just saw your other comment. I must have my email notification disabled. I'm having a dealer service my transmission because I don't feel like laying under the truck doing it. I work my *** off fixing stuff other people don't so I have no problem paying someone else to do what I don't want to do. And I want it done before I put a 30-foot trailer behind the truck Friday and head across the state. I've rebuilt my own automatic transmissions before, so don't fool yourself into thinking that your snide little comment is going to embarass me. You can go to my YouTube channel and see the kind of transmission work I do for a living. DEEREMEYER1.

I don't know what you do for a living but I do know that most REAL technicians have no problem paying another technician for some jobs. I know I don't, because if it weren't for people willing to pay other people to fix their stuff, I wouldn't have a job. This is planting season and I'm working 7:30-6:00 and I'm gone from 6:45 a.m. to at least 7:00 p.m. since I drive 30 miles to work. I don't care to spend another two hours at work laying under my truck with ATF dripping on me. The dealer guesstimated me $250 for the trans service, flash and programming a key fob for the keyless entry. Since I have NO fob to start with, there's no way to DYI the programming for THAT, so it has to go to the dealer anyway. Do you have an aftermarket "solution" for that?

I've got a news flash for you on the oil pressure gauge. Even yours is basically an "idiot light". If you've ever hooked up a good mechanical gauge to a Cummins B-series - which I did when I noticed the "gauge" reading a little lower than normal on my '92 - you'll find that the 40 psi on that "gauge" is nowhere NEAR the actual pressure at the filter base. I've seen 100 psi at the filter base while the "gauge" is showing "M" on 1st-gen trucks and "40 psi" on trucks with a supposed "gauge". Most knowledgeable people avoid factory gauges like the plague because they are notoriously unreliable and inaccurate.

 

[CM_Guest]

You're telling me to go beg a "tune" off someone else and simultaneously criticizing how I choose to spend my money? That's hilarious.

 

[SnoKing]

At least my "factory" oil pressure goes up and down, when Dodge is done with it, it will not!

Being knowledgeable I monitor:

Fuel Pressure
Boost
EGT
transmission Temp at the output line. Have a switch to pan probe but that hardly moves the needle, so I recently left the out.

Chris

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[SnoKing]

You're telling me to go beg a "tune" off someone else and simultaneously criticizing how I choose to spend my money? That's hilarious.

NO, I said that someone with a Smarty can load the best stock software for your truck. Most Smarty owners are quite willing to do that for user friendly TDR members. If they load a "tune" to your truck, their Smarty is vin locked to your truck until they reload the Smarty stock software, that is has onboard their Smarty. Do a search on Smarty and study up. They are becoming available used as people are buying new trucks.

Chris

 

[CM_Guest]

You're knowledgeable but not knowledgeable enough to put a decent oil pressure gauge in? I'm not going to get involved in another big row with you. You're not worth the time.

 

[CM_Guest]

What part of "there's none on ebay" did you NOT understand? I've looked. Repeatedly. How about you just worry about how you spend your money and leave me alone to spend mine as I please? Don't start a bunch of ***** with me again. I'm not going to put up with it. That's your only warning. I get that you have nothing better to do that troll TDR all day but I've got work to do.

 

[SnoKing]

What part of "there's none on ebay" did you NOT understand? I've looked. Repeatedly. How about you just worry about how you spend your money and leave me alone to spend mine as I please? Don't start a bunch of ***** with me again. I'm not going to put up with it. That's your only warning. I get that you have nothing better to do that troll TDR all day but I've got work to do.

Whatever. I am done trying to help you. I added you as the first person I ever put on my ignore list. Bye Bye!

Chris

 

[CM_Guest]

You must have figured out I put you on my ignore list. You're done trying to "help"? I haven't seen you post ONE THING right YET. It's pretty funny that after I've told you REPEATEDLY to just leave me alone and despite your inability to do so and despite me TELLING you that I'm not going to put up with your b.s. and play your flame war game and despite the fact that the "knowledge" you've passed along has ALL been b.s. that NOW you're "done trying to help me". I wonder if had anything to do with me pointing out the FACT that you apparently have NOTHING to do BESIDES troll my comments. That's actually hilarious. Whatever, hero. You ARE a "martyr". Just don't fall off that pedestal you put yourself on. Think of all the time you'd have saved just shutting up and IGNORING me weeks ago when I ASKED YOU TO.

 

[Tractorat]

Like a moron I ordered an Airdog Raptor replacement lift pump for my truck without checking the style of fuel system. It turns out it has the lift pump in the fuel tank. I'm going to use a Superchips FlashPaq controller on the truck so I want to make sure my supply pressure is up to snuff. I've read varying opinions on the in-tank lift pump. What is the real story on the in-tank pumps and if they're junk what is the proper "fix"?

Except for an edge ez, my truck is stock. I bought it brand new in sept of 01. My LP and IP went out at about 50k miles. Dodge installed the in-tank pump as a fix. I dont have a fuel pressure guage, but I do have a low fuel pressure LED. I found that if I yomped on it, I could light up the LED. The shop that works on my truck for me (a very experienced and well known shop with an exception reputation for diesel trucks) installed an inline lp on the frame (I dont know the mfg). I now have about 104k miles with no more problems so far (knock on wood)