Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) 99 Engine Problems

[rniewoonder]

Well just bought a 99 Extended cap long box 4x4 with 264k from a good friend of mine in PA. Truck is in great condition, never seen the snow (a big deal considering I live in Michigan). He bought it from a friend years ago when it had a bad VP from the lift pump going out. He drove to SC, put a rebuilt VP and new OEM lift pump in it and drove it home. He drove it for a few thousand miles and thought the new OEM lift pump was going again so he parked it. 3 years went by and the truck continued to sit before I decided to buy it and he put a a FASS direct replacement pump in and I drove the truck home from PA last weekend. Before leaving the truck was idling in the driveway and did a quick hickup, died for a sec and took right back off and ran fine. It didn't die completely, just sounded like the fuel was cut for a second and then kept on running. On the way home on the highway it had a few spouts of dieing, only for a second and then taking back off. By dieing I mean something similar to a gaser missing for a split second. It was just a loss of power and then it was fine. Now the truck is home and the problem has gotten much worse. Today the truck would not pull away from a stop without falling on its face, I would let off the pedal, let it get running again, and I could run full throttle through two gears. I changed the fuel filter yesterday, the old one looked great. Checked grounds, looked at all ECU and PCU connectors, all looking brand new. Tomorrow I plan on installing the fuel pressure gauge I bought, and doing and APPS reset. The truck is not throwing any codes according to MY scanner (a 150 dollar unit from autozone years ago) maybe it's not telling me the truth? I'm prepared for the worst, and can accept the fact that a VP with 5k on it might need to be replaced, I just want to make sure it's that before I spend the money.

 

[JR]

You may well be on the right track with the APPS sensor. Try the reset and see if it helps.
Also, do yourself a favor and get yourself a fuel pressure gauge so you know what kind of fuel pressure the lift pump is putting out. New does not gaurantee anything, you may be having intermittent fuel pressure loss causing a hiccup. Either way a gauge is cheap insurance down the road.

 

[rniewoonder]

Thanks JR, that's tonights plan. Install the gauge and do the APPS reset. Has anyone on here followed Bluechips diagnostic procedures? He has a pretty good write up on how to test for intermittent pump power, then if that passes go after watching the voltage to the APPS.

If I discover it to be the VP any opinions on where to buy? I'm pretty new to the cummins world...

 

[hcole]

If this truck has been changed to an in tank pump, it may be that the screen in the tank below the pump is stopped up from setting up so long. It sounds like you have a fuel starvation problem. Diesel fuel can get sludgy from setting up. Check your fuel pressure at the inlet on the VP44.

 

[rniewoonder]

Well did the following last night. I'm pretty sure It's the VP but I might make a few phone calls before I call it dead.

1. Checked Pos. and Neg at pump, make the truck cut out, and power stayed constant.
2. Checked APPS with Analog meter, nice and smooth with pedal movement while running and not running. Steady at idle and part throttle when truck cuts out.
3. Installed Fuel Pressure Gauge, 19psi at idle, 12 at full throttle. Also steady while truck is cutting out.

Any thoughts before I buy a new pump? The current pump came from midwest fuel injection in 2006. It only has about 3k on it, but I know there is know way in hell they will take it back, even though I'm sure it's the computer on the pump, not the actual pump. Bluechip seems to know his stuff but is it worth the money? Thoroughbred Diesel sells a pump for 1150 with an 18 month warrenty, thats the longest I can find, and they claim to have NEW electronics. Any input would be great. Thanks for the help thus far.

 

[rniewoonder]

Well did the following last night. I'm pretty sure It's the VP but I might make a few phone calls before I call it dead.

1. Checked Pos. and Neg at pump, make the truck cut out, and power stayed constant.
2. Checked APPS with Analog meter, nice and smooth with pedal movement while running and not running. Steady at idle and part throttle when truck cuts out.
3. Installed Fuel Pressure Gauge, 19psi at idle, 12 at full throttle. Also steady while truck is cutting out.

Any thoughts before I buy a new pump? The current pump came from midwest fuel injection in 2006. It only has about 3k on it, but I know there is know way in hell they will take it back, even though I'm sure it's the computer on the pump, not the actual pump. Bluechip seems to know his stuff but is it worth the money? Thoroughbred Diesel sells a pump for 1150 with an 18 month warrenty, thats the longest I can find, and they claim to have NEW electronics. Any input would be great. Thanks for the help thus far.

 

[hcole]

Blue Chip Special X

 

[gtwitch]

ditto on Blue Chip Special X has been good for me now for 5 years and yes the troubleshooting guide is the best information available. Thanks Chip !!!

gtwitch in wyoming

 

[rniewoonder]

Well talked to Blue chip for a while on the phone today. Felt confidant enough to order a Special X. Very nice place to do business with so far. Can't wait to get the pump in the truck. Not really the reason I bought the pump, but I'm interested to see the claimed fuel gains.

 

[JR]

Please keep us updated once you get the pump. Usually a VP will throw a code if it's bad enough to cause the truck to run poor, but not always.

Good luck!

 

[SAndreasen]

How come all of blue chips pumps come with a rebuilt computer unless you wanna spend 2400 to get a new computer ? Are they really worth over double the cost of other pumps that have new computers?

 

[JR]

He offers pumps in 3 different configurations: New computer (which nobody else on the market offers), rebuilt or reman which is what everybody else offers, and used which he only recently started doing to be competitive price wise. The pumps that are priced with new (not reman) electronics are substantially higher because they are that much more expensive. Only the end user can determine if new vs reman or used is worth it, but considering the track record of reman parts I know what my decision would be.

 

[SAndreasen]

There are more suppliers that offer new computers than there are that offer rebuilt computers at a lot less money than blue pumps with rebuilt computers.

 

[JR]

That's the problem, vendors tend to use verbage that's not necessarily true. You can walk into NAPA and ask for a brake caliper and while it may LOOK new it is in deed a reman. A few years ago when I was in the market for a new pump I called around to a few of the bigger suppliers and pushed the matter of new vs reman, and they were indeed reman boards. I believe Industrial Injection might be using NEW, not reman now but that is all that I am aware of.

 

[rniewoonder]

I should have the Pump tomorrow. I'm really hoping this takes care of my problems. Yes Blue chip is not the cheapest route to take, but everything I've read has been good, and this isn't something I want to do every couple of years. JR... I'm also a little worried about how the truck had no codes, but after talking to Doug at Blue Chip, he had me pretty convinced it was the computer on the VP acting up. I hope he's correct.

 

[SAndreasen]

Yes parts vendors do like to play games they will tell you what you want to hear . When I need a pump I'll probably get a blue pump just because they seem to know there stuff and have a good rep on here

 

[rniewoonder]

Well stayed up late last night installing the Pump. Runs like a champion so far (50 miles). Thanks for the input guys, I would tell anyone who needs a pump to go to Blue Chip. The diagnostic page and customer service is worth the extra money to me.

 

[JR]

Good to hear! (kind of)

It's a real shame the prior VP only lasted 5k miles, this is exactly why I would never buy a pump with a reman ecm. It is a crap shoot at best and the two guys I know locally that bought a $900 special has had another opportunity to do it over again.

 

[ChrisOlson]

He offers pumps in 3 different configurations: New computer (which nobody else on the market offers), rebuilt or reman which is what everybody else offers, and used which he only recently started doing to be competitive price wise. The pumps that are priced with new (not reman) electronics are substantially higher because they are that much more expensive. Only the end user can determine if new vs reman or used is worth it, but considering the track record of reman parts I know what my decision would be.

^ Ditto and I did Blue Chip $2400 pump it hurt like heck but the guy knows his pumps.