Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Am I being paranoid?

[IngrahamS]

Well I live in Southern NH and i had to drive up to northern Vermont to get my dads car. On the way up I was passing people with a U-Haul full car carrier in overdrive. Going about 80 it was like somebody flicked a switch and i lost engine power, i was not able to go over 60 and then it would flick back on 10 seconds later. This happened twice on the way up. After i loaded my dads car I got back on the highway and set the cruise at about 75 and it started surging not noticably by speed but i could here the turbo spooling up and down by about 3-4 psi and I started to hear a noticable loud fast ticking sound from the cab. I thought it was weird but kept going, well then it starting surging really bad and and i was forced to take it out of O/D just so I could maintain 60. I figured that the diesel had started to gel sense it was about 10-15 degrees out so i got two bottles of anti-gel and poured them in let it idle for about 5 minutes and then got back on the highway. It seemed okay for about 3 minutes until it started back with the surging in overdrive, so i turned off the O/D again and stayed at around 60 then it the engine just started to loose power slowly until we were only going 45 and this is with my foot to the floor, after doing this for about 2 minutes it would take off liked a raped ape and run good for about 5 minutes then do it again. after about 100 miles since putting the additive in it stopped loosing power but still surges onece in awhile. But now i am noticing the loud fast ticking sound that i never noticed before the day started. So I am pretty sure most of my problems were due to the fuel gelling but will the thicker fuel cause the lift pump to die or am i just being paranoid? Sorry about the length but i am a bit worried because the engine warrenty ends this month.

Oh, and my truck is a 2001. 5 2500 CTD QC long bed with 57k on it. Mods are a edge EZ, k&n filter, and 4 inch staright piped exhaust I also have a trans temp, boost, and pyro gauge(I know stupid to not have a fuel pressure but believe me there is one on it's way). Thanks for any responses in advance.

-Stewart

 

[supeerman4422]

it sounds like the lift pump could be on the way out?



-Tom

 

[WyattEarp]

i believe another member made reference to the ticking sound and i think it was the lift pump

 

[Rattlin_Ram]

Check your codes. APPS or VP-44 is my bet... . Should still be under warranty...

 

[Cummins724]

Yep, that is what my truck did when my lift pump was going bad. I ignored it & kept going down the highway, then it blew the injector pump. If I were you I wouldn't drive it till I got that fuel pressure gauge in it.

 

[IngrahamS]

How do I check the codes? wouldn't the check engine light come on if the injection pump was dieing? Can the dealership check the psi just to see if it is dieing? does anybody run the bullydog big fuel kit with the holley blue. Will this work with the mods I allready have I. E. too much PSI? Thanks for the quick replys.

-Stew

 

[Rattlin_Ram]

flip the key to the run position, 3 times, not starting the truck. It'll display codes in the odometer. And no it will not necessarily light the check engine light. Mine didn't when mine went out. My fuel pressure was low, but not flat from the lift pump. And on a trip to Iowa last year I lost power, put it to the floor and nothing, let off, and got back in it it came back. Did this 3 times. When I got home I took it into the dealer and injection pump and APPS where replaced under the 100k engine warranty... Then I replaced the lift pump myself, pressure was low, but it past dodges "flow" test...

 

[IngrahamS]

What #'s should I be looking for?

-Stew

This is what i read...

P PCU

0500

1693

P DONE

P ECU

1693

0216

P DONE

-Stew

 

[klaybus]

What #'s should I be looking for?

-Stew

This is what i read...

P PCU

0500

1693

P DONE

P ECU

1693

0216

P DONE

-Stew

Below are the definitions that accompany the codes you displayed on your odometer. The 0216 code isn't one I would want to see. Not fully sure about the others but I'm sure someone will chime in.



Good luck!

Clay









P0500 (M) No Vehicle Speed Sensor Signal No vehicle speed sensor signal detected during road load

conditions.



P0500 (M) No Vehicle Speed Sensor Signal A vehicle speed signal was not detected.



P1693 (M) DTC Detected in Companion Module A fault has been generated in the companion engine

control module.



P1693 (M) DTC Detected in PCM/ECM or DTC

Detected in ECM

A 9Companion DTC9 was set in both the ECM and PCM.



P0216 (M) Fuel Injection Pump Timing Failure High fuel supply restriction, low fuel pressure or possible

wrong or incorrectly installed pump keyway.

 

[Rattlin_Ram]

I had 1693 and 0216 when mine went out. And I think an APPS code but I don't remember...

 

[IngrahamS]

wonderful, so i take it chances are the injection pump is junk. Well i'll limp it over too the dodge dealer in the morning. The warrenty for the motor is 5 years 100k correct? It is a 2001 so i take it i am correct in saying that it is good throught the end of the month?

-Stew

 

[Rattlin_Ram]

Pull the EZ off first, and should be covered... . 5 year should be good through the delivery date... should still be good not sure how they exactly calculate it though. But with the miles and the known VP-44 weakness I'd say with a good dealer it should be covered...

 

[IngrahamS]

good call on the EZ, it's an 01. 5 so I should have no trouble getting it covered. Thanks again for all of the replys, this site is great, worth every penny. I'll let you guys know what happens.

-Stew

 

[nps]

The 5 years begins on the delivery date. Mine was delivered in March of 01, so the 5 years is up March of 06.



If by end of month you mean Dec 05 because it is an 01, then no. If you don't know the original delivery date, ask the dealer to look it up before they tear into your truck. Otherwise a $1000 job will double or triple in price.



on edit - before you go to the dealer make sure you check/change your fuel filter. If it is clogged and causing the problem (unlikely) then you will be in for more big $$$$ for a simple fix. Plus if it is dirty and they do change the VP, they will probably change the filter at the same time and charge you $$ for doing so.

 

[IngrahamS]

Well the truck went into the shop today and they called saying it was the lift pump and they were going to replace it with the new in-tank pump. Is this new design relaible or is it going to fail premature like the other one did. Well the good news is my trucks warrenty isn't up until feb. of 07 so if the injection pump goes soon it will all be covered. Thanks again for all the help.

-Stew

 

[nps]

Well the truck went into the shop today and they called saying it was the lift pump and they were going to replace it with the new in-tank pump. Is this new design relaible or is it going to fail premature like the other one did.

-Stew

So far those that have the intank pump seem to report reliability. And since it is an adaptation of the 3rd gen design, and you aren't hearing of 05's failing, then more indicators of reliability.



The problem with it is that it puts out low fuel pressure. Many members changed their LP out when it started to drop pressure but was still putting out pressures higher than what the new intank pump is putting out.



The dealer claims that it is a high volume pump. But it seems to be physically impossible to put a 'high volume' pump into the same delivery system and then see pressure go down. Also, since it was designed for the 3rd gens the pressure is less of a concern.



Some members have talked about adding a stock LP back into the original location and use the intank pump to feed it. In this application both pumps should survive. Don't know if any have actually done this yet.