Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) At what mileage has your VP 44 died

[Pit Bull]

Originally posted by wyosteve



My feeling is that the VP may last without a lift pump if you don't tow much, but the extra fuel needed during towing if not available on a consistent basis thru the lift pump will lead to failure of the VP.

Steve that makes a lot of sense. My truck was a daily driver and never towed. I did on occasion put 2 fifty pound bags of dog food in the back . The only time I ever drove it WOT was after I bought Briar's FP gauge and I would take it out to test the lift pump.

 

[2-ND TIME]

VP-44 pump

Well Jack in Alaska you passed my home in FSJ BC too bad I wasn't home to ask you to stopin or to meet you for coffee. You have the same truck as I do and would like see how yours goes. Mine has a " solonid problem " talked to a Bosch gentleman this morning and he put me onto someone who maybe able to help. ????? I can monitor both sides of the lift pump which helps. Although this morning I was pumping alot of blue smoke out until the engine warmed up this has never done this before???? wonder if it set any codes and yesterday there was a definite different sound coming from the engine???and more valve noise .

 

[2-ND TIME]

VP-44 pump

Mine was made on 98 10,10,19 curious if anyone else's that are having problems are close to this date??????????? that are of this vintage.

 

[harleebkr]

Originally posted by Reb. B

just proving a point here. just wanted to see how many VP 44 have died and how earliy they have died for whatever reason. Thank u, Reb

80K-the second one is now at 70k and no probs.



___________________________

99 2500 SLT+ LWB 4X4

 

[Pit Bull]

Re: Re: At what mileage has your VP 44 died

Originally posted by harleebkr

80K-the second one is now at 70k and no probs.



___________________________

99 2500 SLT+ LWB 4X4

Just wondering if you had a FP gauge when it quit? Did the lift pump die first? Do you tow a lot? How about WOT driving?

 

[sg5054]

So the dealer has finally looked at the truck late last monday and said the fuel pump is only putting out 4 psi. They refused to warranty it until I insisted that they check the warranty terms for a Callifornia vehicle (7yrs/70k). So now they are picking up the tab. I asked if they would / had done any further checking beyond the fuel pump. They had not and would not until they had changed the pump. I told them I was concerned that we are getting into a parts changing scenario and not doing enough trouble shooting first. When I asked to speak with the tech I got some young guy who definitely had minimal diesel experience. His explanation of what they did differs from the service managers. (I spoke to him next) So on friday they called and said they changed the pump. They now have the truck running(sort of) but it is stumbling at 40 mph/WOT and they won't release the truck. Thats all they could do for the week. I am going down there on monday am for a up close and personal view of this. The last comment was they suspected the fuel filter. I changed it approx 10k ago. We wiil where this all goes on monday and I will report back.

I do want to say thanks to Chip at Blue Chip Diesel for his advice on what the issues might be and what to ask them.

FYI - I am at Bonneville Dodge in Manchester, NH ... . for now. :-{}

 

[sg5054]

ok, heres the outcome. The VP was condemned also but it took some grumping to move them along. They started down the road of a clogged filter but I had just changed it in June. We had to argue about the shipping. They said 10 days, I insisted on NDAir . It came air but not without a scrap. Then they wanted to charge me for 2 hours diag nostic time. When I explained that I wouldn't be paying anything they they said they would just cancel the pump order and I could have my truck. After insisting on speaking with the manager and not be allowed to they came back and said that the dealership would pickup the 2 hours. I now have the truck back and it seems to run okay. I think it a bit louder and the tone is different at hwy speeds. The tech flattened a bunch of the ac core fins with his knees and I now have a significant oil leak from the pwr steering pump drive shaft seal. Does anyone know if the steering pump needs to be messed with in order to change the injection pump? It doesn't appear so from what I can see. I hope it warms up soon so I can fix this, it's waayy to cold be fussing with it right now. Not the best experience but I'm mobile again for now.

Take care all,

SG

 

[BillGotthelf]

Pump died 2 saturdays ago at 86,580. Original lift pump still putting out 15 at idle. Same senario started missing then just shut off. Tech at dealer said got fault code for pump timing knew right away pump dead. Good tech-ignored "improvements" and they warranted pump.

 

[CumminsDZL]

My VP44 started making funny noises and missing occasionally at around 50K. lift pump died at 88000. i had that fixed but the computer was still storing code0216 (fuel injection pump timing failure) after the new lift pump and still making strange noises at about 2000 RPM. took the truck to the dealer and they replaced the VP44 under warranty at 89000 miles. So that goes to show you that even when the pump starts to go bad it may live as long as 40000 miles, mine did, and the truck still ran pretty normal.

 

[HVAC]

HAHAHAAAAAHA

Mine hasn't died. This thing has been hot rodded hard since early "99. Anybody guess why it hasn't broke yet???

 

[Pit Bull]

You were just lucky to have one of the 99 1/2% that are still running? :-laf Instead of one of the 1/2 of 1% that have died. :{

 

[BillGotthelf]

HVAC at least you could post a website that will work.

 

[HVAC]

OK You Thugs

Bill G. type in the site address, the link in my sig may not work but that's not my fault. Contact Steve St. Laurent regarding that. Type in www.performancediesel.net and you will successfully be transformed.



Listen up you critters, we identified the problem with the banjo bolts early on (like the beginning of "00), and then the lift pump problem manifested itself next. So I guess if you were to learn anything, it would be that improving the fuel system and keeping track of it's performance is key to the longetivity of the VP44.

 

[kboettcher]

Is the lift pump and the vp44 covered on the cummins engine warranty of 5 years 160,000km or is it on the 3 year power train warranty?

 

[Pit Bull]

Originally posted by kboettcher

Is the lift pump and the vp44 covered on the cummins engine warranty of 5 years 160,000km or is it on the 3 year power train warranty?

The VP44 is 5 year 100K mile coverage on all year trucks. The lift pump coverage varies by year. On some it is covered under the 7 year 70K mile emissions warranty others the 5 year 100K mile engine warranty. Just check your warranty book it should tell you.

 

[sg5054]

I had to insist that the dealer go back and read the warranty book as they were digging in their heels about the coverage. My rig came from CA and emmissions warranty is 5yrs/ 70k miles. Cummins covered the VP

 

[sg5054]

oops, belay that 7yr/70k.

 

[kboettcher]

At what pressures do Dodge HAVE TOO replace the liftpump?

I checked mine yesterday while I was pulling an equipment trailer with about 7000# and it was on the outlet side of the filter and the readings were as follows: starter bump- 10. 5psi, at idle- 10psi, cruising at 50 mph- 8psi, wot- 4. 5psi. I am going to do the pusherpump fix but thought I would get a new liftpump too if you guys think it is toast. Where is it writen at what pressure Cummins thinks it is bad, so I can print it off and take i to the dealer with me.

 

[rashwor]

Knock on wood...

129,500+ on '99 Ram 3500 5 speed with the original VP44;still being driven hard daily. Regular filter changes (every 15,000k), good clean fuel with sporadic PS treatment. First lift pump died at 87k. Second lift pump still putting out min of 9# no matter what I ask of the truck. Money is in the bank for a replacement VP44 when the original dies.



I am thinking about a PE 4100 or 4200 lift pump when this lift pump dies.



Rock on!

 

[sg5054]

the dealer condemned my FP with 4 psi. but that was sitting in the shop. They said they couldn't get the truck started. With the new pump they got it started but it skipped and blew clouds of white smoke they say. On another note the tech ground his knees into to the AC grid and flattened a lot of the fins. He also broke off the body grounding wire from the left battery neg cableand didn't bother to repair and reattach it. The screw doesn't even show any marks.

Doesn't anyone care about the work they do anymore?