Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Bad Lift Pump? Or Bad VP44?

[SConklin]

I had previously posted that my lift pump was bad as I had suspected, and also been told by a Cummins tech guy when I told him my symptoms over the phone. I have since spoken with another diesel shop in town, and the guy there says that it's probably my VP44's and it's internal diaphram being blown out. Now, I hope he's wrong, but I thought I may be able to get another opinion on here. Here's what's going on:



I have a 2002 ETH, w/ DDIII's and a Drag Comp, with Wildcat banjo bolts, and an otherwise stock fuel system. I was driving WOT last week, when all of a sudden my truck stalled out. I played with it for a while, and it would not start back up. It acted like it was out of fuel, I think. I had plenty of fuel in the tank though. I finally got it started again, barely, and since then, I have been runnning about 3psi lower than normal for fuel pressure, and the pressure drops significantly, very quickly, when I accellerate at all. With the drag comp on, I can suck the pressure almost down to nothing now (so I have kept it off since then), and I speculated that I DID suck it down to nothing when it stalled (which would explain feeling like I ran it out of fuel. I have never had this problem before, and have always maintained at least about 7psi of pressure at WOT, and about 14-15 at idle.

It is still drivable, but something is not working correctly, and I am worried about doing more damage if something IS out.

Any ideas?

Thanks.



-Skyler

 

[LSMITH]

The first thing you have to do is put a new lift pump on. $140 or so from Cummins vs $1400 or so for a new VP. Take the hit on the lift pump ( you will need a spare anyway ) and make sure that it is or is not the problem before worrying about the expensive parts.

 

[krs]

Have you checked for codes? If you've got an ecm code p0181, p0215, p0216 ,p0251, or a few others then it's a fair indicator of a vp44 failure. Sounds like you'll need a liftpump anyway you look at it so that's an OK thing to change if there are no codes set.

 

[Murle]

Just had a friend take his 2001 in for engine missing and no power. Truck has about 50,000 on it. I told him it was the lift pump. 5 star ******* checked it and said that the pump was bad and that he also needed a 85. 00 fuel filter. Filter was changed not too long ago. And all fuel that has been put in the truck is double filtered.



So the dealer said it will take 3 days to get the lift pump in.



What a crock... 3 days..... and they wanted 85. 00 for a 20. 00 fuel filter..... The 5 star ******* is Mike Brown Ford of Granbury, Texas.

 

[Tulsa618]

Unbelievable! I "discovered" that my lift pump was on its last leg at a Dyno Day here in KC one Sunday late last year. I called the dealer from whom I bought my Ram back in '99 and told him the FP readings. He said, "Bruce, we've had to replace a few those from time to time, so I keep a couple in stock. I'll put your name on one and when you get back down to our area, we'll put it on for ya. Now, if your problem were a few more inches down the fuel path, we couldn't cover it under warranty (he's well aware of what I've done to The Beast). " We should all be so fortunate to have dealers such as Melton Sales ro go to. Thanks, Larry Melton! (Melton Sales, Claremore, OK)