Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Code, VP, and fuel pressure questions

[Willys]

A friend of mine has a '00 2500 QC, shortbed, 4x4, 5 speed truck with 221k miles (just so you know its not the ones in my sig ) that is showing some trouble codes. He had it scanned at Autozone and it showed the following codes:



p0216- Injection timing control circuit malfunction

p0236-Turbo boost sensor/ A circuit range/performance ?



We also did the key off/on trick and pulled these codes:



p0460

p1693



I think the 0460 code is the fuel tank sending unit- we already bought him one to put in. The 1693 code is a companion code, right?



Now I've been doing a lot of searching on the other two codes since I'm not well versed on these double valved engines. Is there anything the 0236 code can be other than the MAP sensor? I'm going to take it out and clean the sensor and connections. When I checked it briefly a few days ago though, the connector looked fairly clean with some dielectric grease still in there.



The 0216 code is the one that has us worried. Could this be a sign of the lift pump going out, or is it a definite failing injector pump? I'm working on getting him a test gauge to see how the pressure looks. I'm also looking at finding a way to boost the pressure if it is the LP, but there are so many choices . FASS, Air Dog, Rasp, Mallory, Carter, Glacier... plus the draw straws, big line kits



As for how the truck is running, it seems to be fairly smooth while driving(no bucking?) but in stopped in neutral, free revving it, it does skip a little sometimes. So, is there a way I can eliminate the VP as the culprit for tripping the $$$0216 code? Could the MAP sensor do that?



This truck is getting expensive lately- right now we're looking at the above items plus heater core , and he just put new tires, clutch, steering gear, track bar, wheel hub/bearing, and a few other things on it. I wouldn't expect this new of a truck to have this many problems...

 

[WadePatton]

As far as I know the 0216 is titsup for the VP. 221k is pretty good for a VP anyway.



The ONLY sign of a LP going out is manual testing. DC didn't think to put a sensor on that pup.



Good new is that with all that stuff replaced--should be good for a while. Sorry 'bout the luck.



I went and got a truck for my sister from TX. Took it in for LP and the VP died when the mech took it out for test run. But that's a VP fer ya.

 

[OL RATLR]

As far as I know the 0216 is titsup for the VP. 221k is pretty good for a VP anyway.



The ONLY sign of a LP going out is manual testing. DC didn't think to put a sensor on that pup.



Good new is that with all that stuff replaced--should be good for a while. Sorry 'bout the luck.



I went and got a truck for my sister from TX. Took it in for LP and the VP died when the mech took it out for test run. But that's a VP fer ya.

Like Wade said if you throw a 0216 code Injection pump is on it's way out.

Sorry! :{

 

[Willys]

Is there anything to do to prolong its life? Is there a way to predict how long it will last? Is it hard to replace? I don't want to see him raked at the dealership or mechanics if I can help him do it.



Thanks for the help,

Andy

 

[WTBurke]

Andy,

My VP-44 went bad at 72k. (I neglected to monitor fuel pressure/volume delivery) I did put a new factory LP into the truck and hoped for the best... . it didn't help.

Once the rig starts to "dead peddle", in other words, you're driving down the road with no problems, then you step on the throttle to accelerate and there isn't anything there... . letting the accelerator slap back to zero and then bring it up to the approximate position you were formerly at returns everything to normal. This will begin to happen more often as time goes by. It's scary when you need throttle instantly and there's nothing there to be had.

I stumbled around for nearly 2k miles before I was blessed by DC through my local dealer.

As for D. I. Y... take a look at this link but, you must have the factory service manual to proceed.



www.nwbombers.com/membersites/kent/vp44.html



Good luck

William

 

[WadePatton]

... I don't want to see him raked at the dealership or mechanics if I can help him do it.

Thanks for the help,

Andy

Aren't there othe TDR guys nearby? Garmon is somewhere on the South side of Atlanta. Ask around, anywhere there's 12 guys with VP trucks, I'll bet more than a couple have been through this.



As far as DIY--if you have a warm, dry place to work and the tools and pretty good mechanical ability (ability to not leave things loose, nor to overtighten, nor to leave rags inside... ) and a factory service manual and the help of a buddy, then DIVE ON IN THERE! Helps if the buddy is a pro tech and you feed him beer.



That's how I gets my stuff done. Without the buddy, or sometimes with, and sometimes I call my pro buddies for info.



Look up your closest "Travel Companion" folks.



GL

 

[Willys]

Thanks for the help guys. I think Garmon would be the best guy around for this job. If it were my truck I'd attempt it... but I like to tinker more than my friend does. I'll pass the information along to him and hope it lasts a good bit longer.

 

[Willys]

Well, he hasn't done anything to it yet, and after noticing the tach fluttering a little at idle, he checked the codes again. Now its showing a P0122, with something about the TPS(APPS?) voltage being off.

 

[Willys]

So, he's still driving this truck around, about 244k miles now. I put a Holley blue lift pump in for him this weekend and it idles smoother now but he still has times where the truck hardly has any power for acceleration. While still moving, he can cut the ignition off, turn it back, and the truck seems back to normal again. Is there any way to clean the APPS? We've removed the MAP sensor and IAT and cleaned them just as a maintenance type of thing.

We're really hoping its not the VP- and I have a hard time believing it is with over 20k miles since these symptoms started. We didn't have a fuel gauge to test pressure before installing the lift pump- should have that installed in a day or two though.

Any comments with the 0122 code? Is that normal for it to appear with the 0216 code of death for the vp? Is it likely both the APPS and VP are dying simultaneously? Sort of a Romeo and Juliet kinda thing?

 

[SnoKing]

If he does not want to be stranded one day, it is time to order a VP44. "but he still has times where the truck hardly has any power for acceleration" That is what we call dead pedal, and with a 216 code it is the VP44 for sure. The two of you can change it in a few hours. I did mine on 4. 5 with a couple trips to the parts house for bolts to build a puller. Midwest Fuel Injection has a good price and they do not change for core unless it is not returned in 30 days. I only removed the out three injector lines. The inner ones can be pushed out of the was between the block and VP44. Doing this you do not have to deal with injector no. 6. , which is REALLY hard to reach.



SNOKING

 

[Willys]

Well we had a local, well known diesel mechanic scan the codes again and a new code comes up- crankshaft position sensor. So we replaced that this weekend, and the power is back and it idles well. The tach is reading normal again(instead of being erratic or just at 0). He did have a problem with it this morning- seems it ran rough when he first started out on the road. He shut it off and restarted, and the truck has run fine the rest of the day. Otherwise the rest of the symptoms are gone. We'll re-scan it soon. The key on/off trick shows a 1693 code only now, so there is probably something there.

edit- We took the truck to the mechanic to have the VP replaced- after scanning, he said try the crankshaft sensor first and see how it goes.

 

[GiesJ]

Well, did the VP last?

I am having similiar simptoms.