Consumer Alert VP44 Pump

[blackbeast]

I lost a lift pump a few weeks ago, and had to run the truck a few hundred miles with little or no pressure. Since then I have had the same symptoms. I will check mine this Saturday at the latest, and report back my findings.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

This discussion has piqued my interest. I've had a poor idle with a warm engine ever since my truck was new. But as the miles pile up my VP44 seems to deteriorate more and more. It's not bad, but now it doesn't idle very smooth when cold, power surges when you rev it up, and it falters & misses slightly too. On the highway you can feel it constantly surging. K AlWo I





Edit: weird, just when I posted this the last half of what I typed pixeled out weird and didn't appear (except for that fragment at the end).



Anyway to finish what I was saying. . . it surges on the highway constantly, it is also rough under load when it didn't use to be. Especially under load above 2600rpm. Lawrence thought it was pretty poor when he listened to it last August.



When I was talking to him I got the impression he is less of a fan of the HO pump than the ETC version. Not just because of its limitations but because the ETC VP44s are inherently smoother, from the fuel delivery rate/method or something of that nature.



I might just pop my cover and see what I find, but I am saving my $$ for an upgrade in the next few months.



Vaughn

 

[MikeR]

I was bored at work last night so I popped off the cover. Everything's fine inside, which I expected it would be even though I drove on a dead lift pump for almost 1k hard miles. No metal shavings or anything.



What amazes me is the size of the passage the fuel flows through from the first cavity to the overflow then the pump body. The hole is pretty small and I can't believe some guys think they need 22psi or 1/2in fuel lines and such.

 

[Bill Kondolay]

HVAC



The lift pump we had on there was a Mallory 110M



It lasted approx 50000 + miles, guys i am not ignoring you i am trying to get the torque specs.



I got a phone call in to TX ram and he is checking it out on his CD he has for the Bosch VP44 pump.



Piers and I checked out a 1999 pump that had failed and was sitting on the bench, the torque screws at least finger tight, but we had no way of knowing if they were tight or not without the torque specifications.



To examine it you dont need any parts, the top cover plate is definately a regular # 25 torque bit and there are no gaskets to rip or anything.

Its got an o ring on it so its re-useable as long as you make sure everything is clean before you take the cover plate off.



The two screws holding the magnetic pickup are # 10 torque bits.

I am hoping to get some more information soon and i will comment on the other questions.



Guys i am learning about this pump the same as you guys are.

I should have more info by the end of the week

 

[TXRam]

No torque spec's in the material that I have.



I did go ahead and pull the cover off of mine to check, since I'm having what sounds lke the same symptoms as Stefan had - missing and thus lower power at higher rpms (2500rpms+). Both of the screws were tight in mine. Couldn't see any other problems. Replaced cover, but truck did not miss after that - we'll see if it comes back, but it was never intermittent before.



Fuel pressures are OK, lift pump is fine, filter is not plugged. Now it's just a wait and see game. Hopefuly we'll figure this out before alot of VP44's take a dirt nap!

 

[Hunnard]

Bill,

If at all possible, could you forward to me a few names of diesel parts houses in BC that cater to diesel up-grades? Much appreciated if you can, as I'll be up North in the next couple of months for an extended stay/work.

Thank you, Hunnard

 

[Snow man]

Bill ,thank you for the tip,my truck has seemed to be a little low on power lately,and the idle has gotten rough in Neutral,and of course you know about my stalling even with the reflash,I think im going to check mine out this weekend.

 

[KatDiesel]

Mine were tight.

 

[Cliffman]

Miles

Hey Bill,



What was the mileage on the truck just prior to having the pump problems? I have 60k on my 01 ETH and I'm just wondering if I'm past the pump problem phase.

 

[rubberneck]

not exactly

Yes the earlier pumps have regular old torx screws on the pump cover, i just helped do a head gasket on an early 2001 and it had regular old 6 point torx screws. My truck does have goofy 5 point security head torx screws. (wish i had a stinkin camera) I dont know if it matters, but mine is a california truck, the other was not. So JR2 is correct (kind of) you MAY NEED a goofy bit to get your cover off MATCO caries them.



Any way, i now have a nice collection of t-25 torx bits, standard 6 point, security head 6 point, and the latest and greates security head 5 point. What will they think of next

 

[Bill Kondolay]

The injection pump had almost 100,000 miles on it.

I cant really complain as the truck was worked hard.



txram, thanks for looking looks like i am not buying that CD.



I am going to DD next weekend i will see what i can find out without compromising Lawrence's R&D.



I cant tell you guys much more at this time, but i will keep you posted as i learn more.

 

[Cliffman]

Worked hard

Hey Bill,



Give us some idea of what "worked hard" means. Are you talking lots of hot roding or is this a work truck doing lots of heavy pulling. I think those of us that pull a lot would like to know cuz 100k aint much when your hoping to get at least 300k.



Thanks



Cliff

 

[JR2]

Cliffman -

It was the pump off of Stefans truck that failed, he races anything that moves. I don't know if it towed alot but I know it was raced quite a bit. .



JR2

 

[Ramafid]

Stefan's truck had lots of hard WOT. I know first hand. I don't know if he hauled much except lots of A$$.

 

[Cliffman]

LMFAO @ Ramafid