Cummins reliablity

[cwarner]

When I bought my truck in early 02 I was a 100% satisfied customer. It was the first vehicle that I owned that I was truly happy with. I actually felt that I had a better truck than my friends that bought Dmax's and Powerstrokes. Although they always told me I bought the wrong one

Once I started bombing things only got better. Then the first lift pump went, and then a second. My Dmax and Pwerstroke friends weren't having problems (so I was told). Now my faith in the reliablity is starting to fade, I'm just not looking at the truck with the same eyes. I actually decided to sell it for a 3rd gen. Then I start reading about some of the new systems to remedy the lift pump issue, between that and the cost of a new 3rd gen I start having faith again. I purchase one of these new systems and now think the world of the truck again... Then the VP takes a dump. Now I'm really disapponted , sure it's covered under warranty but 60k miles and it's had 3 major fuel system problems. I still think the CTD is by far the better diesel but I just thought it would be more reliable.

Now I'm really thinking about that 3rd gen again.

 

[DavidC]

Don't despair. I drive a Powe Joke at work. Injectors replaced 3 times, clutch 2 times, water pump 2 times. Pedestrians ask me to move over so they can pass. Uses 2 quarts of oil for 300 miles. The grass is not greener on the other side. Take another look at Ford or Chevy's engine compartment and tell your self you really want to tare all that stuff apart to work on the part below it. The Cummins are pretty much accesible to work on.



Dave

 

[ndurbin]

I'm sure your D-max buddies wouldn't tell you if their injectors took a dump, which right now there are major problems with.



The problem with the VP is it uses excess fuel to cool it and for lubrication whereas the P7100 uses oil to cool and lubricate it. When ya loose fuel pressure (usuaully because of a stupid lift pump design that causes them to go south) it burns the VP up.



Nathan

 

[Truckie]

Dude take a chill pill, and get a few cold ones and sit down and take a deep breath, have faith all will be fine.

Its not the end of the world because your VP went south on ya. Be glade that it is covered under warranty. I just shelled out $700. 00 to get my A/C fixed in my 01.

So far what you have mentioned that is wrong with you truck is absolutely nothing compared to what the guys driving the power jokes and Dmaxs are having, they would kill to have your problems. The lift pump is a very pi&& poor excuse for a fuel pump.

Now the question you need to ask your self is how long did you drive around with a bad lift pump? I ask this question because I see in your sig you don't list any gauges.

If you don't have a set of gauges get a set its the best thing you could do for cheap insurance to watch what your engine is doing, got to keep an eye on that fuel pressure.

And yes the CTD is a very reliable engine.

MIKE

 

[rbattelle]

Just so we're all on the same page here, clarify something for me:



You have an Edge EZ and 275rv injectors and you blame Cummins for lack of durability because you've had fuel system problems.

 

[tractorface]

I feel your pain

I too have a love hate relationship with my truck. We got stuck with a quick fix for emmissions reasons. Cummins had not yet developed the HPCR engine and only had a short time to do Something. The result was the 24v. With that said. The fuel system seems to be fixable. Stay with it and relax, guys like to think thier stuff is buletproof but nothing is. The third gen guys have problems too. I am sticking it out because the aftermarket has a lot of great fixes for our trucks. If you must switch buy a late model 12v :-{}

 

[Tony T.]

Just so we're all on the same page here, clarify something for me:



You have an Edge EZ and 275rv injectors and you blame Cummins for lack of durability because you've had fuel system problems.

I have questioned this also, how many bombed vehicles compared to stock ones are having the problems with thier fuel systems. Are the percentages a lot greater if your truck is bombed of having a failure. Are there just as many stockers having the same problem.

 

[ndennis]

I have a 2000 Ram 2500 Quadcab 2WD ETC DEE with 111,000+ miles. It also has DDII's and Edge EZ which has been on there since about 30,000. With the exception of the atrocious disc/drum brakes, this has been far more reliable than the 95 PS I had prior to it. The only problems have been: one lift pump, one fuel guage sender, and one set of starter contacts. Oil has been changed every 7500 miles and not a single drop of oil has been added between oil changes nor does it dribble all over the ground, either. The 95 Powerstroke cost me $7000 in transmission repairs, a water pump, numerous sensors, and a computer. It got about 1500 miles to the quart and had a nice Delo 400 undercoat as well as leaving a nice spot on the ground overnight. It did get great mileage and the A/C(despite being 10 years old) could freeze your tush off in the hottest of weather. The only thing on the PS that truely disappointed me, was the E40D transmission in that 2 overhauls(one took out the radiator) and a major repair kept me wondering when it was going to go Tango Uniform again.

N Dennis

 

[JLEONARD]

Reliability?

See signature

 

[cwarner]

Just so we're all on the same page here, clarify something for me:



You have an Edge EZ and 275rv injectors and you blame Cummins for lack of durability because you've had fuel system problems.

Actually I do. You know as well as I do there is a problem with the stock lift pumps. My first lift pump went before all the bombing began. Plus I've know a few people with bone stock trucks that have left them on the side of the road due to fuel system issues. Most of the bombed trucks have gauges so we usually catch the problem before it gets bad.

 

[mhenon]

How reliable is the 2nd Gen engine?

If you look over "all" the post on the 2nd generation engine you'll see one problem (for the most part). It's that lift pump/VP44 thing. Take that out of the mix... and the engine is bullet-proof.

I'm just packing around a spare pump and keeping a lubricant additive in the fuel. If /when the pump goes it will get replaced and I'll buy a new spare. I believe as long as the VP44 has fuel it will last a long time. So it all boils down to this stupid little $175. 00 lift pump.



Mike

 

[RustyJC]

Rhetorical question - Why the difference in the reliability of supposedly identical trucks? My 2002 (ordered in July 2001 and delivered August 15, 2001) has never been back to the dealer for anything - no warrantable problems whatsoever. It's still running the original lift pump that makes 16+ PSIG at idle, 13 PSIG at 70 MPH cruise and 11-12 PSIG at WOT.



My 2002 and the 1996 that preceded it have been 2 of the most reliable vehicles I've ever owned, and I've owned vehicles since 1963. Lest you think that I'm drinking Dodge Kool-aid, I owned nothing but Fords and Volvos until purchasing the 1996 3500.



My point - they're not ALL junk!



Rusty

 

[cwarner]

I don't recall saying the CTD was junk, I believe I said it is the superior diesel (IMO) . The fuel system has something to be desired though.

I was just a little bummed. I do have 60k with just the 2 lift pumps,the VP , some brake pads and a U-joint.

 

[JyRO]

I've learned something as a 24V owner. I'd like to quote myself, hehehe.



"There are 2 kinds of 24V owners. There are those 24V owners who have replaced their lift pump(s), and then there are those 24V owners who will have to replace their lift pump(s). "



Luckily, mine has only been replaced once.



Now I have a question. I've just turned 70,000 miles. But I will have owned the truck 5 years this October. Does my warranty expire in October after 5 years, or do I still have 30,000 miles left?

 

[RustyJC]

"There are 2 kinds of 24V owners. There are those 24V owners who have replaced their lift pump(s), and then there are those 24V owners who will have to replace their lift pump(s). "

Jyro,



I don't disagree at all. It's just a maintenance item for us. My point is that I'm 3+ years down the road and haven't had to replace mine. Therefore, it's not like it has been a nuisance item for me. Of course, the 2002's were supposed to have the "latest & greatest" lift pumps, so that's what I would have expected. I'm sure my day's coming - it just hasn't arrived yet.



Rusty

 

[mcoleman]

I've replaced 4 lift pumps in 153,000 miles and I'm still on the stock VP. I've recently purchased an Air Dog to eliminate the lift pump problem. Hopefully for good.

 

[tractorface]

Well.....

I have said it many times before. I don't have miles of data to back up my claim but..... I believe the Fuel module is to blame for many LP and VP failures especially on trucks that have had multiple failures. The suction valve restriction is wildly different from one module to the next. Unlucky owners with very restrictive units can expect more "fuel" related issues than others. I have seen the valve/screen assembly in the bottom installed upside down on an OEM unit and I have only had three modules out :--) If my suspicions are correct the problem is easily solved by eliminating the ridiculous valves in the tank module. .

 

[DavidC]

Jyro,

It is 5 years from date of purchase or 100k miles. Which ever occurs first. Mine expired in August with 50k on the odometer.



Dave

 

[mhenon]

It's something else...

Tractorface, I tend to agree with you on this. Those folks with multiple LP failures... . there's something else wrong (my opinion). I've always been suspicious of that modual with-in the tank and, of course, there's know way to look at the damn thing. Filters should be located some place a guy can take a peek at it... not hidden in the tank. . never to be serviced!



Mike