Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Czech VP ???

[JeffWhite]

Just got back from the Dodge place, checking to see if my new VP, to

be put on under warranty next week, was in yet - It had just hit the

counter from UPS, so I got to see the sealed box - Had Mopar with the

new (to me) blue "M" logo, and said plainly, "remanufactured in Czech republic" Is this SOP for a warranty VP replacement, or am I

getting screwed again, like when I bought this POS?

 

[RustyJC]

Bosch (the manufacturer of the VP) is a German company. With the advent of the EU, it's quite common for the European manufacturers to have facilities in former Eastern Bloc countries. If the work is done by Bosch to Bosch standards, what does it matter where it's done (sorta like my Mexican-assembled truck)?



Sorry you feel the way you do about your "POS" truck. If I felt that miserable about it, I'd sell it and move on, but that's just me!



Rusty

 

[Oil Burner]

I have visited some manufacturing facilities in europe and was VERY impressed with the quality and precision of operations.



One of my co-workers just returned from one of our divisions in the Czech Republic last Saturday and he was very impressed with that site.



Just because it isn't made in the U. S. doesn't mean it is junk.



Jason

 

[Bob4x4]

It is a toss up where the reman pump will come from the republic of czech or germany. I see more early pumps (98-2000) from Czech than the later versions.



Bob

 

[JeffWhite]

to clarify

My "problem" with what I saw, is about . 5 percent with WHERE it was

re-manned, and 99. 5 percent with it BEING re-man. I ask, is putting a

re-man pump on SOP? I have LOVED the truck up to now, but just can't

get my head wrapped around the VP being a "routine service" item.

I have been reading post about how to save the VP till I'm dizzy, and

still don't feel good about it. Spend a chunk on a FASS or RASP with no

guarantee the VP won't crap out again, or put some more with it and trade

for my friends '04. It is black, and an auto, neither my picks, but it don't

have a VP either. Seems I struck a nerve with my POS comment - I wanted

one of these since '94 - took me till '02 to buy it, only new vehicle I have

ever owned, or probably ever will. At 50K, the VP started dying, and it

will not pull my rig that much better than my old '92 6. 5. sure, I had to

downshift more, and maybe lose 5 mph, but I never failed to get over a hill.

the Dodge has 54,350 miles on it, has been maintained religeously, never

worked hard, carried my signature load maybe 2,000 miles... Somebody

want to buy it? How could I NOT feel miserable about it, with the inherent

problems, and stunning warranty service, so much to love... I've now got

an in-tank fuel pump that everybody tells me is gonna kill the sort-of-new

pump in short order. God, this is reminding me of some of my Ford driving

friends - if it is crap, I'm gonna call it crap, no brand loyalty here to anyone.

Just say there is nothing better, over and over while you're replacing the VP.

the power steering is leaking between the vacuum pump, and I've got to

clean the crud out of my radiator fins, and re-locate the vent while I'm at

it - they didn't tell me the damned thing was " some assembly required "

when I bought it, or mention anything about a deductible on the warranty.

 

[nps]

They don't make new VPs anymore. They are all remans.

 

[RustyJC]

You have a fuel pressure gauge. Get the IP replaced, be sure you maintain good fuel supply pressure and go on down the road. I'm still on my original LP and IP with 16+ PSIG supply at idle and 10-11 at WOT (even with the bigger injectors), and it pulls our 16,000 GVWR 5th wheel up 6% grades at 70 MPH in 6th gear. The only Dodge/Cummins component that's ever failed since we took delivery on 8/15/01 is the back-up light switch in the NV5600.



Rusty

 

[Bob4x4]

My "problem" with what I saw, is about . 5 percent with WHERE it was

re-manned, and 99. 5 percent with it BEING re-man. I ask, is putting a

re-man pump on SOP? I have LOVED the truck up to now, but just can't

get my head wrapped around the VP being a "routine service" item.

I have been reading post about how to save the VP till I'm dizzy, and

still don't feel good about it. Spend a chunk on a FASS or RASP with no

guarantee the VP won't crap out again, or put some more with it and trade

for my friends '04. It is black, and an auto, neither my picks, but it don't

have a VP either. Seems I struck a nerve with my POS comment - I wanted

one of these since '94 - took me till '02 to buy it, only new vehicle I have

ever owned, or probably ever will. At 50K, the VP started dying, and it

will not pull my rig that much better than my old '92 6. 5. sure, I had to

downshift more, and maybe lose 5 mph, but I never failed to get over a hill.

the Dodge has 54,350 miles on it, has been maintained religeously, never

worked hard, carried my signature load maybe 2,000 miles... Somebody

want to buy it? How could I NOT feel miserable about it, with the inherent

problems, and stunning warranty service, so much to love... I've now got

an in-tank fuel pump that everybody tells me is gonna kill the sort-of-new

pump in short order. God, this is reminding me of some of my Ford driving

friends - if it is crap, I'm gonna call it crap, no brand loyalty here to anyone.

Just say there is nothing better, over and over while you're replacing the VP.

the power steering is leaking between the vacuum pump, and I've got to

clean the crud out of my radiator fins, and re-locate the vent while I'm at

it - they didn't tell me the damned thing was " some assembly required "

when I bought it, or mention anything about a deductible on the warranty.

Thats why I have a 94 and an 05 I never wanted to own a vp44 I have replaced way to many to want to drive one



Bob

 

[JeffWhite]

thanks

thanks for that info, NPS. I don't mean to rant so, but I wanted this thing

worse than just about any material thing ever - and it is not going in dreamlike fashion, so I am a little jolted / let down. All the time I was lusting

after a Cummins, I watched those 12V's soldiering on, and never heard about

any of the problems. I should have joined here before buying, looking back.

I wouldn't be nearly so peeved if I had jumped in knowing what I was in for.

Money is funny around here, so the only game plan I have hatched is maybe

trade for a '97 or early '98, but then I've got KDP, 5spd nut, 53 joy -

I have not heard much out of the '03 up - what is their weakness, if any?

 

[RustyJC]

I have not heard much out of the '03 up - what is their weakness, if any?

They have their Achilles' heel as well. Driveline vibration, sticking injectors, etc. Yeah, you hear horror stories about some 2nd generation 24 valve trucks, but what about those like mine that have never been back to the dealer since purchase? (I had a 3/36 bumper-to-bumper warranty, so I changed out the back-up light switch myself. ) None of the Dodge/Cummins designs are perfect, but none of them are junk, either.



Rusty

 

[JeffWhite]

You have a fuel pressure gauge. Get the IP replaced, be sure you maintain good fuel supply pressure and go on down the road. I'm still on my original LP and IP with 16+ PSIG supply at idle and 10-11 at WOT (even with the bigger injectors), and it pulls our 16,000 GVWR 5th wheel up 6% grades at 70 MPH in 6th gear. The only Dodge/Cummins component that's ever failed since we took delivery on 8/15/01 is the back-up light switch in the NV5600.



Rusty

I have no idea what percent grade they are, they don't believe in that sort

of thing around here but several hills, with my camper and boat, will make

it fall flat on its face at 70mph, and downshifting to fifth makes it worse, like

throwing an anchor out! It feels like it is de-fueling or something. My friends

'04 325 horse, the hill on Hwy 72 at Bear Creek, with a 33' fiver, 45 mph at

bottom, 75 at top. Mine, with slide in and boat, 65 at bottom, 45 at top,

and loosing ground fast. much more hill, and I'd be in fourth. Sure, sticks and

a box would probably fix it, but I'm raising hell about just keeping it running,

let alone hopping it up. I went through that faze with musclecars, I'm too

old and too poor to play that with a CTD. Unloaded, it is awesome - but

just a fraction of what some of you guys carry, and it falls flat. don't understand it. And I am losing the patience TO try to understand it.

 

[nps]

I have not heard much out of the '03 up - what is their weakness, if any?

First off they're ugly, but starting to grow on me. :-laf

Then they also have the silly looking half doors - the hidden suicide doors on the 2nd gen are way cooler. (no offense to any 3rd Gen owners)



I had a 95 12v auto reg cab. I ordered my 01. 5 after seeing what the new body style looked like, and wanted to get a 2nd gen before the changeover. The 01. 5 is a keeper - much better brakes than the 95, and a whole lot more power stock. Nearly 5 years later both the LP and IP are still strong.



Like Rusty said - get the IP changed, keep an eye on the FP, and keep driving down the road. An IP every 2-3 yrs at $1000 each is alot cheaper than a new truck. And the remans are getting better parts. The VP fails for either the electronics or the mechanical bits. Both have had the weak areas improved, so there is a good chance this will be the last one you need providing you keep it well fueled.

 

[JeffWhite]

Yeah, you hear horror stories about some 2nd generation 24 valve trucks, but what about those like mine that have never been back to the dealer since purchase?



Rusty

All I can say is you must be doing something right, or are lucky, like I was

with my 6. 5, sold running perfectly at 211,000. Maybe I use up all my good

luck getting that and 185,000 out of a 2. 8L S-10 LIke I have said before

though, strictly speaking reliability, not power, don't think the 5. 7 GMs

were THAT much worse - worse, but not a lot.

 

[JeffWhite]

well fueled I take it meaning more than the 0-8 psi I'm seeing with my

new in-tank "Wunderpump" - but I do like the suicide doors, though I don't

really need more than a regular cab anymore - who'd a thunk a little turbo

whistle music and wash-board road back massage would do so much as for

getting the wife and kids not to always want to take my truck And I

really like the NV5600, as long as it don't puke, don't care how notchy it

shifts. Actually, in the last 10K or so, it is either getting really smooth, or

I'm just more used to it, couldn't ask it to shift any better. I would really

like a 4wd, but ain't even gonna go there, all I've heard on here about

death wobble and front end wear woes.

 

[nps]

well fueled I take it meaning more than the 0-8 psi I'm seeing with my new in-tank "Wunderpump" ... .

all I've heard on here about death wobble and front end wear woes.

Yeah, I've pretty much decided that the intank pump is a no-go. If my VP goes, it's going to be a big debate as to whether I want to have to pull the tank to take the POS out after the VP swap, or just pay the $1000 and do the VP myself. At least I've only got until March to worry - then my 5 years are up.



Never had a death wobble - even have the front end lifted (leveled). But death wobble isn't a Dodge only thing - other straight axle vehicles get it too.

 

[2-ND TIME]

Well be glad you got one that works.

Well Oilburner be glad that you got on that works and doesn't need to be completely reworked. From the factory SNAFU's

Steering that osocillated from 10 o:clock to 2 o:clock and fast as you can say it as you go down the road. Direct cost PLUS $5000. 00 (Inexcusable)

Gutless 235 HP engine since NEW. Wasted over $15,000. 00 So far on stupidity and incompentancy. 39 visits and all for not.

Leaking since new 53 BLOCK well documented.

Over 50,000 KM's to get service. ( to and from dollarships).

:-{} :-{} :-{}

The fan motor:

Told dollarship to replace the fan.

Told service advisor. The temp out side was -18*C as well so didn't want to change it.

Told mech what and the reasons for deducing the need for wanting the fan replaced.

He (sneakily) asked if he could check the heater core (stupidly I said yes) then he proceeds to tell me that it needs to be replaced!!!

Pretty good scam.

That lasted 5 weeks and the fan died compleatly and had to drive it home at -12*C

Changed it myself and it has been working ever since.



Designs

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Grotesquely

Exspensive!!!