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Dead pedel intermittant.

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Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Thermostat Gasket?

new injectors

P0216 is pretty much a death sentence code for the VP44. Injection Timing Ciruit Malfunction which is a circuit board problem I believe. I doubt filling the VP44 with Stanydyne will correct much less help at all with this issue. The engine may continue to run but eventually it will stop running and probably at the worst time and place. I had my VP44 replaced many years ago in the last month of the factory warranty. I noticed the issue because the engine would miss or buck under load. I ran the self diagnostic cycling the ingnition key 3 times and P0216 appeared. Not long after replacing the VP44, a friend and I installed an Air Dog and 1/2 fuel lines in the fuel system. Still running great.
 
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I've replace the vp44 so many times it feels I'm getting sick of them. I'm using the Glacier Diesel pump. The one that drives off the crank shaft.

I was hoping its just sticky or something inside the pump not death. I don't drive it enough.

well I'll try it and see. The dead pedal is the annoyance right now.
 
In some cases the failure can be related to heat. By chance, do you know what the fuel pressure is set at on you Glacier Diesel pump? There needs to be enough pressure to properly feed the VP44 demands and enough to push open the fuel bypass valve to recirculate fuel back to the tank. The VP44 depends on fuel not to feed and lubricate it but to cool it as well. I have my Air Dog set at 18 psi. It has worked well as this pressure for about 15 years. I am like you, I don't drive my truck unless I need it for something that requires it. That is why I have about 91,000 orginial miles on the truck since I purchased it new.
 
I've replace the vp44 so many times it feels I'm getting sick of them.

Who are you getting your VP44 injections pumps from? Are they providing new PSG's ? Has the pump been run and calibrated on the Bosch 815 test stand?

My experience with VP44 fuel injection pumps has been opposite of yours) My original VP44 failed (same 0216 code as yours) at 64,000 miles. I drove it for another year (20,000 miles) and then had it replaced under warranty. At the same time and also under warranty, an in-tank lift pump was installed. I currently have 380,000 miles on the truck - over 280,000 on the VP44 and still running strong.

I encourage you to not get caught up in the lift pump pressure needing to be over 14 psi to push fuel through the 14 psi overflow valve on the VP44. Lift pump pressure has no bearing whatsoever on how much fuel passes through the 14 psi overflow valve.

Inside the VP44 there is a fixed displacement vane pump (referred to as a feed pump in the Bosch service manual). Its pressure is regulated at over 100 psi. The flow from that pump feeds all of the components inside the VP44 and sends fuel through the 14 psi overflow valve back to tank the instant the engine starts an idles. Since the the VP44 is driven by the engine, the feed pump flow inside the VP44 doubles when engine rpm doubles.

The lift pump pressure on my truck averages 3 to 6 psi while driving. It is 12 psi at idle. I have no fuel pressure concerns.

Be sure to get a new PSG on your next VP44 and be sure that it has been calibrated on the Bosch 815 test stand.

- John
 
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