Dead Vp44

[PROSTAR190]

Running about 45mph about 1 mile form the house and truck died. Tried to restart, it ran about another 100yards and dead for good this time. I have about 160,000 on the truck and no significant problems other than a lift pump and a few sensors oil press, speed pickup and IAT sensor. Cummins Atlantic has had the truck since 6-13-02 and it still won't run. Thier first analysis was the VP44... . now they are saying that the ECM is bad and that is what took out the VP44. I say bull#@%&. I have trouble believing that the ECM and VP44 died at the same moment in time. If that ECM did indeed take the VP44 then the new that I purchased from PDR (Thansk Piers!!!) is also been damaged. Any input would be appreciated. Another tip to anyone having problems with their VP44..... if cummins wants to replace your pump I suggest you supply the pump because they will charge more for a recon old style than you can buy a new model 027 for. I really starting to think about going back to a small block gasser.

 

[Pit Bull]

Prostar

Sorry to hear about your problem. Please keep us posted on what you learn since all of us 24Vers have to live with the VP44.

 

[Steve Campbell]

I guess I missed a thread somewhere...

What is the new 027 model VP44?

 

[MJawsman]

Maybe P7100 conversions will begin to get more popular??

 

[Roger rodbolt]

ProStar,

You might consider getting the truck to a small shop that has Cummins experience for a second opinion. Does the tach register while you are cranking it over? Watch carefully, the tach should register your cranking speed, if it does I'll bet only the VP44 is out. If it doesn't there is other problems such a crank sensor or ECM. My '98. 5 is still on the original VP44 and going strong. Good luck and let us know how it goes. Larry

 

[fj40charles]

I believe the 027 is an ETC pump. 028 is an ETH pump.



Charles

 

[WeirCummin]

simple test

there is a simple test to see if the VP44 is dead or not. Unplug the connector on the pump and supply battery voltage to pin 7 and ground pin 6. This with enable the pump to operate in the default timing and firing. I learned this from a tech @ a Dodge dealership that does diesels only, he wont touch a gas motor. I can tell you it works, I just change a pump about 3 weeks ago and before doing so wanteed to make sure that it was the pump.

Dean

 

[TowPro]

Re: simple test

OK, so your saying if you do this, and the truck starts, the pump is OK?

Originally posted by WeirCummin

there is a simple test to see if the VP44 is dead or not. Unplug the connector on the pump and supply battery voltage to pin 7 and ground pin 6. This with enable the pump to operate in the default timing and firing. I learned this from a tech @ a Dodge dealership that does diesels only, he wont touch a gas motor. I can tell you it works, I just change a pump about 3 weeks ago and before doing so wanteed to make sure that it was the pump.

Dean

 

[WeirCummin]

Well the simple awnser is yes if the truck wont start and it's not a mechanical problem with the pump. When I replaced the VP44 I refered to, I wanted to make sure there was not a communications problem w/the ECM-FPCM. You see the truck would start and run great cold but once warmed up acted like it had a bad miss. When I did the test, it still ran the same way and was determined through an injector shut off test (dealer or Cummins test only) that the pump had internal timing problem that was mechanical, (Thanks for showing your tricks ****) I have tried this on a couple of good running trucks to verify it works. It will throw a P1689 (no communications between the ECM-FPCM) when the test is done.

Dean

 

[nfox]

24 valve pump

Are the pins labeled on the plug the plugs into the pump? This sounds like an easy test to see if the pump is any good. Thanks Guys!!! Oo.

 

[PROSTAR190]

Well got the truck back Friday, 8 calendar days later with a new VP44 and a new ECM. They claimed the ECM had an internal short and was keeping the grid heater on when the truck was running. My grid heater and intake plentum are now burnt in that local area. I think that the relay for the grid heater failed during the priming step of the injector pump replacement. If I were going to change the ECM I would disconnect the battery. However the radio had not lost the programming when I picked up the truck. On a different and more positive note the bucking problem that I as well as many other members have been fighting is gone and the truck does run much better.