Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Dreaded 0216 code @VP44

[RWestfall]

Just had engine light stay on after starting and made 5 mile trip, checked for codes and got P 1693 and then P 0216. I am told by dodge cummins mech. not to drive far as I will be walking soon because vp44 is going to go. Truck runs fine, how much time do I have?



2002 ctd, 4x4, Auto, 3. 54 diffs, Banks Pwr Pk, Walbro 392, Boost-Pyro-Fuel-Trans. gages,

 

[JLandry]

Sorry to say, but your VP44 could have only MINUTES left to live. I sure as heck wouldn't drive the truck father than I would be willing to have it towed. I'd keep it in my driveway, run a few diagnostic tests to rule out something else, and get a rebuilt VP44 on order.



Hang in there...



John L.

 

[CanadianCarGuy]

The 0216 code could be from plugged fuel filter, but the 1693 is a pretty good indication not to go on any long trips.

 

[JKinney]

How many miles on your rig? Is this your first replacement pump, or are you headed for your second?

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

It can be a real crapshoot - I got a couple of 216's pretty early, then ran another 5 years or so with no more - then they started in again. Truck always ran great - but like the guys say, better be prepared for the worse!

 

[RWestfall]

How many miles on your rig? Is this your first replacement pump, or are you headed for your second?

76,000 total miles, all with orig. vp44, 60,000 of these with Banks Pwr Pk and gages. I have gone through 4 lift pumps, limping home 40 miles once trying to keep 4 lbs. fuel pressure. The other 3 pumps I caught eradic reading close to home. Maybe I'm lucky to get 76 k out of original with all the lift pump problems. Maybe the Banks system has something to do with it as well. Ironic not to be able to get $4. 00 + gal. fuel into cylinders!

 

[RWestfall]

76,000 total miles, all with orig. vp44, 60,000 of these with Banks Pwr Pk and gages. I have gone through 4 lift pumps, limping home 40 miles once trying to keep 4 lbs. fuel pressure. The other 3 pumps I caught eradic reading close to home. Maybe I'm lucky to get 76 k out of original with all the lift pump problems. Maybe the Banks system has something to do with it as well. Ironic not to be able to get $4. 00 + gal. fuel into cylinders!

PS - Have also been useing Stanydyne Performance Formula every tank for 2 years.

 

[duckcarvr]

I had the same codes and last month replaced the vp-44. I see no difference in performance or miliage. if there are things to check first i would do it. i had an edge dz on and took it off to extract the codes. i had only a couple of instances after taking it off, coming to a stop it cut out. a little twice only. now i wonder if i needed it. if you do need one midwest injection... they pay shipping both ways and no up front core charge and a good price. robert

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Seems the common VP-44 failure in the '01-'02 trucks was Bosch's use of a brass cylinder liner for the advance mechanism - it wore prematurely, lost advance timing, and set a code. They seem to run a while like that, but eventually get out of tolerance range, and shut down. Mine went at about 45K, my brother-in-law made it to 65k, and wouldn't you know it, I babied mine every way possible, and all he did was DRIVE his... :-laf



The later Bosch rebuilts now have changed to a steel advance cylinder liner, plus other revisions, and seem VERY reliable, as long as they're kept supplied with fuel...



Power boxes that push added fuel seem to aggravate the problem - but don't CAUSE it - and my final 216's started as soon as I installed Smarty programming - and would go away if I returned to stock. But, eventually the advance cylinder wear 216, even on stock programming, was showing up, so I swapped out the VP-44, and eventually got rid of the Smarty, and now only run the Edge Comp - and THAT in EZ (no pump wire) mode. I do have the pump wire tapped, and an quick-connect installed, and have NO hesitation to use it if I want, but just don't for around-town driving.

 

[rweis]

There are several threads about how to change the VP44. There is even a video thread to show the what and where. I can be reasonably done, not rocket science.



Bob Weis

 

[tippytoes]

hmmmm... . my 216 was discovered originally over a month ago (and forgot about it until recently bc of other things that were going on at the time). truck isn't running as good, acting like it's suffocating, less black smoke and reduced boost. i'm scared to death evertime i go to work and wonder "is this it?".



mention of the smarty has me wondering tho if that could be the problem. or if there is a problem somewhere else along the fuel system that depleats the fuel available to the VP. i don't want to spend the $$ to test the VP (relatively broke college student) if there are other things to check first. gosh darn it.

 

[rweis]

DO a mpg hand calculation. If it is POSSIBLY the VP44 the mpg will drop off significantly (-3 mpg).



Bob Weis

 

[tippytoes]

thanks Bob, i was smart enough to set the trip after my last fill up, but i didn't think to compare the results re this problem!



i also have a P0602 code for ECM fuel callibration error which i forgot about until a bit ago. i called the local diesel shop and they said there's no way the ECM is bad and causing the 216 (i did tell him about the mods). does anyone have a diff opinion?

 

[AllianceDiesel]

The 0216 code could be from plugged fuel filter, but the 1693 is a pretty good indication not to go on any long trips.

P1693-DTC DETECTED IN PCM, Set Condition: Companion module DTC present. The JTEC is reporting it has a DTC

present.



This code isn't gonna leave you stranded it won't even throw a light. Its just a way for the modules to tell each other that they have a code.

 

[AllianceDiesel]

thanks Bob, i was smart enough to set the trip after my last fill up, but i didn't think to compare the results re this problem!



i also have a P0602 code for ECM fuel callibration error which i forgot about until a bit ago. i called the local diesel shop and they said there's no way the ECM is bad and causing the 216 (i did tell him about the mods). does anyone have a diff opinion?

I have a customer running a smarty and he keeps getting the 0602 code, talked to smarty and they said to update the smarty, well we did that and it still came back, so they said its probably just a ghost codes and isn't affecting anything. I was cummins/diesel certified and I never seen this code before , and I agree there is no way your ecm is screwed up.



mopar

 

[tippytoes]

thanks mopartech. i feel a little better about that. i searched the forums and didn't see a single post about it, now that makes sense.

 

[rweis]

Isn't the 0602 fairly common when you change the fuel curves from the DC standard fuel curves? Do a search on 0602 and I think you will find it is fairly common when you distort the DC fuel curves.



Bob Weis

 

[JKinney]

thanks mopartech. i feel a little better about that. i searched the forums and didn't see a single post about it, now that makes sense.

Feel better about what the companion code? I dont wory about that one either. The 216 is a pretty good indicator that you could be left stranded.

I think the 602 is a companion code we live with when running smarty.

 

[aircop]

0602 is a standard code when running Smarty. Smarty's, fuel box's, tapping the pump do not make vp44's go bad. They go bad constantly on totally stock trucks. Just something yuo have to live with when running a 2nd gen truck. All you can do is try and keep a good clean fuel supply to it.

 

[AllianceDiesel]

clean, well lubricated fuel, and good pressure make vp44's happy