Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Have an odd problem.. cant figure it out

[EricBu12]

Hey guys, Have had a problem that is getting annoying.



Every once in a while, sometimes fairly often, the truck acts like someone turned off the fuel... or key 'cause it don't go for like a second or 2 then goes. . Never at any speed, or RPM. . can happen within a few minutes or days. . Makes the Check engine light comes on.



Did the 3 key on's and it says code 0500 and that is it. .



0500 has to do with the Spedo to the Computer... I have a Superlift calibrator for the tire size. . The spedo works when the malfunction occurs... I have checked connections, soldered them, got good ground, etc. I haven't checked the power connection yet but it should be good. .



Any Ideas on this? Could it be the power connection?



BTW. . While this is happening, my FASS fuel pump is cycling from 10 to 15 psi like a regular cycle. . Not erratic, steady, up, down, up, down. . at idle and all cruises

 

[Batphreak]

Sounds like Dead Pedal. With the FASS I'm guessing you don't have a clogged fuel filter or dead lift pump. That leaves the Injection pump. You may get lucky with that speedo code, it could be that the signal is dropping for just a moment due to a bad sender, might want to start there since it's a LOT cheaper than the injection pump. Good luck, for more diagnosis might want to get a code reader hooked up to the truck (Autozone will do it for free) and see if there isn't another code hiding in there P0216 is the death code for the injection pump.

 

[blacksheepdiesel]

Eric,

Yep, had that 500 code this year. Finally the VP was getting too finicky to drive so I put a new one on. Haven't had the 500 code since.

Sorry to bear bad news.

Godspeed,
Trent

 

[DAAguiar]

Eric, I had the 500 code for about 1 year, changed the speed sensor on the rear axle. No help. Speedometer always worked. I had same problem as you, while using cruise control. Sometimes while not using it. New APPS , no change. I lived with it, then read on TDR about bad grounds, used a drill and a small wire wheel to clean paint and stuff off fire wall ground,and all others that I found under the hood, and at the control unit on the firewall behind the air cleaner. Last 500 miles truck and cruise work great, very different while pulling trailer no strange momentary cut outs.
Thanks to all you TDR members, you have saved me more than once.
Doug

 

[EricBu12]

OK. Took off the Edge EZ because it had made a problem before. . IT hasn't had a problem for years... Took it off and it stumbles. . thats my word for it...

so I have one more box but it is a 4 wire Blue chip Fueling box that has never had a problem and most of the time the switch is in the off position anyway.

So Should I look for a VP-44? Is this the early signs? My FP is erratic and most of the time, even at idle, the FP cycles steadily from 10 to 13 or 15 #... Up, down, up, down, Evenly and steadily.

I have the FASS Pump with a return Regulator to the pump. I have always had rock solid pressure. . . Now this

 

[Missouri Mule]

I wonder if your overflow valve is acting up?

I clean grounds as suggested and see if that clears the problem up.

 

[blacksheepdiesel]

Eric,

Even though the Blue Chip is turned off I would still disconnect it from the harness and see what happens.

Electricity is weird stuff man!

Godspeed,
Trent

 

[ILIANBG]

Erik, I had erratic fuel pressure readings after I installed the Airdog. Then I dropped the tank to install the drawstraw. The float of the fuel level sender was almost completely deteriorated. The fine screen on the bottom of the pick up housing was completely blocked with dirt(maybe from the float). After installing the draw straw and eliminating the screens, I have never had another erratic reading.

Now, this may have nothing to do to fix your problem, but it is definately something to think about.

Good luck and let us know what you find out.

Ilian

 

[EricBu12]

Well I unhooked the Blue chip 4 wire box. . the one I have had on for 7 years!. . Anyway. . unhooked it and went for a small drive tonight. . Didn't Stumble. . will see for the next few days and if it still don't do it, will hook up my Edge EZ and see if that does it...

 

[EricBu12]

Well it stumbled again last night. . No boxes hooked up except for the Superlift speedometer Calibrator.

Called Industrial injection and he said a bad speed sensor might cause the dead pedal. . gotta hook it up to a scanner. gonna do that tomorrow and see what hidden codes there are.

 

[blacksheepdiesel]

Eric,

Have you tried swapping in an APPS from a truck that doesn't have issues? Good way to eliminate the APPS being the problem.

Godspeed,
Trent

 

[SSolderitch]

I had a 500 code among others, was told to clean all the pcm contacts. So I used a liquid contact cleaner which disolves the corrosion. (chemical, not mechanical cleaning) and it went away.

 

[EricBu12]

talked to the guys at industrial injection, they said I need to have a code reader hooked up to see what the codes are in the ECM. .

He said that a bad speed sensor could cause that dead pedal so I will see what it is tomorrow.

 

[EricBu12]

Well, As I feared, It is the dreaded 0216 code. .

Gonna buy it tomorrow and do the install this weekend. The good thing is that the pump lasted this long with a pierced wire blue-chip box and a Edge EZ towing 15K. I have almost 101K on the original Pump so I think that is pretty good.

Price at ind. Inj. is $1295 + $400 core... . When they rebuild, they use a steel washer for the timing area (?? Don't know... ) so they say it will last better.

 

[NoSeeUm]

From your description that was my first guess. If you shop around there are much better deals on rebuilt pumps.



I bought mine from Rip at Source Automotive. If you are going to tap the pump wire tell him ahead of time. My pump carried the same warrentee either way, he just needed to know up front.



Jim

 

[EricBu12]

Got the pump from ind. inj more as a Convenience. I got a VP-44 028... 245 hp pump..... And I have seen their rebuild and testing facility and trust them to make a very good pump.

Got the puller tool for free from them and in talking to them about other things, got a bottle of Stanadyne fuel treatment free. Cant say enough about these guys.

 

[EricBu12]

Going to have rain tomorrow so I did the VP-44 today. . Not too bad of a job. Did it in 4 hours. That key-way for the shaft, was a little tricky but when it lined up, the gear slid right on with my fingers pushing from behind it..... Tightened it up and it works just fine.

One thing I did was leave the 2nd set of injector lines connected at the #6 line as it is hard to get to. . Then Lifted it up until the line was resting on the intake Manifold... out of the way
I also disconnected one side of my top Radiator hose to get better access to the front hole in the gear case... Did a bleed and it started right up. . !! yeah!!. .

Took a test drive and it stumbled again. . Dang!. . Took it to Ind. Inj and code reader still says APPS is bad. Took a ride with The Reader on and the APPS was fidgiting and hanging up on the numbers sometimes... Seems like that is bad. . Need to get that replaced. . No problem with the VP-44 on the reader so that is good.

Still have the fluctuating Fuel pressure..... Going to rework the switched power for the FASS so that it is on all the time (when key on) and not be controlled by the ECM. . Guy at ind. Inj said it would be OK especially since I have a mechanical Regulator before the VP-44 to maintain 15 PSI.

 

[blacksheepdiesel]

Eric,

4 hours for the first time is good!

Are you familiar with the non-Dodge APPS that is a direct replacement and mucho lesso denario?

Godspeed,
Trent

 

[EricBu12]

Trent,

No, where do I get it?. .

 

[blacksheepdiesel]

PM a guy with forum name of Timbo.

Godspeed,
Trent