Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) High RPM stumble

[claykelly]

Hello, I've seen this discussed before, but I've never heard an answer or cure for it, so I'll give it a go... .

I've got a '99 with 125k, complete engine replacement at 80k, 5sp. --Bone Stock



I've got the fairly common intermitttent miss at idle, but my concern is the higher rpms. At around 2200-2500 under no load, I get a very pronounced miss and lots of white smoke. If I accelerate or cob it to the floor, it goes away for the most part, the more load there is or the harder the acceleration, the less it's noticed if at all. I really notice it just driving around since that's about my shift point and with very little load when 2200-2500 hits it really falls on it's face and burps a little cloud. No check engine light, and I haven't scanned for any codes.



Anyone have any ideas or found a cure for this problem? How about a solid place to start?

 

[claykelly]

Okay, no responses so I started myself... . Started with the fuel filter, WOW was that thing black and nasty, worst I've seen... anyway got it all changed out & cleaned up, turned key and bumped starter a couple of times to let pump run, okay fine.

Truck won't start, go to 1/2 pedal... . nothing. hmm

Open drain tube on filter housing, nothing. hmm again

Bump starter again, yup pumps running no doubt

Remove brass plugs from filter housing and bump again, pump runs, no fuel.

Remove banjo bolt from output of lift pump and bump again, NOTHING.

Buy and install new pump from O'Reilly's ($149), bump starter, lots and lots of fuel everywhere.

Button it all up and it starts right up.

Still has the same lean condition, lots of white smoke around 2200+ rpm with no load.

So now what, VP???

 

[diesel4power]

I don't have any experience with VP failure but I read all the time on here that if the lift pump goes out it will more likely than not take the VP with it, especialy if you don't catch it right away. That's why a fuel pressure gauge is important.

Someone else will have to chime in here with regards to the white smoke??? only time I ever had real bad white smoke is when I did an injector install and soom of the connector tubes were bad, I think the white smoke was because it leaked fuel internaly.



Paul

 

[claykelly]

I don't know how long the lift pump has been dead, a day, week, month, who knows. I know from experience that the white smoke is a lean condition, if you've ever gotten a plugged fuel filter (gelled up) it's the same symtoms. One miserable morning last winter in my '92 @ -12F I could only get about 1/4 throttle then became a mosquito fogger w/no power whatsoever. A quart of PowerService anti gel and 15 minutes later good to go.

Can the Dodge dealer or Cummins confirm the pump is bad? I don't want to spend a grand on a hunch.

Anyone know is the inj. pump a do it yourself swap? I've never messed with one, but I do all my other work myself, mostly... .

Is there any tech articles or anything out there describing the swap?

 

[JesseJ]

I had kind of the similar situation before my vp44 took a big ol dump down the toilet. Found out the hard way what happens when you don't have a working lift pump.

 

[claykelly]

Ran the codes yesterday,,,,PO216, doesn't look good for Mr. VP. Looking around to find the best deal, not the cheapest, but the best deal.



Dodge quoted me $1150, TST is $1400, Cumminsstuff is $975, what's the difference, anyone?

 

[djacy99]

My apps did something like that. You might try to reset it. It is a no cost check.

 

[Red Rocket]

I suggest you start looking for a VP. Mine did the same thing under warranty, just to be clear it happens say if you are in neutral and run the rpms up to 2500-3000, the engine makes misfire sound like a gentle term, and the white smoke just rolls out of there. yep, and i beleive the 0216 code is the vp timing error, signs of internal failure. Been there done that. VP... Oh, and if you were running a straight pipe like me, you would hear the misfires, boy do they make a racket... The walls of the waiting room at cummins were shaking.



Good luck.



Nick

 

[Red Rocket]

I would call tst, and ask them why it is more. And if you want to install yourself, Im sure someone here has the number to order a service manual, but they are over $100, I don't know what labor runs for a vp.



Nick

 

[claykelly]

Spoke to TST, they told me who they get them from and even suggested I shop around a little as most are going to be the same quality, they've just had very good luck there. I told them the prices I was getting from other sources and they said they may need to re-evaluate their prices. I called the rebuilder directly and was quoted much less, enough less to buy the Powermax box!!

Anyway, I will attempt to replace it myself, I've heard it's not bad at all. I don't know what I need for a puller though.

Has anyone written a neat gee-whiz article on replacing the VP44? Guess I could take pictures step by step and.....