Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Injection pump question

[OutbackDiesel]

Well, the truck wouldn't run and I had no fuel pressure, so I changed the filter and the transfer pump at the same time. Now I have fuel pressure, but I don't have a truck that starts. I cracked the front cylinders fuel line and cranked my heart out, no fuel. Tried another one, no fuel. Does this mean that my injection pump needs to be replaced? Coincidentally at 102000 miles? Is there anything else I can or should check before I just assume it's the injection pump? Thanks

 

[TomGolden]

I wouldn't fret just yet. I have twice run my truck dry after changing a fuel filter, and didn't bump the starter enough tikmes to refill the fuel filter cannister. Both times, I would bump the starter 5 times, and then crank it for 20 seconds or so. I had to repeat all this two or even 3 times before it started. I have never cracked an injector line to help bleed the air out of the lines.



Just my personal experience.



Tom

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

You might want to loosen slightly (about 1/3 or 1/2 turn) as many of the lines as you can, crank until fuel comes out. The starter overheats after about 30 seconds, so let it cool a couple minutes between tries.

 

[OutbackDiesel]

Thanks Joe and Tom, I have filled the canister and I have fuel up to the vp44. I cracked the supply line to the injection pump where it attachs to the pump. So, is it possible that there is air in the pump itself? I will try cracking as many of the fuel lines as I can and crank it some more. I wouldn't have thought that the pump would fail between running. Like I said in my post about the transfer pump, I ran the truck around town and then couldn't start it after coming out of a store. So I bled it at the filter outlet banjo and it started. Then I drove it home and turned it off, and couldn't start is after that. Tried bleeding it and no luck. Changed the transfer pump and that's where I am now. Has anyone had their pump fail while it wasn't running?

 

[TomGolden]

Yep, at least I think so.....



I changed my fuel filter back in late March. Did the bump starter thing a few times to refill the filter cannister, started up just fine. in late April I was down in Modesto having my new SPA gauges (including a fuel pressure gauge) installed. After all gauges were in, Brandon suggested just bumping the starter to make sure there were no leaks in the fuel lines he had taken off to install the pressure sensor. Lift pump ran, but did not pump any fuel. It was dead... So, I can't honestly say when it died, but it could have been while just sitting there in Brandon's yard.



Tom

 

[Big_Daddy_T]

Keep working on it to see if its air. The lift pump should get the air out of the injection pump . I just lost my injection pump. The lift pump would not run when the injection pump wasnt working.

 

[OutbackDiesel]

Well, I did get it to start after probably about twelve 20 to 30 second cranking intervals. It ran poorly until the air worked out of it. When it evened out, I took it for a test drive. It doesnt run near like it should. There is serious lag when you step on the accelerator. And when it idles, it lopes a bit, it has been doing that for a little while. My fuel pressure with the new pump is now at over fifteen pounds and like twelve or thirteen at WOT. But it still runs like it has some air in it. That is how it was acting before I changed the transfer pump. When the injection pump goes, is that how it acts sometimes? If any of you have had one of the copper washers come off of the injector and installed it by accident without it (which I did once), that is almost exactly how it acts now while driving. What do you guys think? This truck has the very first version of the vp44 with 102k on it. I know the vp44 has had at least four or five revisions made to it since then.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Since your problem has existed for a little while, why not try a good, name brand injector cleaner at the stronger dose they usually specify for a thorough cleaning, and then HOPE it's just a minor injector fouling problem - won't cost much to try...

 

[wyosteve]

Outback, your symptoms sound very similar to mine when my VP44 went belly up. Started hard 3 times, then would only start by pulling twice and finally wouldn't start at all.

 

[Big_Daddy_T]

when my first injection pump failed it would still run. It ran poorly, stumbled a bit and had low power. Second pump it stumbled a time or two but still ran strong up until it died. It would still idle for about 5 mins but would no longer drive. Now im on the third pump and it runs strong.

 

[OutbackDiesel]

Yeah I have that gut feeling that it probably is the injection pump. I have been trying to find a dealer that can at least scan it for codes, but none have any time for a week. I don't have near the knowledge some of you have with these engines, but it sounds like the bottom line is the injection pump. I will probably put a new one on it Saturday. If you guys can think of anything else it could possibly be, I'd love to hear it. How about the crankshaft sensor has anyone had to replace that? How did your truck act then? Thanks