Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) loss of "jump" under acceleration; FP gauge

[tippytoes]

hello, and thanks for reading this.





1. my truck usually has quite a jump when you first start pressing down on the pedal. the past couple months now, i've seriously noticed that has been missing. it accelaerates fine, can take off pretty quick, but not the same. gauges looked good.



the other day something was different, the jump was back, and i noticed the boost was a lot higher and jumpier too. this lasted for a few days and now its gone. truck is back to being sluggish on the go.



any thoughts?









2. additionally (i add this bc i do not know if the weird FP is related to the weird boost and loss of power) i have Autometer gauges, the gauge for to FP is electric. has anyone else had a prob with these? mine will start out fine at 18psi, then for no reason spazz out and drop to 13, wiggle between 9 and 13 or so, then it will either go back to normal on it's own, or if i mash down on the pedal it will jump back up too. i know the electric sender can have some problems, but i thought i'd get everyone's opinion before i bought a new sender to try out.





can these be the injector pump going bad???





thanks all,

tt

 

[Huff N Puff]

Before you start thinking about an injection pump

Start with the simple issues,[1] Check the fuel filter [2] Confirm your pressure guage readings with a second gauge preferably a mechanical gauge. [3]If you have irractic pressure readings on both guages,I'm guessing you will cause of your symptoms. Check all power and ground connections,to the fuel pump, both physically and with a volt meter. [4] If voltage and connections are good, you now need to pull the fuel line of the VP and extend it so you can run it in to a container to check pump delivery. If delivery is frothy, you possibly have a leaky suction line or the filters on the pickup are clogging. Let us know what you find. If all we talked about is OK then you can start considering the VP.

 

[tippytoes]

i know the top of the list is good, the fuel filter was replaced last week (the first thing i decided to start with). i'll get started on the others and report back, thanks

 

[tippytoes]

i hadn't had time yet to check the wiring and other things you suggested... but i did check the codes... 216 was thrown.



pardon my ignorance, can a 216 be caused by anything other than the VP failure?



i'm hoping to have time this weekend to check things out.



thanks,

tt



other notes, when i'm doing 45mph and mash on it in 5th gear i used to blow a billow of smoke, now i get a little pathetic puff. so obviously the poor thing isn't getting normal fuel delivery.