Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) need feedback please 2000 2500

[Fsbigcountry]

my truck is down at the moment, been raining for 2 days straight. I'm hoping it's just air in lines, but am preparing for lift pump or vp-44 replacement, maybe both. I got the truck in nov 03 it had a 100,000 miles on it. appears well maintained. It's the newest truck I've ever had, and would like to have it last a long time. want to drag a travel trailer thru the rockies to canada in june. I've been reading post's all weekend and would like some feedback from other owners. my truck is stock and will probably stay that way. looks like fp gauge is a must. Im confused on what type is best & easist to install, elec or mech. also can i get the fittings at local parts store or hardware store. Could I get by with a gauge set-up in tool box & checking fp periodically. Is vp-44 inlet best place to tap in for gauge. on lift pump question it looks like I should at minumum relocate fact pump closer to tank. I'm confused on talk about line size and modifying banjo fittings. I never heard of a banjo fitting till I found yall. I liked a guy named steve's fix, he added a 7psi carter pump close to tank and kept fact. one where it is. Can't afford a fass system. If vp-44 turns out to be bad I'm thinking about changing it out myself. I'm a electrician by trade, but am fairly mech. inclined. what do yall think, is it that hard or complicated. My local dodge dealer want's 1400 for vp with 12mos warranty. mech said he would do it on the side for 225$ labor. Can I save some bucks getting vp some where else. any red flags to look for. If vp is not bad would you change it anyway, 119,000 on truck now & planning a 5000 mile trip in june thru rockies pulling a trvel trailer 25 footer. what a nightmare that could be 2000 miles from home with wore out vp. Thanks for any info, I love this truck, just want to make it as dependable as possible, My wife won't stay out of it, every time I look up she has left me the car & took off in the ram lol. thanks again.

 

[DOUGMartin]

I will have to look where I got my fuel gauge from ( Old man memary kicking in way to soon) when I get home. But the one I have with the isolater went in so easy it took maybe 20 mns. If you look at the top of your fuel filter there are a couple of banjo bolts one on each side the kit I got came with me banjo and all hard wear needed Just take out the banjo bolt twords the front and put in the new one. When I first got the guage I was a little intimadated but like I said very easy.

 

[Loren]

Fsbigcountry,



Obviously Doug is much more of a mechanic than I am. It takes me 20 minutes to read the instructions and study all the parts in the kit when I install anything.



I'd guess that my fuel pressure gauge installation took about two to three hours. This does not count the time I spent buying the grease gun hose to attach the sending unit to the actual fuel pressure source.



As an electrician, you should have NO problems doing your own installation. I thought that the most difficult part of mine was routing the wiring... right up your alley.



Most drivers recommend an electrical gauge. That's what I did. I don't want a small tube with pressurized diesel fuel routed into my cab. The electrical gauges use a sending unit and wire to supply a signal to the gauge itself.



Mount the gauge where you can see it. It will tell you when your filter needs changing or if your lift pump is going bad, or both.



Regarding the VP44: I would not change it until it actually failed. You said you can't afford a FASS system. How can you afford an injection pump?



I don't have a FASS system either, but I did install a gauge and a pusher pump like Steve St. Laurent's. So far, so good for me. I figure an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.



Good luck.



Loren

 

[Fsbigcountry]

Thanks Loren I guess I am a pessimist, thinking about the cost of vp-44 and fass and adding gauges is clouding my thinking. appreciate the reply.

 

[DOUGMartin]

Originally posted by Loren

Fsbigcountry,









Most drivers recommend an electrical gauge. That's what I did. I don't want a small tube with pressurized diesel fuel routed into my cab. The electrical gauges use a sending unit and wire to supply a signal to the gauge itself.

If you get the isolater you run glycal into the cab not deisel i wasnt too keen on the idea of fuel in the cab. I forgot to check to see who the kit from but i got the guage isolater all fittings and small plastic line to run to and from the isolater as well as a banjo bolt that next to the stock one looked to be high flow.

 

[mmclaughlin]

When did your truck stop running? Did it sit for awhile, or did it die while you were driving?



The lift pump is a pretty easy thing to change out if that's what your problem is. I replaced two of them, and once the second one started to die, I went with the FASS - $600 seemed like a pretty good deal considering the cost of a new VP-44 and the piece of mind that the system will work. I still monitor my fuel pressure gauge (bought it at Geno's - whole set-up for an electrical Westech 0-16psi gauge that included everything for the installation was something like $90 which included the gauge, face plate to install in little cubby hole next to the radio, fuel line and fittings to tap into the VP-44). It's great to always see my pressure at 15psi! The FASS also makes it super easy to drain water seperator and to replace fuel filter. Both are easy to install, just take your time.