Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) No issues with your 24 valve ISB?

[JAG1]

On this forum we keep hearing about all the problems we have had, it would be nice to hear something of how many have not had any problems with thier rig besides the common lift pump problems?



P. S. I need encouraging news... ... . like high miles still running strong etc. , etc.



Thanks in advance

 

[Wiredawg]

My 02 has awsome towing power... the most capable vehicle I've ever owned. It's also the most troublesome vehicle I've ever owned. Sorry.



I guess I can brag on it w/ the new VP-44, APPS, transfer case, rear axle yoke, and paint going bad, I should have pretty smooth sailing ahead.



I still have it and will probably keep it.



Wiredawg

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

My truck has been as trouble free as I would reasonably expect - lost one VP-44 due to a flawed Bosch design, but that wasn't the Cummins. I've made plenty of mods and additions, including those you have also installed, and consider my fuel system as solid and reliable as is reasonably possible.



My truck has seen RV towing the vast majority of it nearly 60K miles, including several coast to coast RV trips - it's absolutely the BEST tow vehicle I have had. powerful and economical. I bought the last of the 2nd generation trucks to avoid the 3rd generation stuff - and have NEVER regretted it!

 

[MCharlebois]

my truck has had an edge comp on it for 100k miles now ..... i run on 5x5 or not at all... i have lost a couple pumps but other than that the most reliable vehicle i have owned... . btw truck has never left me anywhere ... had a dead pedal on both pumps and decided to change them and a few lift pumps tract bars wear items... . i can see my truck going for another 200k easy ... and she has been abused

marcel

 

[johncameron]

... . i can see my truck going for another 200k easy ... and she has been abusedmarcel

Just wait until spring when we head to sanair to show them V8 dudes what a 6-cyl diesel can do



John

 

[Ram4Sam]

Mine has been just fine, although the speedo is just under 70,000 miles. Since Oct 2000, my truck has only been to the dealer twice, clockspring and a floppy tow mirror. Mileage is great, great tow vehicle. Original lift pump was doing fine, changed it this past summer because someone gave me a new one(he sold his truck) Couldn't be happier with it!Oo.



Sam

 

[DWeiler]

Not bad so far ,one electrical connection recall early on,clock spring and a bad axle seal(paid for myself---dealer said the Mag-Hyec caused it---yea right)won't ever deal with them again for anything. Only 25,000 miles on mine so i"d hope there is only a few problems so far with this little mileage. Today after sitting in the garage since early Nov i decided to fire her up and let it run for 1/2 hour---turned over longer (about 1/2 second) and then fired----not bad for something that has been sitting so long in these frigid -33C degree temps(wind chill hit -49C last Monday),i know thats does not count cause it is garaged stored,but it still was dam cold in there. Truck temp said -20 when i fired it up---then went into high idle (1100)RPM and then i hit the exhaust brake to put more of a load ---never missed a beat.

 

[MamthTorq]

I have 165k on mine and it is an awesome truck and I look forward to driving it everyday, if it is towing 15k or hauling @ss around empty it is great. Having tons of power is great but also being able to get 20+ MPG is almost too good to be true!Oo. It only got close to leaving me stranded when 5th gear went south do to a broken clutch spring in my old South Bend FE. I still barely had the other four gears, good thing cause I was about 200 miles from where I could fix it.



I drive my truck like I stole it regardless of having a 53 block or vp-44. :-laf I have replaced a few sensors and blew my head gasket (but that was my fault) Other then that she always shows up for work in the morning regardless of how cold it may be. Anyhow I could not be happier with it and do not plan on selling it... ever. I made the mistake of selling my old 1st gen, and still hate myself for it. However I will buy another cummins when the time comes.



Don't be skeered they are awesome trucks... regardless.

Casey

 

[rweis]

My . 02 on my '02



NO EGR, NO emissions, NO DPF, you can defeat just about anything you do not want to deal with (auto locking doors), LOTS of time and miles on a proven engine, about ALL the bugs worked out by TDR members in one way or another.



You can get them pretty cheap with low milage (50k miles) because the VP44 has died on someone that is NOT a TDR member and has NO clue what the problem is.



Rebuild the auto transmission (DTT, ATS, Suncoast, etc), Rebuild the fuel system from start to finish, we are about to solve the APPS thing (finally), cool the fuel and I think it will last a really long time (500k+, 1000+?).



I tow heavy, it has all the power I need. I think I have about 300 - 350 hp.



There are some recurring maintenance things like the starter every 100k, adjust valves every 150k, that sort of thing.



I see there are powered heated mirrors available now in the after market.



Seems to be VERY reliable after you rebuild the fuel system.



From what I know now, I would buy another one (2nd gen) before I bought a 6. 7 that is not proven yet.



Bob Weis

 

[jhoughton]

Other than having the 53 block crack. I have had no problems with the engine or truck for 80K+ and do tow heavy at times. The power is awsome and I feel that 18mpg with 410 gears is quite acceptable.

 

[RCook]

My 98 ISB has 117K miles, 2/3 heavy towing. Lost a valve pushrod when it was near new - handled under warranty. Had the fifth gear nut problem with the transmission.

Otherwise no engine problems but one lift pump replacement. Still runs better than new.

 

[Ray Torresdal]

I'm happy

262,000 miles, 17. 85 mpg avg for every gallon, dynoed 290 hp. I'm on my second injector pump, aftermarket clutch, 3rd starter, one axle seal, original brakes went 144,000 miles (thanks Pac brake), and Fass lift pump. Tires are averaging over 70000 miles per set. I don't tow heavy often, but have trips to the East Coast and Salt Lake City on the books towing a customer's trailer this summer. The only time I was stranded was when the injector pump died, and I hauled it home to have a trusted mechanic replace it.



What's not to like?



Ray

 

[SHobbs]

214k on the clock, 2 L. P's, 1 VP44, 1 MAP sensor, clutch and an APPS. Front end rebuilt in 06 which lasted nearly 190k. Been the best truck I have had bar none. It is a "53" block but who cares it runs great and gets me 19 mpg, not bad for a dually.

 

[FourBarR]

464,580kms. (288676k) Original vp-44 and 53 block. Zero prpblems with the basic engine. Replaced the apps at 300,000 kms,thermostat,serpentine belt, starter brushes and alternator . never refused to start,never left me stranded. Fuel mileage 26mpg to 28mpg imperial gallon(21 to 22 usg) Wouldnt trade it for one of the newer ones with the injector, computer,and poor fuel mileage. Keep it simple as possible,you dont have to fix what you dont have installed. cheers.

 

[JMetzger]

My 02 is a great truck, had one VP-44 & 5 lift pumps. Am now going to install a FASS. Truck has 78000 miles of which 98% has been trailer towing our 10000 lb TT. Been across USA 5 times. Like several others have said it has never left me stranded YET. Has great power & gets 14-16 mpg towing & 20-23 highway. Been a good truck.

 

[MAllen1]

I have a 99 3/4 ton 4x4 w/ 3. 55 and a NV4500 and 225000 and never had to replace the 5th gear nut. Runs as strong, actually stronger because of the aftermarket parts, as it did when it was bought. Two things went wrong outside of maintenance issues. 1) The lift pump started going out about 175000, but, caught it before any damage to the injector pump. 2) Water pump went out at 200000 due to replacing the tensioner pulley at 199800. Other than that, it's all been mantenance and add ons.

 

[JAG1]

Thanks everyone! This forum is amazing... ... I do feel better about my truck now. At first I kept thinking how I spent too much money for a truck with all the things ya' hear. Just gotta give the truck a chance and not worry about the 25 k I spent anymore.

 

[IdahoJim]

On this forum we keep hearing about all the problems we have had, it would be nice to hear something of how many have not had any problems with thier rig besides the common lift pump problems?



P. S. I need encouraging news... ... . like high miles still running strong etc. , etc.



Thanks in advance

MY 01. 5 needed a new APPS at 118,000. It had the lock/unlock problem with the torque-converter clutch and the new APPS, and a radio-frequency filter from DTT solved that. The truck now has 166,000+ miles on it. I added a lift pump relocation and big line kit from Vulcan, and fuel-pressure gauge. I have put in 2 lift pumps since new. Also had a front brake job done. Other than that, it's been bulletproof... even has the original batteries in it. The steering is starting to geta little loose, so this summer I'll be doing a "Luke's Links" repair on it. I almost forgot... I also replaced the shocks with Bilsteins at 70,000 miles:-laf

 

[JHansen]

408000 kilometres (just over 250000 miles) of oilfield thrashing on mine-it's been an awesome truck considering the conditions of operation. I popped the head gasket around 300K-still had crosshatch in all 6 cylinders! 2 APPS sensors, 1 IAT and 1 MAP-still the original VP44 but I've lost count of how many lift pumps... . I did freeze the breather tube off in a blizzard once that pushed the pushrod cover gasket out-not really the engine's fault.



I keep the service records in the truck (down to every litre of fuel ever put in the tank) so I'm guessing at some of this stuff-2 sets of front brake pads, 2 or 3 sets of rear ones. Just changed the ball joints and front rotors this last spring/summer as well as all 4 calipers-tie rods have all been changed at least once with some being done more than once. Clutch has been done 3 times-1st one because the stocker wouldn't hold my power, 2nd one because I killed the 1st replacement trying to pull out a set of Super-B's one New Year's Eve and the 3rd one here about 6 weeks ago when the 2nd wore out. 1 set of clutch hydraulics, rebearinged both front and rear diff's and rebuilt the rear Trac-Loc. Front hub bearings have been replaced twice-rear wheel bearings are still original although I've gone through 2 or 3 sets of seals. At least 2 steady bearings and multiple U-joints as well as rebuilding the CV side of the front shaft 2 or 3 times. Transmission (NV5600) and transfer case are still untouched-I am going to do something with the case this year (either a rebuild or a swap to a 271). Multiple sets of shocks and tires, 1 complete set of cracked rims which then were changed out for '03 17" aluminum wheels when the replacements began to crack, 1 starter and 2 alternators. 1 set of rear springs as well. More stuff I think that I can't think of right now.



There is a pic on here in a thread I started about suspension systems for a work truck that shows my truck in a typical day at the office-it brings this list of repairs into perspective. By the time it had 10000 kilometres on it it had an EZ box on it-not long after a set of 275's, then a COMP, bigger injectors and a PDR HX40. It got 33" rubber @ 3600 kilometres and was sporting 35's before 35000 kilometres which it proudly wears to this day. When I have to go, it has to go... . -40C to +40C. Hasn't left me stranded very often-once with the aforementioned pushrod cover gasket, twice with a failed hub bearing that I can remember. I am looking for another one with less kilometres and a dead VP for cheap to press into service and retire this one to spare duty-but I'm not in a panic as I have now addressed most of the worn-out stuff . I have absolutely no desire to get a newer model although my brother's '03 has been a good truck so far.



HTH

Jason

 

[Mad Bomber]

2001 with a 53 block ETH and no major problems. Comp has been there since 9K now 103+ lost L/P but did alot of fixes to not loose I/P. Running good and strong