Attention: TDR Forum Junkies Hi,all
I have always watched the condition of my lift pump using a test gauge,and noticed that it was getting to 10 psi at idle,and would draw down to 5 at normal throttle in 5th gear [about 2200 rpm]. I changed the filter for a small improvement. After the filter was done,the truck was going to dead pedal at startup[after sitting overnight] and occasionally in cruise at 1400RPM. I tried all kinds of stuff like bump starting to get the pressure up before taking off,and tried to eliminate things one variable at a time.
After 100 miles of this,I changed the lift pump--the cold engine symptoms were the same,if not worse. I decided to check the filter,but it looked clean. I then made a stupid mistake that was really a benefit. Forgetting to turn the water seperator petcock closed,I lost 10- 15 gallons of fuel. After adding fuel, the truck drove better,with only the occasional dead pedal --always at startup
After describing all this to a mechanic who has 150 VP installs to his credit,we settled on putting CENPECO fuel conditioner in the tank at double strength. Truck runs perfect. I now have a fresh tank of fuel with more Cenpeco in it. I will drive it some more and have the guy use a scan tool and see if the death code stays away
The reason I am posting this long narrative is that I was convinced by searching the TDR that my VP was dying--all the symptoms were there as well as the code. Before you spend big bucks on a VP, I would suggest removing the fuel--[you could pump it out at the schrader and save it] Use a good lubricating conditioner and see if fresh conditioned fuel makes a dramatic change like it did for me. Looking back at things,it is obvious that there was water in my fuel that settled out when the truck sat overnight.
If I am proven wrong,and my VP dies I will certainly inform you guys--that is how we expand our knowlege base about these trucks.
I have always watched the condition of my lift pump using a test gauge,and noticed that it was getting to 10 psi at idle,and would draw down to 5 at normal throttle in 5th gear [about 2200 rpm]. I changed the filter for a small improvement. After the filter was done,the truck was going to dead pedal at startup[after sitting overnight] and occasionally in cruise at 1400RPM. I tried all kinds of stuff like bump starting to get the pressure up before taking off,and tried to eliminate things one variable at a time.
After 100 miles of this,I changed the lift pump--the cold engine symptoms were the same,if not worse. I decided to check the filter,but it looked clean. I then made a stupid mistake that was really a benefit. Forgetting to turn the water seperator petcock closed,I lost 10- 15 gallons of fuel. After adding fuel, the truck drove better,with only the occasional dead pedal --always at startup
After describing all this to a mechanic who has 150 VP installs to his credit,we settled on putting CENPECO fuel conditioner in the tank at double strength. Truck runs perfect. I now have a fresh tank of fuel with more Cenpeco in it. I will drive it some more and have the guy use a scan tool and see if the death code stays away
The reason I am posting this long narrative is that I was convinced by searching the TDR that my VP was dying--all the symptoms were there as well as the code. Before you spend big bucks on a VP, I would suggest removing the fuel--[you could pump it out at the schrader and save it] Use a good lubricating conditioner and see if fresh conditioned fuel makes a dramatic change like it did for me. Looking back at things,it is obvious that there was water in my fuel that settled out when the truck sat overnight.
If I am proven wrong,and my VP dies I will certainly inform you guys--that is how we expand our knowlege base about these trucks.
