Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Replace VP or not?

[NETim]

The rig has about 70,500 miles on it right now. Code 0216 is set. Seems to run fine. No hard starting issues, no loss of power issues. The AirDog maintains 14 to 15 psi fuel pressure. I replaced the stock LP with the AirDog as a preemptive measure. Stock pump maintained pressure but it was uncomfortably low at times (6-7 psi). Pressure measured at VP input.



Besides the dreaded 0216 code being set, what I do notice is a low intensity audible cyclical "rrrooomm rrrrooomm" (drone??) noise in the background every second or so whilst tooling down the highway unloaded at highway speeds. I haven't had real load on it since last fall so I don't know how it behaves if the camper and/or boat is on it. I don't detect any change in the tach or speedo readings. The noise is always there, it just rises and falls in intensity like it's riding a sine wave. I noticed this issue before replacing the LP with the AirDog so I'm fairly confident it's not the cause.



Since it's an '02 with the brass sleeve in the VP, I'm concerned this thing is on its way out but other than the noise and the code there is no issue.



See the sig line for acc's.

 

[NETim]

Bump. Still lookin' for input.

 

[MVieira]

I'm not sure what to tell you but I noticed some surging pulling a grade with the 5ver in tow. It was still pulling fine but I could hear it in the engine sound, I noticed it slightly on the tach. , and I really noticed it on the boost gauge. It was like I was working the throttle peddle back and fourth slightly, except I was holding the peddle rock steady. I'm not sure everyone would have noticed this because it was very subtle. Then a few days later, on the same trip, it kicked the CEL in some stop & go traffic. It was still running fine but I pulled into the next rest stop a few miles down the road and checked codes. The P0216 came up and did not clear by pulling the battery cables. It was still running OK so I decided to see if we could make it home from Redding to Dixon, which is about 100 miles give or take. As I left the rest stop I got the dead peddle, so I lifted and pressed down again and she picked up fine then. I went through the same dead peddle scenario when we stopped for lunch and got back on the freeway. The truck never left me stranded and I made it home fine with the trailer in tow. I always had good fuel pressure at 15 to 16 psi. When I got home I grabbed my service manual and it said the P0216 could be caused by a loss of fuel pressure or an air pocket/bubble making it's way through the fuel system. So if you just changed the fuel filter or had the fuel system opened up I would get an OBDII tool and clear the P0216 and run it for a little while to see if the P0216 comes up again. If you are like me and had a good supply of fuel to the VP44 the whole time then I would plan on replacing the VP44 pretty soon. The service manual says: P0216 - FUEL INJECTION PUMP TIMING FAILURE - caused by; High fuel supply restriction, low fuel pressure, or possible wrong or incorrectly installed pump keyway. I called Cummins West, Diamond Diesel (Cert. Bosch rebuilder), and Imler's Diesel and everyone told me the same thing. If it kicked the P0216 code, I needed to change out the VP44 soon. I've noticed allot of people here have run their trucks awhile with the P0216 but if you are anything like me, you would like to get something taken care before it will leave you stranded. I installed a reman. VP44 myself, I feel it isn't that hard a job and it hasn't missed a beat since. Truck runs great, no CEL's, no surging, no dead peddle. I hope this helps.
Regards, Mike.

 

[NETim]

Thanks! I've more or less resigned myself to replacing the VP. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't overlooking anything. I've read plenty here about VP failures and it's not something I want to gamble on.

The "drone" thing still intrigues me since it's more something I hear than is indicated by the tach or the speedo. The truck still pulls hard but I can't help but think I'm running on borrowed time.

Thanks again.

 

[MVieira]

NETim, I know the Bosch rebuilder I took my pump to was able to tell me that my pump had the brass advance piston sleeve by the serial number on the pump. To be a little more specific, I dropped my pump off and wanted it rebuilt because it had very low mileage. They called me back the next day and said there were some major updates that my pump needed and it would be more cost effective to buy one of their exchange pumps that already had all the updates in it. I stopped by that day and they showed me the updates and where my serial number pump fell into those. I went ahead and picked up one of their exchange pumps that already had all the latest updates in it. I asked why I couldn't have my pump rebuilt with the updated parts at the same cost of getting one of their exchange pumps that had the updates in it. They explained that Bosch paid for the updates for it's own rebuilders to rebuild the cores and update them but if I wanted my specific pump to be rebuilt and updated I would have to pay for the additional updates. Bosch doesn't pay for warranty/updates directly to the public. You have to go to the OEM supplier (Dodge), then it goes to Cummins, then to Bosch. Like I've stated before, my truck still had the 7/70,000 but by this time I had too many modifications to my truck to ask Dodge for warranty. Kind of complicated but working for a Caterpillar dealer I've run into this same scenario. I did ask them if they could give me a report on what caused the P0216 timing failure in my pump when they tore it down in their rebuild facility in the Bay area. They tagged my pump with the request and it took a little over a month to get it back. They said it was the excessive wear in the brass advance piston sleeve that caused the P0216 timing failure in my VP44. Being your truck is an '02 also, I would suspect yours has the brass advance sleeve also.
Regards, Mike.

 

[NETim]

Yeah, my research indicates the same thing. The brass sleeve on the '02's was not one of Bosch's better ideas.