Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) sluggish 02

[Chansen760]

I have a friend with a 02 1 ton that has a Bully Dog computer installed but the problem started before the Bully Dog was installed. The truck seems to act like a govener has kicked in all the time. It will run great with lots of pwr then you hit the gas and it seems to have a ten ton trailer attached. I can be rolling down the road slip in the clutch, shut down the engine, restart and everything is fine for a couple of miles then it starts again, any ideas

 

[DIESELWRKS]

unhook the bullydog and then see what happens. also what codes are showing do you know how to pull codes on the truck with the ingnition key.

 

[Chansen760]

The problem started before the Bully Dog was installed. Also my friends nephew has the exact same model truck and his is doing it too. His truck does not have the Bully Dog system on it. I have not pulled the codes, (I have a reader that my dad gave me and have not used it yet). I heard you can get them through the ignition key but don't know how or where to get the codes. Thanks for the quick response. I'm using his truck while mine is in the shop.

 

[DIESELWRKS]

you can cycle the key. key in . turn key to on position without starting. back to off. do this sequence 3 times. on 3rd time to on position. leave on. and in the digital odometer screen area. your codes will apprear... . on off, on off, on and leave on... .



i dont compare same year or etc. stuff. there is something going on. but also do you know history of any maintnance... and also if the lift pump is a oem... . last time fuel filter was changed... doesn't really matter in a way if you have a programmer. . if you have fueling issues before they will really be magnified if you have a programmer/box demaning more on the injection pump. .



but with codes should be able to find out what is going on... ask your friend on what he has done or not. done...

also does he have a fuel pressure gauge on the truck... hope so. .

 

[Chansen760]

Thanks Dieselwrks, I did the codes on the ingition and it flashed then said P PCU, then P 1693, done then flashed again and said E ECU then P 0216 done then back to milage. I used an Actron code reader and it only showed the P 0216 code which shows in the book that came with the reader as Injection Timing Control Circuit Malfunction. The book does not show the P 1693 or the PCU or ECU at all. Any Ideas? Thanks for the help, I'm going to call my friend and have him call his nephew and have him run the ignition test on his truck to see if they are the same.

 

[KKlingbeil]

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but the 0216 is the VP44 injection pump death code. I would guess that the lift pump has failed, which in turn killed the injection pump. My recomendation would be to verify fuel pressure to the VP ASAP, and fix if needed. Then start looking for a rebuilt VP44. Good luck!



The 1693 code just means there is a code in the companion computer, meaning if you get an ECU code, the PCU shows a 1693.

 

[Chansen760]

From a little research I've done it seems like a VP-44 which I asume is an injector pump may be the problem, I've also read that changing the lift pump may solve the problem. I don't realy know at this point what to tell my friend, I personally have a 1996 12 valve with 375,000 miles on it and have never touched the engine. The only reason I changed the Lift pump was it started leaking. His truck only has 100,000 miles on it.

 

[Chansen760]

Thanks KKlingbeil, Should I tell him to try the lift pump first. On another thread I read that was posted in 2006 a guy said he replaced the lift pump and it worked fine. . I don't understand how if the pump is bad how you can shut off the truck and then it starts working ok for a little while and then it starts bogging down again then shut off the ign and start all over again. To me it just sounds electrical. I don't know I'm not a diesel mech. Just an electronics guy.

 

[Chansen760]

Ok located a rebuilt vp 44 pump at Taylor Diesel Service in Memphis for $1075, it comes with a 12 month unlimited milage warranty and requires a new pick up pump to be installed at the same time. . He also selles a low fuel pressure Light kit for $85 to let you know when the pick up pump fails. How does this sound guys?

 

[DIESELWRKS]

good info

Blue Chip Diesel Performance Specialists

 

[DIESELWRKS]

personally if you can afford it don't get a oem lift pump. get a aftermarket one that is more reliable and flows better psi... . like a fass, or airdog. also he should have a fuel pressure gauge to show exact pressure at all situations. no need for a low pressure light.

 

[RAJohnson]

Big difference between a low pressure light and a gauge. light only shows when below 5psi coming from the lift pump. Gauge shows all the time. Light's are around $85. 00 as you stated. Gauge will run around $250. 00. Decisions, decisions, its only money!

 

[KKlingbeil]

Ok located a rebuilt vp 44 pump at Taylor Diesel Service in Memphis for $1075, it comes with a 12 month unlimited milage warranty and requires a new pick up pump to be installed at the same time. . He also selles a low fuel pressure Light kit for $85 to let you know when the pick up pump fails. How does this sound guys?

That is a pretty good price for a rebuilt. As DIESELWRKS said, Bluechip is making the best rebuilt pumps out there, putting a new computer on EVERY unit. I will go this route when the time comes. If you can aford it, this is the best option.



As others have stated, the factory lift pump has a lot to be desired, and a FASS or Airdog is a much better option, but of course is more money. If your friend plans to keep the truck for a long time, then spend the extra money to get the good injection pump, good lift pump, and a fuel pressure GAUGE. Autometer electric gauges through Summit are $207. Good luck!!!

 

[DMcLeod]

All this talk about replacing pumps... . have you or your friend checked the lift pump pressure yet? That is step 1. In my opinion, every 24V should be run with a gage.

 

[Chansen760]

Thanks for all the help. Is the computer a part of the pump? I talked with the guy from Taylor Diesel Services in Memphis and he said to check all the grounds first. The reason I ask if the computer is part of the pump is that the sluggishness is sporatic. . It runs great then it runs sluggish> The part that messes with me is I can be rolling down the road in the sluggish mode then push in the clutch and restart the truck and everything is fine for a while. I am passing this forum on to the owner and let him make the decision. I just don't want to tell him to spend that kind of money and me be wrong. So if this is normally how the pump acts when it is bad please let me know. And again Thanks so much for the help.

 

[Chansen760]

DieselWrks, Thanks for the link to Blue Chip, I will pass it along to the owner. The guy explains the problem very well on his website and knowing the owner as I do he will go all out and do it right.

 

[KKlingbeil]

Thanks for all the help. Is the computer a part of the pump? I talked with the guy from Taylor Diesel Services in Memphis and he said to check all the grounds first. The reason I ask if the computer is part of the pump is that the sluggishness is sporatic. . It runs great then it runs sluggish> The part that messes with me is I can be rolling down the road in the sluggish mode then push in the clutch and restart the truck and everything is fine for a while. I am passing this forum on to the owner and let him make the decision. I just don't want to tell him to spend that kind of money and me be wrong. So if this is normally how the pump acts when it is bad please let me know. And again Thanks so much for the help.

My VP is still original, but I had a good friend whos VP went out on his truck, so I will comment about that. In short, yes they can be sporatic, working fine one minute and sluggish the next. His would also have a slight miss in the upper RPM's under a good load, and again not all the time.



As others have said, #1 thing to do if first check the fuel pressure that is supplying the injection pump. There are scharader fittings coming out of the fuel filter and going into the VP for you to check pressure at. If it is low, adress this first, and the VP problems may go away, for a while.



Good luck!