Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Smarty on the box

[darkhorse]

I'm just getting to know my replacement truck. One of the first things I did was load CaTCHER soft ware. It runs very nicely with #9 in it. I then used the ABS feature to adjust for the 285 tires the previous owner installed. Just the other day I noticed a hole in the firewall grommet, an adjustable boost elbow on the spinner & tap on the VP44 wire so I decided to put my Blue Chip APB on the truck. That got my max boost up from 30 to 35 psi & a noticeable kick in the acceleration. :-laf . I did notice a CEL after one heavy throttle run up hill. Smarty read the code as P 1690 . This doesn't happen with normal driving & I don't have any other symptoms at this point. I'm waiting on parts to get the fuel pressure gauge hooked up so I'm not sure what's up there. Any educated thoughts?

 

[TGibbs]

How many miles are on the truck? If there are a lot then it could be a foreshadowing of a bad injector pump.

 

[darkhorse]

How many miles are on the truck? If there are a lot then it could be a foreshadowing of a bad injector pump.

138,000 miles. I really don't know if the VP44 is the original or not. The truck is from Texas & was purchased by a body man in Iowa for salvage. Mostly fender & brush guard damage. The engine is running strong with no faltering or dead pedal. It doesn't through a code under normal driving or even say half throttle acceleration. As I said, the P 1690 code was thrown only after one WOT run up hill. I was just checking to see that the APB was functioning & what it would do to boost levels.

 

[darkhorse]

I threw a code again this afternoon. Climbing a steep hill but not pushing it very heard. APB on full. There was a quick blip & when I up shifter it did it again. both times under moderate throttle pressure. On the second blip I saw the CEL come on. I used Smarty to read the codes. Just 2. P 1690 & the companion P 1693. I turned the APB off & so far it hasn't blipped or thrown any more codes. It sure has me worried for my VP 44.

 

[Sixpack]

FWIW here is what the code is for those (like me) that didn't know what it was. Good luck Darkhorse.



P1690 (M) Fuel Injection Pump CKP Sensor

Does Not Agree With ECM CKP

Sensor

Problem in fuel sync signal. Possible injection pump

timing problem. Low power, engine derated, or engine

stops.

 

[Boondocker]

P1690

Fuel injection pump CKP Sensor Does Not Agree With ECM CKP Sensor



Maybe your APB is not making a good MAP or data port connection. I had a similar issue with a Comp, as long as it was plugged in, whether on or off. Sold Comp, put money towards Smarty. Now I'm putting money towards a VP-44. I got the dreaded P0216 once last year, as soon as I installed the Comp. But never had any symptoms, until the other day when pulling my trailer. The truck ran normal for a while, maybe till it got good and warm. Then a couple of times there was a "blip", as if I suddenly let off the throttle. Eventually, I only had about 1/4 throttle. Pushing the accelerator past 1/4 had no effect. I knew the diagnosis, but plugged in the Smarty for a code read anyway. The dreaded code had returned. I had to abort my trip, but drove home. In case y'all have forgotten, driving a gutless truck grossing 18K lbs is no fun at all!



I drove the truck around empty yesterday. It drove fine, stock program, a little wimpy, overboost code of course, but no P0216. New pump is ordered, install is scheduled.



Ouch. I am my own warrenty station. Ouch.



Anyway, I hope your luck is better. I was a little disappointed in the TDR members who delighted in telling me my pump was on its way out. So before all the "I told you so'ers" chime in, I was able to deny the inevitble for a good 6 months.



Glad you're back in the saddle.



Neil

 

[azpete]

On cold morning starts (40-50deg) I had rough idle and smoke. This went on for 3 winters, the only code -1690-. Once warmed up would run fine. Replaced the VP44 this winter and problem went away.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Man, I'd sure bet there's no real problem with the VP-44 - but just a conflict of sensor readings because of the Smarty that is confusing the ECM, not unlike the more common P0602 that nearly everone gets with the Smarty - sure hate to see you toss $$$ away, especially if the truck still is running normally...

 

[darkhorse]

I appreciate the responses, guys. Thanks. It sounds like there is a possibility my VP44 is weak & going down. If I'm lucky, it might just be a problem with the APB ground. Chip Fisher is pretty specific how he wants the box grounded. & though it tested it as grounded, when I first put the box on my old truck, it wouldn't work right. I added a second ground from the original lead & ran that to a manifold bolt. It worked fine after that. Currently I've only grounded to the manifold bolt. I've run it a couple of times at moderate throttle since turning off the box & no codes or stumble have shown up. There is a definite link to the APB, but that my mean the APB is showing that the IP is weak. I really only need to keep this one alive while I get my old truck chasse ready to have this nice un bent cab & box slid onto it. I call it my Lazarus project. :-laf

 

[darkhorse]

I've driven a couple of hundred miles with the APB off. No codes have been set even though I have leaned on the throttle a little heavy but not quite WO, several times. Milage is now running a little over 19, mixed highway & gravel township roads.