Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Specific dead petal symptoms...

[EagleEye]

Been trying to figure this one out for a bit. I don't have the typical 'symptomatic' dead petal issue so here goes...



When truck is COLD (temps dropping due to winter) and I go up a hill from work, the trottle becomes unresponsive regardless of position. Power stays the same (no loss) but then power finally catches up with the petal position. I will stop, get on the highway, and same thing (sometimes).



It only happens when cold, and only a couple of times before the truck is just starting to warm up... first 2-3 minutes from dead start. The problem resolves and never an issue until truck is 'dead cold' again. I only notice it while climbing a grade, and the power is on.



I have replicated the symptom with my Edge Comp 'Off' so it leads me to believe the problem is in other places. I will be hooking my Quick Check up tonight, but when I checked it before, APPS seemed ok.



Any ideas? No other problems or issues, so I don't thing it is the Injection Pump. Fuel PSI is monitored, and OK. Boost PSI shows boost during episode, but no increase in boost until something kicks back in.



ANY input woulod be appreciated, and Thanks.

 

[SnoKing]

Have you cleaned all your ground connections and tested your batteries? SNOKING

 

[EagleEye]

Will check the battery connections... all other added grounds and wiring are soildered and shrink wrapped. Been pretty careful about wiring. Takes a little more time, but lasts ALOT longer. No Scotch Locks. Use terminal boards for breakout.

 

[JEastbourn]

I had the exact same problems you describe. Lift pump was junk and had to be replaced with the in tank unit and also a new vp44. That solved the problem. You might check your codes and see if you have a 0216, I can't remember exactly what the code means but it has to do with the vp44 and maybe overheating, starved for fuel, bad lift pump that sort of thing. Hope you get it figured out.

 

[2-ND TIME]

dead pedel

Well do you have access to a multi-meter that has ferquency on it? If so check different spots to see if there is any rider frequencies on the DC???

Sounds like mine.

 

[azpete]

Have the same problem this year. Dead peddle for the first couple miles in the morning. Fuel pressure OK and no codes. Will have to completely disconnect the comp box and see if that may be the problem. Had it replaced last spring because of some problems.



Will do some other tests to see if I can find the problem when I get a chance. If you happen to come across the fix please let us know.

 

[J.Keith]

It's sounding like a VP44 on the way out.

It may stay the same as far as symtoms for awhile longer. It may die on you any time.

My truck started doing that only when HOT. I kept driving it and it just got worse. Had the 0216 code all along. Then it got REALLY bad. To the point where I would wait for REALLY long breaks in traffic to pull out. It was doing it cold, hot, just about anytime any conditions.

I had great fuel pressure all along.

Popped in the Blue Chip pump and all gone It just sucks that it costs $1500 but I think it's worth the extra $$$.



Now my Dads truck on the other hand, started on the dying VP44 thing about 40,000 miles ago. Only acts up when its cold, runs great the rest of the time. Set's a 0216 every once in a while, sometimes a 0253 also. I don't worry about it much. It'll die one of these days and I figure I'll get as many miles out of it that I can. It just turned over 231,000 today :-laf :-laf



Hope this helps.

Jeremy

 

[SBertelson]

dead pedal

I don't know if this would be a source of the problem, but could you have a MAP sensor flipping out??

 

[EagleEye]

I don't believe its the vp44...may be EDGE...

This problem surfaced last winter in Wyoming, but VERY minor and intermittent. Just enough to notice once in a great while.



It cannot be fuel PSI, because I monitor at the vp44, and have had a Carter pusher in for over 70,000 miles without a single burp of the Carter pusher or the lift pump. I expected a failure by now, but the pumps are still chugging away.



I have cleaned the battery terminals, and checked 'hard grounds' and even cleaned them and put NoAlox (sp) on the terminals. We use the stuff in the power industry, and it seems to work on the HEAVY DUTY stuff (345kV and 4500+ amps) so I think it can handle 12v.



I have a Fluke Meter and can check for floating freq's and floating voltage, but there are alot of points to go thru.



Been checking the TPS and the APPS with the Cummins Quick Check during the incidents, and all appears normal so far, but the refresh rate on the Quick Check is just a bit slow.



SOMETIMES I find my Edge Comp with three led's lit. Not Normal. It is the #1, #3 and #5 led's. I called Edge and found out they NOW have a warranty timeframe. I don't remember THAT way back when they started out. Used to be with Edge, you could call the guys up and they would help. Edge is getting to be 'BIG BUSINESS' and won't hear of help without sending them MONEY. Oh well, enough of my rant.



That is why I am leading to the Edge Comp as the issue, but I have tried turning it 'off' during one of the dead petal episodes, and it still does it. BUT the Edge Comp is still hooked up, and MUST be doing something even when in the 'off' position, because I will NOT throw an overboost code. At the very least, the boost fooler is still active.



I guess I need to unhook the Edge Comp fully and keep on testing...



By the way... NO CODES are listed in history or actively during incidents.



Keep me posted, and I'll let you know what happens on this end.

 

[EagleEye]

Unhooked the Edge Comp and wastegate turnbuckle...

Will give her a try WITHOUT the Edge Comp for a couple of nights. Funny thing is, when I hook the Cummins Quick Check to the rig, the intermittent cold dead petal just will NOT happen as of yet. It is tied into the same CAN port as the Edge Comp, shielded and checked. Kinda scratching my head here, but I think it may be the Comp. Everything else just seems to be checking out fine. Couple of days may bring an answer, but who knows.



Will keep posting...

 

[EagleEye]

The Edge Comp box is going in...

I cannot replicate the symptoms with the Comp box totally removed from the truck, so the Edge Comp is taking a trip to the Edge Factory in Utah.



Truck is running fine with NO problems without it, just lacking the usual 'fun factor' with the Comp. I will dog around town until i get the box back from Edge. Did I mention I really liked it when Edge first started out? I would have had a replacement box in hand while my box was shipping back to Edge.



Oh well... Edge is on the move, and I guess it is a good thing for them. It just ain't what it used to be.

 

[Todd T]

I doubt the edge is the problem. normally you will get codes with the fueling box acting up.



My current truck did the same thing with no codes either. i monitoried the APPS voltages, IAT with a scan tool and saw nothing out of the ordinary either. i cleaned the IAT and replaced the MAP sensor... . nothing. cleaned all battery connections, and ground points to front fenders and engine block- nothing. still no codes either.



It just got progressively worse and finally set a code (0216). I replaced the VP44 and problem was solved.



it would on occassion do this when warm in traffic. if i let off for a moment and got back into it there would be no response, i would just hold the pedal still and it would take off after a few seconds. it just kept getting more frequent and lasting longer and finally set a code 0216.





ya better put a VP44 on your list for Christmas.

 

[TORQUE THIS]

Yup, replace that VP-44... was having the same issues you are describing. Went out to start the truck one morning, and would just crank. Also, no codes.

Changed out the VP and it fired right up!

 

[Todd T]

BTW mine had all these symtoms on a unmolested totally stock truck with 132K on the clock. I suspect this was why it was traded in at the dealer i bought it from. i flew in to Dallas with my fuel test guage in hand, it had 10PSI of pressure and no codes. drove it back all night to IL and nearly the first day home with it, it started acting up and just kept getting worse from there. I spent a few days trouble shooting and ordered the pump.



Exact same problem as most have described but without the "hair" to weed out, so to speak.