Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Symptoms of a dying VP-44???

[FFutch]

You guys that have been through it what are some of the early signs?I've pulled some old 252 and 253 codes out with my scanner,which someone told me was fuel pump solenoid codes. I am also having problems with my Comp not producing in levels 4 or 5x5. If I turn it back to 3 it seems to make power and smoke,but if I switch it to 4 or 5 it seems like it trys to shift but doesn't. This is a brand new Comp as the old one went tango uniform. It seems like it has gradually lost power and my e. t. s were off a little in the spring. I'm going to check all the wiring on the Comp and engine before I do anything,just wanting some advice before I shell out $1400 . Also will a HO pump work on a SO engine??? Any gains???Any help appreciated... Doug

 

[Turbo Tim 1]

From everything I've read the HO and SO pumps are different so I can't give you a answer worth a hill of beans for that one, but I have a very similar problem to yours with the 0253 code and it was after my Comp went TU and when I put the new one on it has acted funny every since, have you got a stumble when poking it to her at around 2200 rpms? Mine does and also the lower feeling power on 4 and 5 than on 3. I've checked the connection to the pump and checked all the connections including cleaning, ensuring contact and greasing, still nothing fixed it. I've even contemplated bringing it to a dealer to read the codes and see if they can give me some insite (they work on modified stuff and were recommended by Cummins NE) I did bring it to a guy but he wanted to throw parts at it starting with a pump, but I wonder if something didn't get corrupted when the Comp took a dump. Is it possible for the ECM or PCM to get corrupted? If you figure it out let me know.

 

[FFutch]

Tim,no miss or stumble,but big loss of power. When I first put the Comp on this thing was a HOSS. The ECM thing is something to think about but someone told me that when you start seeing pump codes the end is near. I will check some things out this weekend and let you know but I might have a new pump on my step next week... Doug

 

[Turbo Tim 1]

I am kind of affraid that it is the pump but mine has been running for 10,000 miles since I got the code the first time. Did you find any good deals on the pump? Stock style pump or a souped up one? If it fixes your problem let us know, because I guess that will be my next step.

 

[ihegdal]

FFutch,



Regarding replacing the SO pump with a HO pump. I did this on a 2001 truck and a seat of the pants comparison indicates that it made as much of a performance improvement by itself as the addition of the Edge EZ had. I do run the HO+EZ.

 

[OTRPU]

What I noticed...

while loaded with a trailer climbing an incline throttle to the floor. It would do what I described as a "stall". Boost fell to nada, engine was still running. Would seem to coast for what seemed like an eternity, was in reality probably 3 seconds. Speed would drop from 65 to 60. Then it would hit and climb right back to 65. My lift pump was registering 0 at idle, never tested over 6. I had to replace both fuel and injector pumps. I just had them throw me back together cause I had a trailer and needed to get back on the road. Figured I'd do the auxillary pump or pressure guage later.



Be Safe,

Steve J.

 

[rashwor]

OTRPU...

OTRPU, I read your signature. How many miles do you have on it and what problems have you had? Sorry for changing the subject.

 

[FFutch]

Well I had 21,000 lbs. behind it last weekend,and pulled with the Comp off and it seemed O. K. pulling with 20+ lbs. of boost. I guess what I'm wanting to know if the VP usually goes all at once or gradually???If I find something this weekend I'll let you guys know... . Doug

 

[Turbo Tim 1]

ihegdal



So you have an HO pump on your SO? Because I think I can get a good deal on an HO pump. Is there anything else you had to do? No programming changes or anything? Different ECM? Is your EZ for an HO or does it even make a difference with the EZ? Thank you.



Tim

 

[rashwor]

My symptoms...

This probably does not apply to you, but mine had a hard-start-when-warm condition. I had run it for 2 years like this with it barely being noticable. This spring, it progressed rapidly during April and May getting much worse by the week. It finally got bad enough that I figured it would leave me stranded if I did not get something done about it. New pump has been installed since the end of May and it is working flawlessly. This is the only symptom I ever had.



On a side note, someone posted here the other day that there is a place in Texas where you can get new VP44s for $750 + ($200? deposit). I did not know any better and paid $1500 for mine (new, but not from a Dodge dealer).



Good luck.

 

[ihegdal]

Tim,



No other changes were required. The EZ is the same for both SO and HO applications. I am not the first one to do this. I got the idea from BD. They had new VP44's instock, but only the 245 HP version (HO). They said that they only stocked the HO because both were the same price and the most folks wanted the high HP pump if they were having to buy a pump. The fellow taking the order mentioned that you got about a 30 hp increase by putting an HO pump on a SO engine. I was sceptical but decided to try it. I was pleasently surprised with the results. My quess as to why the power increase is more than just the 10 hp you might expect is that the HO engine puts out the additional 10 hp even though the HO engine has smaller injectors than the SO engine. So the 10 hp bigger pump with bigger injectors delivers more than a 10 hp increase. My quess is 25-30 hp (without the EZ).