Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Throwing 1693 and 0234 code

[DDominick]

I have a 2001 Ram 5. 9L Cummins with an automatic transmission. The truck has 66,000 miles on it. The only mods on the truck are a BHAF and a Banks 4" Monster Exhaust with the power elbow. I just recently had to change the VP44 injection pump, as well as, the lift pump. I also installed a low fuel pressure light at the time of the VP44 pump install. The truck ran great for about a week. The issue I am having now is when I put the pedal down, in any gear, the truck will take off, but as it gets into the higher RPM range, it seems to flatten out. You can pretty much hear the turbo stop working. When I say that, you can hear the turbo whistling up until the point where the power loss occurs and then it sounds as if the turbo is silent. If you feather the pedal you can hear the turbo again and then it seems to have its power back. While this is happening my low fuel pressure light never comes on. The truck is throwing two codes P 1693 and P 0234. I have looked up the codes and it seems to be pointing to the wastegate in the turbo. Could that be responsible for the power loss? I have already put two turbos on the truck while it was under warranty, which it is no longer. Is there any way to get the wastegate unfrozen, if that is what it is, or do I have to put another turbo in to fix this issue. I have seen some posts where they talk about replacing just the wastegate valve, but I don't think that is an option for this particular model/year. I believe the newer ones are external to the turbo, where my model is internal. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. I’m not really up to spending $1500 on a turbo just weeks after spending big bucks on the VP44 pump.

 

[GCULP]

I believe the 1693 is a companion code and the 0234 is an overboost code, nothing to really worry about and you can have them checked at Autozone.

 

[DDominick]

Gary, thanks for a response. Unfortnatley, the overboost condition is having a negative impact on the performance of the truck. Pulling my 16' landscape trailer around the mountains of PA has become difficult at times. It looks like I am going to up spending around $1200 for a BD Power Super "B" single turbo.



Doug

 

[FourBarR]

Unless a 2000. 5 is different than a 98. 5 the wastegate is sepreate from the turbo. If the wastegate is stuck partly open it will effect the power at higher rpms. Check the inter cooler boots also for leaks. Hope this is some help.

 

[JR2]

If you are setting an overboost code your truck will go into "limp" mode... that would explain the problems you are having.

You either have a waste gate that is stuck closed or you have a bad MAP sensor. You can check the waste gate by trying to move the rod that activates it. Just try to push the rod towards the rear of the truck. I would bet you have a MAP sensor that is failing. If it thinks you are getting too much boost it will stop delivering fuel to your truck. This will cause the same problems as the stuck wastegate. If you search around on TDR you can find the voltage specs for a MAP sensor. If you need one buy it from Cummins as the Dodge guys want too much $$ for it.

By the way, for everyone else the 01 Automatics have an HY35 turbo with a hardline (metal line) to activate the wastegate. The gate itself is on the rear of the turbo, but the actuator is on the side. Follow the black metal line that comes off the front (down on the lower right side) towards the rear of the truck and it connects to the gizmo that actually pushes the wastegate open.

 

[DDominick]

How much pressure should you have to apply to the rod for the wastegate. It is somewhat difficult to get a good grip on it, but nonetheless, I can't get it to move at all. One other thing, now that I have been having this issue, the turbo has developed the "bark" that I have been reading about in other threads. It is pretty much acting the same way it did the last time the turbo had to be replaced. If the turbo is in fact the issue, it will be the 3rd one that has been put on this truck. Thanks for the 411.

 

[JR2]

WIth your talk of barking the turbo I would bet you have a waste gate problem, not a MAP problem.
Give me a couple of days and I will tell you how much force it takes to open the wastegate, I have to get home and get my old HY off the shelf to test it. You may want to try to move the lever the rod hooks to on the bottom rear of the trubo. I think if you look up from under the truck you should be able to see it. Put a wrench on it and see if you can get it to move. If your waste gate is stuck closed you could probably remove the turbo and get at the waste gate itself. I bet a little penetrating oil and some force could get it working again. The other thing that might have failed is the actual actuator. If its not working it would never open the gate.


Just a note, if you need a new turbo and your not under warranty I would shop around and find a better turbo than that HY9. I had an HX35 (what can on the manual transmission trucks in 01) and it worked fine. You can also find HY9's on ebay sometimes, but the snow manchine guys love them for putting on sleds.

John