Archived truck dies,low power,hard starts

[propuller]

ok guys here we go!i need some help. i bought a stock 98. 5 ctd with 133000 miles with the automatic trans. my problem started with a bad lift pump that i replaced. i had 0 psi but the truck ran great for 2 weeks after the lift pump change. now suddenly it started running bad-engine surges at idle,when i put the trans in gear it kills the motor then it wont start up you have to crank it for at least 20 seconds before it will fire. going down the road it has no power but it still runs. my question is this do you guys think its the vp-44 or something stupid like a sensor. the fuel pressure is 13 psi at idle so the lift pump is working. this truck is bone stock no mods. please help im afraid to drive it like this. i guess il have to get out the 01 & get it dirty. :{

 

[bighammer]

I'm curious about the location of you pressure tap. Is it before or after the filter? (Excuse my ignorance, I'm a 12 valver )

 

[propuller]

after the filter mounted on the inlet of the vp44.

 

[KLockliear]

Depending on how long the truck was run with a bad lift pump, you may have taken the VP44 out. Another possible problem would be the screws on the top plate coming loose, but that's inside the pump.

 

[propuller]

thanks keith anybody else have any ideas?. kurt.

 

[kaffine krazed]

What does the fuel look like? Try to light a small sample of the fuel if it lights then you have gas in your diesel. Check to see if you have air in the fuel buy loosening on of the banjo bolts on top the fuel filter housing bump the starter to get the lift pump to run you should get a soilid fuel flow if it shows sighns of air check the lines from the tank to the lift pump and the banjo bolt washers at the lift pump. Also how much fuel do you have in the tank?

 

[propuller]

kaffine the fuel looks & smells fine. theres about 3/4 in the tank. going down the road the truck runs smooth it just feels real slugish like it has no power,it doesnt sound like its missing & it surges at idle,from about 800 rpm to 850 or 900 then back down to 800. like i said before as soon as i put it in gear it dies and i have to crank the hell out of it to get it to start. this does sound like air in the lines but i dont think it is,i will try the banjo bolt thing tommorow & maybe some fuel additive like power service. i got a bad feeling its the vp44. i will take it to the stealer monday & have them check for codes or have them test the pump. if the pump is bad where is the best place to get a vp44 & is a reman pump ok. thanks for all the help guys. kurt. ps could the crank position sensor be causing these problems?:{ :{ :{ :{

 

[BillGotthelf]

The cheapest place for a reman seems to be your dodge dealer. I got quote of $900 retail here in fla. My friend has a commercial account with dodge and his price was $800. Only way to check if its lift pump is to either replace it or have dodge run diagnostics-it the code for pump timing comes up the pump is trashed. THe crankshaft position sensor very rarely goes out but this ahs its own code also. Sorrry.

 

[propuller]

i went to take my truck to the shop today & i got about 5 miles down the road & it died at a stop sign & wont start. a buddy of mine came along & pulled me back to his place thank god. the truck cranks over but wont fire. i cracked the fuel line at the pump & cycled the ignition & the lift pump comes on & fuel sprayed out of the banjo & i also have good pressure so i know im getting fuel. i think the 44 died finaly. ill get prices from everybody & change it i hope this fixes it. thanks for the help.

 

[BillGotthelf]

Take off the #3 injector to see if you are getting fuel. If no fuel pump is definitely dead. Even if you get some the volume and timing will be off. Only sure way is get the codes read and see if the injector pump timing code turns up.

 

[JBrownlow]

Here's a "shot in the dark" possibility... ... ... I took my 98. 5 w/ automatic to the stealer for an oil, oil filter and fuel filter change. When I picked it up and started home, it was suffering the same exact symptoms that you describe. I immediately returned (limped back) to the stealer and informed them that it "ran perfectly when it came in for service and I would like it returned to that status".



These folks played with it for two days, replacing several parts (at their expense), and finally called the factory reps for an answer.



The factory rep immediately asked if the oil filter had been changed. It seems that when the stealers mechanic(?)/technician(?) was tightening the filter, he had shorted the positive terminal on the alternator to ground thru the filter wrench.



This had "spiked" the computer and it required a reprogramming to fix the problem. After reprogramming, all was, and still is, working just fine. The new program had all of the latest driveability mods included.



Just thought you might be able to make use of this info... ..... jb

 

[kaffine krazed]

Just because the code for timing comes up doesn't mean the injection pump is dead. I have seen that code sevral times and only once was it caused by a bad injection pump.

 

[BillGotthelf]

Kaffine-The first place the techs book says to check is the computer history and they are asked to check for the injection timing code.

 

[propuller]

hey guys just to let you know i put a reman pump on my truck & shes runnin good again. i got it from us dieselparts.com for 1069. 20 bosch reman, pretty good deal i thought. it took me about 3 hours to change & it wasnt to bad once you got everything out of the way. thanks kurt.