Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Truck DOA at Stealer's -- Any ideas?

[WyoJim]

wyosteve... . Can you up date us on your truck?



Whitmore... . Kevin, what is the story?



He!!, maybe everone knows but me.

 

[X-10]

I gave Steve a ring last evening and he had just picked up the truck a few minutes prior. I'm sure he'll fill us in when he gets back sometime this weekend. That is IF he doesn't decide to trade his ram in on his very own Impala or get to close to Whitmores' on the way back .

 

[Whitmore]

I been without a puter for a few days , I hope he dont do the new impalla deal :{ , They got me goin straight thru at the plant now, no days off till we get this thing runnung so all I can do is slip in the office once in a while Yall call ifin I can help in any way (307)-876-2651... ... ... ... ... ... Kevin

 

[wyosteve]

Well guys, good news and bad news. Just got home with the truck after the 400 mile drive. As mentioned the VP44 met an untimely death. Took almost 2 weeks to get truck back between diagnosis (3 days), pump order (4 days) and install (1 day). Seems like they did a good install on the pump. No leaks, etc. BUT I found out after I was a ways out of Cody and as the outside temp. climbed to 99, that the selector switch for air, vent heat, etc is not working. AND, neither is the cruise control or my exhaust brake!! Which brings me to my next question. On my '95, I had a vacuum leak which prevented the switch from defrost to heat, etc. I suspect they may have forgotten to connect a vacuum hose, but would that also affect the cruise and exhaust brake? My other thought on the cruise is the clockspring, but the "cruise" light comes on when I hit the switch, just won't set. I stopped to see Kevin's wife since he works so many hours, but she just sent me on my way to Yellowstone Drug to cool off, only to find they weren't yet open! I'm going to check fuses, etc. after the engine cools down. I did notice that just above and to the left (inward toward engine) of the brake fluid reservoir there are two vacuum hoses connected to a Y with a short stub of hose coming off the leg of the Y. This stub hose is open. Should it possibly be plugged? I have to admit I looked at the Fords while I was at the dealer and may be tempted if these little things continue! The only good thing about the Impala was gas mileage. I averaged around 80 yesterday heading to Cody and it still got over 27. Doug, if I don't hook up with you tonight, I'll try and call over the weekend. I'm heading to pick up the hay in early a. m. , before it gets too hot. Thanks in advance for any thoughts or suggestions.

 

[WyoJim]

wyosteve... You have a vacuum hose disconnected under the injection pump battery area. Or maybe up on the fire wall, but I think not. This hose affects every thing you mentioned... .

I pulled mine apart once when I changed the fuel filter and all that stuff quit. However mine is a 98. 5

 

[Mick2500]

Vac Hose

Steve,

Mine is a 2001. 5 but the short manifold on

the firewall just inboard of the Master Cylinder

is about 8" long with the supply coming up from

the vacuum pump (this line has a one-way valve

in it just before the connection) and then two

plugged ports to the right side and one plugged

port to the left. The port at the left end of

this manifold has a protected vacuum hose connected. This hose is the one that feeds the

dash controls. It looks almost like a wiring harness because they wrapped it with the wiring

loom protection sheathing.

Hope this helps!



Mick

 

[wyosteve]

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I looked for a while last night but couldn't find anything. However I didn't look under the injection pump. I just got back from getting a load of hay (20,940 gvw-- truck, trailer and hay). Once it cools down, I'll go try again. Will let you know if I have any success.

 

[Whitmore]

Steve, I agree with Wyo Jim on the vacuum hose somewhere, trace them all out and you will find it



atleast you got it home and it is useable. sorry I missed you AGAIN , it looking like another month before I go back to 7 on and 7 off. Maybe I will come see all you guys then . First I need to get re- a quaunted to my wife ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ..... Where is that instructions book Its been so long I forgot who gets tied up

 

[wyosteve]

Success finally!! Thanks to all of your wisdom, I spent about an hour tracing every line I could find. Finally found the line under the injection pump (kind of a smallish plastic line) was disconnected. Hooked it back up into the short piece that is by the firewall and everything works fine. As insurance, I put a small hose clamp on it since it slipped in and out pretty easily. Kevin, I'll be coming through Shoshoni again on July 24 or 25 on my way to Worland. Maybe we can try again. Well, I guess I'm happy with the old girl again!!

 

[WyoJim]

What a relief it must be to be finished with that bout of frustration. I'm glad you got it fixed. Enjoy!!

 

[Whitmore]

Steve, 24 or 25 sounds great, I hope we got this new plant up and running by then so I can go 7 on and 7 off, The plant is supposed to be up now but the contractor is running late , we should be up within the next 2 to 3 weeks... ... ... . I hope... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... Kevin

 

[joel]

they don't fail just because of mods

LAnthony - my VP44 failed at around 49K and with the exception of a K&N air filter, I'm stock. I don't tow much and don't abuse the engine. Lift pump has NOT been replaced and showed good pressures under all conditions.



Your post did come off like a flame of sorts. It's not just the hopped up guys who are losing the fuel pumps. The pump is the problem.

 

[Jvann]

VP44 is the problem

I believe the vp44 is the problem. Mine died at 18000 miles. At that time I had no bombing at all. DC did warranty it although one stealer tried to blame it on contaminated fuel. Not! It died with no warning whatsoever at a busy intersection. Talk about being PO with 18000 miles on a 30k$ truck! It runs great now and pulls like a freight train so I guess the worry and aggravation was worth it. LOL

 

[wyosteve]

Jvann, that's interesting that one stealer tried to blame it on contaminated fuel. My stealer tried the same scam, i. e. they said the fuel looked unusual so they pumped the tank empty. Finally admitted they couldn't prove any bad fuel created the problem. I suspect that the stealers get on the hotline to Chrysler and get the word to try the "bad fuel" story first.

 

[B9Mile]

The "Bad Fuel" Story

That's why just about all of the fuel that goes into my truck is pumped from a Pacific Pride cardlock fueling station. If the dealer can "prove" it was bad fuel, then I'm sure the commercial fueling company's lawyers will be more than happy to have a chat with him.

 

[Jvann]

Wyosteve, that is a coincidence isn't it? I believe it's in their SOP to try to avoid warranty work by using "bad fuel" excuse. By the way, I pulled a sample of my fuel and kept it in case I had to have it analized before I took the truck to the second dealer. I would advise anyone with a problem with anything in the fuel system such as injector pump or lift pump to pull a sample of the fuel so you can take it to an independent lab if you have to. This "bad fuel" scenario seems to come up often. Good idea to CYA.

 

[HVAC]

Dealers

Recently I was involved in a situation where a fellows brand new "02 truck began to run poorly.

He took it to a dealer in Twin Falls Idaho where they diagnosed it as a VP44 problem. Dealer also said they wouldn't cover the replacement cause the truck had run a performance device, and the pump wire was pierced. The owner of the truck was a tad hot :-{} cause the pump wire was not pierced



I called the folks at Carrigan Motors in Morgan Utah (near Ogden) who I had recently met during a visit to that area. I asked, if we could get the truck to them, would they take a second look at it? They agreed, the owner got the truck hauled down to Morgan, and it was determined that the pump was NOT the problem!!!:-{}



The truck was running extremely rich and developing a lot of smoke, even at idle.

Ace mechanic does a cylinder balance/injector kill test and determines that #4 is where the problem is. Once the injector is pulled and inspected, a crack on the tip is discovered A replacement injector is installed and problem solved, she runs great!Oo.



I feel strongly about the value of service. IMO it's more important then price. Especially for those folks who are compelled to purchase the extended warranty. What good is it if the dealer doesn't know what they are doing?



So, standing "O" for Carrigan Motors for helping this guy out of a jamOo. Oo. Oo. He would have been out several thousand bucks :{