Archived Truck very hard to start after warmup

[SCale]

Dodge Dealer said Vp 44 and lift pump were bad . I replaced both and I still have same problem. I took off the tank this morning to check the filter, found adjusters on gauge slides worn through but thats it. Any help would be appreciated. :--)

 

[ROADWARRIOR]

A long shot, but I have read of people having this issue with bad batteries. Something about the plates getting warm and losing their potential.



It would be helpful if you gave us more info about the problem and your truck.



Dan

 

[rashwor]

This is the problem I had when I replaced my VP44. Not enough truck info to be more help.

 

[SCale]

After serious investigation of the problem I found very small metal shavings in the filter on the tank guage sending unit. It seems when the slides on the fuel pickup wore out they deposited said shavings in tank, some of the shavings were pulled through the screen over 60 percent of the way. I'm sure others had passed through to the defenseless lift pump. I have cleaned the tank and installed a new pickup and filter, pre lift pump, and I am putting a small magnet in the tank, just in case I missed some shavings. I believe Dodge knows about this because the new unit is made entirely of plastic with no metal slides to wear out. The first replacement unit was exactly the same metal and plastic setup with wrong electrical plug. On return to dealer I was sent to another dealer to pick up the correct part, this is when I got the updated all plastic part . So if your having problems with your pump be sure to check your sending unit . If your not having problems then put a fuel filter pre lift pump. It seems as if a lot of owners already know to put on an additional filter, I wish I had. Since I have 135,000 miles on my truck it's all on me. Oh well it's a great truck. 1999 2500 2WD Quad Cab Camper Special stock except for Optima batteries K/N filter

 

[JerryTurbo]

Hey SCale, I had to replace my float (wore out) on my sending unit and noticed the same. How much was the new unit?

 

[SCale]

Jerry, the new setup cost me 328. 00 with tax that's only because they made a mistake and gave me the wrong unit the first time, so the new one didn't cost me any more. the list on the new one on the paper work is 516. 00 + whatever your tax is. I'm just counting my blessings. :--)

 

[CCOLLAR]

I believe there is a TSB for this problem. Check dodgeram.org and read through the performance section of the TSBs.



Craig

 

[John - K5AWO]

Man alive, at $518. 00 for a new sending unit, that capacitance probe replacement is looking better all the time! And it will never leave shavings in the tank.

 

[SCale]

Originally posted by John - K5AWO

Man alive, at $518. 00 for a new sending unit, that capacitance probe replacement is looking better all the time! And it will never leave shavings in the tank.

I didn't know about the capacitance probe until later, but i agree . My 14 year old looked the sending unit over and said that thing should be about 50 bucks. Im just glad they screwed up and I got over 200. 00 off.

 

[GAmes]

You must have bought the complete unit. The float assy with a donut gasket included is under $50. Of course my 97 might not use the same part as yours.

 

[damar]

I have a fuel tank module that needs to be replaced because of the same exact metal wear. I have had it out twice to try to fix it without replacement. Guess I will have to bite the bullet and get a new one. Can you give me a part number for the new all plastic unit, my dealer doesn't know anything about it??

 

[SCale]

part number

Here you go . Part # on receipt is as follows 4897688AF DCP Modul Kit . Hope this helps you out. Theres a post about a capacitance unit with a link to a site called westach it might be a cheaper alternative and there's no moving parts to break.

 

[MMeier]

Gee, 5 updates on the same part, imagine that !

 

[Andy Redmond]

You can remove the screws and screw or pop rivet in place (all the way down), but your gauge will sweep some due to fuel slosh, when less than 1/2 fuel likely (rough terrain, off-roading) etc.

 

[Andy Redmond]

SCALE. . the trucks still not right?



My guess is on the VP44 injection pump (maybe a reman that croaked). I've changed several that wouldn't crank when hot, then wouldn't crank over and fire the engine at all. Both trucks had stellar fuel psi and volume. Both also had lift pump replacements (like two each) in the lifespan before the VP44 died. .



Also are you on "pumps" # 2 now? If so the first replacement might still be warrantied? For example you paid for both to be replaced at DC at 128,000 then it happened again @132k?(s/b covered by a 12/12 repair warranty) Never hurts to ask. .





IMHO, I think the metal shavings are a co-incidence that the lift pump died again? The pre-screen on the bottom of the fuel sending module should catch most of the FOD, then there is another screen inside at the bottom of the pickup. Metal flakes can also be caused by the "lead" aluminium "in and out" of the re-fueling nozzle at the fuel pump/station, trash from the fuel source/vendor that had metal etc.





One reason the plug on the prior sender might not have been right. . was the 94-97's use a 100 ohm sender and the later ones (98-02, for sure, maybe the 03-04 too) use a 220-240 ohm sender. If you put the first sender on the later one's tank module the fuel gauge should only read a 1/2 a tank when full. .



Good luck

Andy

 

[SCale]

Thanks for all the help I got the truck running the other morning when the engine was cold and it self diagnosed . Started pouring fuel out of the fuel filter where the wires come out of the top,replaced fuel filter housing top, it only did this one time, kind of weird. It must have been sucking air there though for a while. Now it starts as soon as you hit the key just like when it was new. Runs great with the new pump no more cutting out at about 75 as it would occasionally do before. installing fuel pressure guage kit from gino's as soon as it arrives.

 

[John - K5AWO]

If you want to get together for a cold drink, holler at me.



480

5 6 0

7 4 6 0



John