Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) VP-44, repair or rebuild question...

[Gary - K7GLD]

OK, so I've replaced the original VP-44 in my truck with a Industrial Injection rebuilt - but I still want to have a spare on hand, and am unsure of my options and best choice!



It seems that typically when a VP fails, it's an automatic swap-out with a fully reconditioned one - are there any other choices - and have any here used other choices?



My VP only had in the mid 40K miles on it, ALWAYS had additive mixed fuel going thru it for added lubricity, and other than very limited circumstances, always had very adequate fuel PSI to it.



In other words, mechanically, it SHOULD still be a very serviceable pump - it always, right up to the moment I pulled it off the truck, ran great - it simply started giving me the old P0216 error code that I couldn't ignore. I suspect some sort of issue with the electronic part of the pump, rather than a mechanical problem.



SO, MUST I trash out the whole innards of the pump, and cough up the price of a complete rebuilt - or is it possible or advised to ask for only the clearly failed part to be replaced - or is that even an option?



And if I ultimately choose to go the total rebuild route, would I possibly be better off to insist that my own original VP be rebuilt and returned to me - assuming that the latest pumps might provide a better core than an older one - or just accept whatever II or another rebuilder happens to have on his shelf?



Obviously, I must also carefully consider that if the electronics are at fault, and replaced, I stand to potentially be at risk over the mechanical parts that have 40K + miles on them - so is only a partial repair a wise way to go, if it is available?



Anyone else here been faced with this choice? Any members here work closely enough to Bosch and their rebuilding operations to offer an opinion?

 

[rweis]

Gary, you have a PM



Bob Weis

 

[ddunk]

Call Oregon fuel Injection they can help u out. . Good Guys!!!

 

[BradyWilliams]

Gary I should have made it more clear that we can and do partial repairs and complete repairs depending on what the situation is. If you feel that your pump is in very good shape and your pump is in good shape, then by all means we can save you money on repair of your pump. We always want to do the right thing for our customers. Let us know if you ever have problems with your pump. We always build our products to the very best they can be. Thanks, Brady

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Thanks again Brett - and to the rest of the group reading here, I had earlier posed some of my above questions directly to Brett, since II is my first choice for pump repair - he responded quickly, but I then had a few related questions that I figured might merit a broader exposure - thus this thread.



I suppose my bottom line question remaining at this point is, if attempts are made to locate the specific failure point - and assuming the clock is running on bench charges - but it is then decided that for a proper fix, the whole reconditioning routine is adviseable over a patchwork fix, are the exploratory bench charges added to what would have been the standard exchange cost?



Or are the steps made to isolate the failure point taken anyway, as part of the standard rebuilding process?



Obviously, I'm trying to make the best choice, and get the most for my dollar - and trying to avoid laying out money for dissection and bench testing of my failed pump to isolate the failure, and then ultimately having to get a full rebuild anyway.



Ultimately, warranty surfaces - if only the electronics module is found to be bad - and then replaced - will only the electronics be warrantied, even if the whole pump meets Bosch spec on the test bench? I can't really imagine a shop would want to assume responsibility for parts they didn't install - but is it wise to settle for a replacement, spare pump with some apparently serviceable parts already used for 40K miles, and a few new ones? Perhaps if the savings is substantial enough...



But if push came to shove, and my final choice was a patched pump that only was warrantied on the new replacement part(s) at a cost of, say, $500 - or a FULLY reconditioned one for $1000 that was warrantied totally - the $1000 might be the wisest choice! And THAT is likely to be my eventual decision to make.



This is much like choosing to take a chance and just do a ring and valve job on a used engine - or to bite the bullet, and do the complete overhaul! :-laf :-laf



Brett?