Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) VP-44 starting to fail?

[EdwardsW]

I had my truck into the dodge dealership to get my lift pump checked. It was good 5psi at idle and 10psi at 2500 rpm. The mechanic said that my VP-44 was starting to fail based on my description of symptoms. (Remember I'm the new guy who has to start with the stupid questions. ) When towing, on a hard accel. , like coming out of a rest area, I have bogged for a second or two in 3rd gear at 2000-2200 rpms. This happened 4-6 times on my trip from Indiana to Florida. That is why I went into the dealership, to get my lift pump checked. The truck has 192,000 miles and the mechanic thought I might have the original VP-44. He said they usually fail every 100,000 or so, so mine is overdue.



Do I wait till it gets worse? Buy a rebuilt at a better price and carry it around with me so that I have it when it fails? Replace it now and skip the hassle of dealing with it when it fails.



Some advice please. Also, if I do get a pump for my mechanic in Detroit to install for me next time I am in town. Where should I purchase on from.



Thanks,

Bill

 

[nps]

If you buy one, recommend Industrial Injection.



Should you change it now - how rich are you? I'd make sure it was bad first. Have you checked any codes? Go to Autozone and they will pull the codes for free. Post them here.

 

[EdwardsW]

I switched from Safe-Tow on my Superchip to Performance after I dropped my load in Ft Myers, so all the codes were erased then. I will check codes next time it happens before changing modes.

 

[FourBarR]

that lift pump pressure is low. mine will idle at 15 psi, 13 psi at 70 mph and 10 at wot. d/c normally now does a flow test to check the pump. I would not put on a new44 until you change the lift pump. running with low pressure is one of the things that kill the injection pump.

 

[EdwardsW]

thanks on the lift pump feedback, came to the same conclusion after talking to a guy at industrial injection. Lift pump on it's way

 

[CTomasino]

Call Industrial Injection if you plan to buy one. I just ordered a Hotrod vp-44 and they were great, answer every question I had. I can wait for it to get here. My truck was doing the same thing and then it just died at 85 mph.

 

[Mundgyver]

You might want to get rid of the banjo bolts to the VP and on each side of the filter and install straight in larger bore connections and upgrade your fuel line to 3/8th I. D. or 1/2. This will increase the available volumn to the VP and should help you to keep from stumbling.

 

[rweis]

I agree the change out of the banjo's. If you do not believe it, take the fuel line off between the bottom of the fuel filter and the VP44 and look at the size of the ID of the line where the rubber section connects, Not the ID of the rubber line, the ID of the metal line.



Then think of any bombs you have or are thinking about.



Bob Weis