Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) VP Mounting Bolts ??

[Crazy Horse]

I noticed oil leaking off the front of the truck this am. Come to find out the the VP nuts were loose and one came off and was sittting on top of the vacume pump where the ps pump mounts to it. Put the nut back on and tightened the nut just below that one. These are the only two nuts I see tho I assume there are hidden ones that I can't access. Oil is still leaking out pretty good. This is the VP the Dealer just replaced approx 3000 miles ago.



Question is: With these bolts that were/are loose, could damage have been caused to the Injection Pump?

 

[Crazy Horse]

Here's the nut.

 

[DonFitzwater]

:-{} Back to the dealer with ya!

 

[Crazy Horse]

It's going back to the dealer, but I can't get it in till Tues.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

IF all the nuts were loose enough that the pump itself was wobbling in the gearcase opening, that's not a good thing! The O-ring seal between the VP-44 and the gear housing is inside that housing about 1/16 to 1/8 of an inch, so wouldn't take too much looseness to allow leakage - especially if the REAR VP mounting bolts were also loose - I'd sure double check them all - there are 4 on the front, and either 2 or 3 at the rear of the VP that bolt to the rear mounting bracket that secures to the Cummins block.



If the VP-44 is loose enough to wobble in it's opening, it places strain on the front drive shaft, front bearing and gear - longer term looseness has been known to wipe out VP-44's...



Good thing you caught it.

 

[Crazy Horse]

Gary thanks for the info. . .



The truck went back into the shop yesterday leaking oil pretty good from the VP area. I had a towel stuffed under the VP to stop oil spray back on the starter motor.



I talked to the mechanic and he said he has seen other mounting bolt nuts on the back side of these pumps completely go missing previously???



Yesterday afternoon the dealership called and said they are going to put another pump on due to "pump failure". They are going to warranty another one. Second one in 3,000 miles.



Just after the VP was replaced the 1st time a couple of months ago I did notice a very small amount of oil (intermitent drip) on the bottom of the vacume pump . Thought at the time it might have been coming from the Vacume Pump/Power Steering Pump.



We'll be keeping a close eye on this one.

 

[mhenon]

Hmmmm. . that's exactly what I saw after my VP was replaced by the dealer.

Gary. . I know you've swapped out your VP. How much crap (APPS etc) do you need to pull to get to the VP mounting bolts?

Mike

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

.

Gary. . I know you've swapped out your VP. How much crap (APPS etc) do you need to pull to get to the VP mounting bolts?

Mike

WELL, I'm too old and stiff to do the contortionist bit, so I removed the driver side battery, plus the intake manifold air horn and lower boot. I unbolted the whole APPS assembly and the fuel filter, and swung them out of the way.



All that gave me a clear access to the VP-44 - the lower front nut towards the engine block for the VP-44 is almost all done by feel - it's pretty hard to see while removing, then re-attaching and tightening the nut.



I used a long 1/2 extension and ratchet down between the VP-44 and engine block. I had no problems on that one other than a blocked view of what I was doing.



Here's a view of the new VP-44 prior to attaching the injector lines - disregard the aluminum foil - some will recognize that as part of my VP-44 cooling project as covered in another thread - the wire and gizmo sitting on top of the VP-44 is the tap for the Edge Comp with an in-line interference filter to prevent interference from my mobile Amateur Radio transmitter.



#ad

 

[Crazy Horse]

The new VP is on. The mechanic at the dealer said that in addition to the nut falling off the one stud (see 1st photo) the rear or hidden stud was missing all together (nut & stud). So there was only one nut holding the VP on for awhile. Since the stud was missing they put a bolt through in that location. This was caught just in time, imagine 75 mph and the VP falls loose. I'm thinking about Lock Tighting them all.

 

[Partyat33]

There are four nuts and two bolts that hold the vp on. Four on studs going toward the front of the truck and two bolts that go into the side of the engine. Its not all that hard to do if you can get the bolts loose. You need a swivel to get at one of them.