Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) VP44 failures?

[mrander]

I know the theory is that making sure you have adequate fuel pressure results in longer VP44 life, but has it been determined that closely watching your fuel pressure DEFINITELY results in longer life of the VP44?





I guess the real question is:

Is their anyone out there that has monitored their fuel pressure from day one and knows for sure that their VP44 has never been subjected to low pressure but yet it still failed?





Thanks.

 

[Straight6Jeff]

Yep. I always had above 10 pounds, mostly around 14, and it had a pump timing failure

 

[mrander]

That's what I was afraid of...



How many miles did you get out of it?

Did you have any performance mods?



I'm trying to decide if I want to continually face this problem or cut my losses and trade in for an '04. I really like my '02 but I don't know if I can handle a new injector pump every 60-70k.



I'd be willing to go with the FASS if I knew it would extend the life of the VP significantly.



I really don't want to get rid of my '02. It has too many things I like that the '04 doesn't. But, I need something dependable and if I have to save off $100 per month just to be ready for a new VP every time it goes, I may as well go for the '04.



what to do... . what to do.

 

[krs]

The FASS is no cure-all, it's just a good pusher pump with good filters.

 

[Straight6Jeff]

I had 30 k on the clock when it went south. I had an Ez on it for about 6k. However, the intermitant dead pedal was present before the EZ went on, but I did not pay much attention to it at the time because it was so fast and happened very infrequently.

 

[Lsfarm]

I wouldn't worry

Mrander, I wouldn't worry about your VP, the vast majority of these injection pumps are running fine, past 100K.



There have been a few failures when everything should have been alright [see above post] but most VP failures are associated with lift pump failures or running out of fuel. These are items you do have control over. Any part on our trucks have some possibility of failure, they are man-made and not self healing.



I doubt very much that you will have to budget for a VP 'every 60-70K' , just put in a pusher pump or move your factory lift pump and install a fuel pressure guage, and keep an eye on the pressure.



Just my experiences and opinion.



Greg L The Noise Nazi

 

[amsoilman]

I drive a 99 "Blue Bird" 84 Passenger School bus with the 24V Cummins, which has the same VP-44 as the Dodge uses. It also has the same "lift" pump. My bus now has over 90,000 miles and NO VP-44 failure. Some of the other buses have had problems with the VP-44, but the shop mechanics didn't associate the "lift" pump with the VP-44 failures until just recently... ... ... ... ... ... ... after I told them! They are now checking the fuel pressure.



Wayne

amsoilman

 

[tgbol]

I just had a new VP44 installed at 78,000. I did lose a lift pump at 36,000 but I was on top of that. I replaced it the day it died. I started getting the 0216 code in August. Then the truck kept getting harder to start. I finally took it in. The dealer couldn't get it started again. They pushed into the stall and called DC. Got it back the next day.