Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) What to do?

[THenningsen]

I'm feeling pretty overwhelmed by all this lift pump, vp44 talk. I wanted the CTD so I could put 300-500k miles on it with very few problems. Seems like all I read on here... . it's hard to have a truck without replacing the lift pump or the injector pump several times. My truck will be kept relatively stock.

The truck I'm looking at in an '02 2500 2wd 6spd. The truck was used by a dealership to transport cars on a 1 car trailer. It's got 91k miles on it and seems to be very clean. They insist that it was flawlessly maintained, but I know how fleet vehicles can be sometimes. Dealer said that the injector pump was replaced at 85k. He said that the only reason he had it done is because he wanted to get a new one out of dodge before it was out of warranty. Should I believe that? What else can I look for? I know that the truck is stock, but how can I know that the lift pump or the injector pump won't go bad? Also, I noticed some oil on the front side of the motor and on the front sway bar and oil pan. Is this the front main seal? Are these things to be concerned with. This is my first diesel so I'm pretty much clueless. Thanks for the help! Todd

 

[hammersley]

Don't screw around - do 1 of 2 things....

1. Install a Fuel Pressure guage and it will tell you if you are losing FP - when it drops below 7psi - either replace the filters and see if it goes back up - if not - install a new LP. Carry one with you - relatively easy to change and they are under $170 I think... or



2. Put a FASS on - add a FP Guage - remove the LP and existing Filter setup - and FORGET IT - end of story!



Here is a picture on the bench..... note the size compared to a 12 guage shotgun shell on left... ... super HD Unit... .



#ad




Mounted but it needed some protection...

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I added an Alum Protective can



#ad

 

[THenningsen]

Thanks for the info. What will the FASS cost me?

 

[ROADWARRIOR]

Around $600 on up depending on fuel line options.



Dan

 

[RBallard]

More than likely the oil you see is probably from the catch bottle. Unless you empty it with around each oil change it will eventually fill up and spill and get blown all over from the fan. I know this from experience, I finally took the bottle off and extended the hose and problem solved although, now all that happens is the periodic drip on the driveway where I park.

 

[Alphacowboy]

Damn, does all the FASS systems hang down that low below the frame? I hope not, that sucks, I have drug my frame on the ground many a times, I would hate to catch that sucker and rip it off. I want to get one of the FASS systems some time this year, but yikes, thats crazy if that is how far below the frame rail it hangs.

 

[HBarlow]

My truck had the transfer/lift pump replaced under warranty at 68k miles. The pump sells for about $125 from a Cummins dealer. I had a mysterious symptom recently and guessed wrong, mistakenly replacing the injection pump at just under 150k miles. It cost about $1,500 from a Cummins dealer.



One lift pump and one injection pump replaced early and unnecessarily in 152k miles is not a big deal in my opinion. I have religously used only clean truck stop fuel and changed my fuel filter every 10k miles. Chances are the injection pump will make it to 200k miles or more. I sold my take out pump to a guy whose pump was failing and couldn't afford a new one. He is happy, his truck runs better than ever before.



Each to his own but I think the secret to long life is clean fuel and fuel filters and immediate recognition of a dying transfer pump. An unnoticed failing or failed transfer pump will destroy the injection pump.



Remember, most of the posts on this forum are by the guys who have, or think they have, a problem. We have about 20,000 TDR members who tend to be fanatical about their trucks. I don't know how many Dodge-Cummins trucks are on the road but we don't hear from the ones who are not members or from the TDR members who don't have a problem.



Buy the truck with confidence if you trust the dealership.



Harvey

 

[RJOL]

... Put a FASS on - add a FP Guage... .

If your on a budget... get the FP gauge and forget the FASS. Also... even though they say its only been used for hauling vehicles and has 91K on it, you might want to have an independent opinion as to the condition of the truck... Could be "A OK" but do you really believe everything the dealer tells you...

 

[KTobin]

Seems like all I read on here... . it's hard to have a truck without replacing the lift pump or the injector pump several times.



You may be overstating a bit. There is an inheirant fuel delivery deficiency with these trucks which will contribute to the demise of the VP44 pump if left unchecked. However, there are ways to combat the evil forces of ignorance and that is to install guages first and some sort of auxillary aid/system to improve upon the OEM lift pump.



"D

"Dealer said that the injector pump was replaced at 85k. He said that the only reason he had it done is because he wanted to get a new one out of dodge before it was out of warranty. Should I believe that?"



It's quite possible that the Injector pump WAS replaced @ 85K. Components break! If there are records to back it up, then you have a new injector pump with 6K on it and a warantee to boot.

"What else can I look for? I know that the truck is stock, but how can I know that the lift pump or the injector pump won't go bad?"



It was a fleet vehicle so I doubt if there was any kind of fuel enhancement box ever installed. However, pull the tape off the wiring harness loom at the VP44 and pull the loom back. Isolate all the wires and check for Knicks or signs of splices in the wire insulation. Check for screw holes in and around the lower dash cowling on either side of the steering column indicating that there may have been a fuel /timing enhancement box installed. Keeping in mind that any screw holes may have been for an electric brake.

"Also, I noticed some oil on the front side of the motor and on the front sway bar and oil pan. Is this the front main seal?"



Could be many things. If the front breather bottle has never been taken off and cleaned then it may be full of crud. If it's your "timing cover seal" then you are looking at a 3 hour job at the dealer or a 2 hour job if you do it yourself. I did mine before i realised that it was the timing cover seal itself, another 2 hour job. Now I have a new timing cover oil seal and a timing cover seal. I knew about all these things when I inspected and subsequently purchased my truck. I just made him aware that I knew and set my price accordingly. My pusher pump set me back about a hundred bucks.

Don't be scared away from the CTD, It's just our nature to bring up bad points and never mention the fact that it's still the best North American light duty truck built.



Kevin

 

[barbwire]

If the dealer told you that the only reason that he had the injection pump changed is because "he wanted a new one before warranty ran out", I would have to say that he is either lieing, or he lied to STAR. You have to have a valid reason to have warranty change parts. Heck, if all we needed to change parts is "because I want to" then I would have had a couple hundred parts changed out on my 99 before warranty ran out.

I guess that I would only trust his word if I saw the paper work .

Also, the main reason for an injector pump failing, would be if the lift pump had failed. In which case the injection pump would not have been properly lubed. Now,,, if the injection pump had been changed, all you have to do is get a fuel guage and monitor the lift pump. If proper pressure is maintained then your injection pump could possibly last as long as the engine. As far as the lift pump. well I guess that, it going out, is more of an inconvenience than a concern. After all, what vehicle lasts forever with absolutely no problems? And ( by todays standards) $125. 00 is a relatively cheap fix.

I would bet that you could talk him in to putting a fuel guage on the rig, to finalise the sale.