Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) What's happened to the epidemic of VP-44 issues?

[MVieira]

By the way, gonna be down that way end of May, first of June - any dyno runs or other activities going on about then?



BUT, I didn't have to move away from California - or here to Oregon, to have negative thoughts as to the politics and taxes down there, of course, this state will eventually catch up - but so far, no complaints, and at least, much quieter, less crowded, and FAR Less gang and drug related issues here - sorta makes up for the lack of shopping - and besides, it's only a 300 mile round trip from here to Bend... . :-laf[/QUOTE]



Gary,

I haven't heard of any events coming up in the May-June time frame but if I see something I'll PM you. The economy is so bad here right now that allot of the people are shelving their toys and hobbies right now. We just laid off 7 more mechanics last Friday.



You won't get any arguments from me as to California's negatives - But you left out one, CARB ! I've been sitting in on allot of these compliance meetings lately for Off-Highway and On-Highway Diesels and these people would like to see laws to the point that you would not be able to open the hood of your car, it would be a dealer only computer that could unlock it. Then no-one could tamper with or modify their emissions compliant engines.



Right now, the On-Highway guys are concentrating on diesel trucks 14,000lbs. GVW and up, but it won't be long before they are after us.



Anyways, if you do come down this way and you got some time to kill one morning, give me a call and I'll buy you a cup of coffee.



Regards, Mike

 

[FLynes]

When I traded my '01 in, I has somewhere in the neighborhood of 124,000 miles. It still had the original VP44 and ran fine. The Carter LP had been replaced at 19,000 under warranty by the original owner and was working fine, when I replaced it with the AirDog FP100.



I got the dead pedal once, but that turned out to be an APPS adjustment.

 

[Joe Mc]

Update On - think the VP bit the big one today ...

PO1688 - $75 tow home Wednesday, VP Arrived today, $1025 + $65 Stealth Cover + $95 next day air + $2 for 2 - M8 X 1. 25mm X 60mm bolts = $1262 so far. Not bad



I finally decided to stay with the stock SO pump versus an HR or the like. I don't believe I'm about to make this next statement but "I'm at the point where I 'think' 522HP + 1000TQ is enough", must be getting old ?



I got the VP @ Thoroughbred Diesel - Bosch VP44 Dodge Injection Pump :: VP 44 Diesel Fuel Injection Pump - take a look at the link, no core charge (unless you take more than 14 days to return the old pump), regular UPS Ground shipping included - that's too you and back to them with the core - and they're great folks. An honorable mention goes to staff member Wade, he was very pleasant, knew his product line, stock quantities and took care of me immediately - hooked me right up ! Gotta love that kind of customer service.



Anyway, the truck's all torn down to the point where I had to stop because the bolts that came with the gear puller I borrowed from Auto Zone are too long for the tool to effectively work and it starts to bend when you put some arse on the wrench to get things pullin . Wo I went out and got shorter bolts then lost day light and temperature (37*), tomorrow's another day. It's actually going pretty easy and looks to be fun job once, you get everything out of the way. Much easier than the timing belt I did weekend before last on the wifey mobile - 01 Volvo XC-70 - real tight under the hood. But, that job needed to be done - I like to be proactive when possible - the change out interval is 105k and her car has 98k, since its an interference engine I though a few hundred in parts would be more efficient than 3 - 4k for an engine - yes I surprised myself too - actually thought it out:-laf.



So I'm a member of the VP club now, please no applause necessary - just throw $$$ :-laf. There should be stickers or something to signify the prestige of this club - yeah ah right



I feel lucky it lasted 100k, the last 60k was with the Edge Comp tapped - like there's any other way to install an Edge Comp. For all I know it may be the original pump, but I doubt it, I got the truck in 5/01 w/75k on the clock, now its @ 176k. I'm guessing I've got another 3 or 400k left in the truck - and maybe another 100k on the couch mobile - god willing.



Later on guys and gals.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Good goin' Joe - I had to do mine at about 40K as I recall - took a full day because of other work I did while I had the pump off - as you say, not too bad a job if you have a decent place to work, and all the right tools - and I did...



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[Joe Mc]

Gary, those picture make me jealous - I'm out side - ol 73, 340 Duster (Ruster) is taking my indoor work spot. Nice work.

 

[JGamble]

Gents,



As this is my first VP44 equipped CTD, what kind of failures have been observed? Just looking for the telltale signs for possible future problems... . Thanks in advance



Best Regards,

John

 

[AH64ID]

Didn't ULSD lack a lubricity additive when it first came out? From what I understand the ULSD of today has it, or more of it.

 

[SnoKing]

Didn't ULSD lack a lubricity additive when it first came out? From what I understand the ULSD of today has it, or more of it.

The trouble with ULSD diesel is the lube agents can NOT be in it as in is piped around the country. The reason is that jet fuel can not be piped in a pipe that had lubed ULSD in it. So in most cases it is added at the rack.



The rack is where the truck is loaded for final delivery. So it is easy for one load to be good and the next one possibily missing it! Just like one of us forgetting to add our WM 2 cycle oil.



SNOKING

 

[Rattler]

My truck lost it's mind last night. I came home with the truck running fine but, when we went to leave about an hour later, it would just spin without even trying to start. Checked gauges, and had 3/8 tank of fuel, 17 lbs. fuel pressure. Well, when we got back home about an hour later i tried it and it fired right up. I am going to run in to town this morning and check for codes. This truck has done this a couple of times over the years i have had it(10 years). It has the original VP and i have changed out the crank sensor twice. I think from time to time that it has a major brain fart! What do you guys think? Randy

 

[icman95]

I had almost the exact thing happen to me 3 weeks after I bought mine. Turned out to be air in the fuel lines. The o-ring on the fuel filter cap was leaking air into the system. Changed it out and no problems since. Although, for the purpose of this thread, there are a number of other possibilities such as bad pumps, sensors, etc.

 

[Rattler]

Well, i didn't make it to town to check for codes. The truck crapped out on me half way to town. I got the dead pedal, then rough running, then it cleared up so i turned around at a house and before i could get back on the road, it started running really bad ( like on one cylinder) then died. We trailered it back the shop and checked for codes and got 1691,1688,0251,and 0252. I cleared those codes and after cranking it and looking for fuel from injector lines, i got 1688 and 1693. I was getting good fuel from one line, some fuel fron another line, and none from another line. I will do a search for these codes, but if it is the pump, who has the best for the money? randy

 

[JLandry]

I will do a search for these codes, but if it is the pump...

Randy,



If you verify the VP44 is getting adequate fuel pressure from the lift pump (use a test gauge to check), then it's definitely the VP44.



Good luck,



John L.

 

[fmj]

Whats scary about the VPs is they can crap out w/o any indication thats noticeable. I had a 150k on mine and it was acting fine on a trip last October. All of a sudden no power. Towing 5er and was looking for place to pull over when I had no power. Outside Barstow CA and on I40 with not much room. Worst of all worlds. Since I first heard about the transfer pump weakness at about 18k I have had a pressure gage. I replaced a transfer pump at about 30k because it was acting wierd, swings but never saw below 10 lbs pressure. I replaced another one because the pressure went from 15lbs to 12 and stayed there, but no flux. I put on a pusher pump at the same time I replaced it. Had a steady 16 lbs since. Oh ya, I ran wallyworld 2 cycle since ulsd came out. Keyed the codes in and saw 16xx codes. CRAP. The truck ran good and never showed anything that would lead me to believe the VP was ready to go. Did something occur early on before lift pump(s) went goofy, who knows. Am I going to worry about the new one, nope. Damn maybe a weekly check with an obd2 would be the ticket :-laf.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Well, i didn't make it to town to check for codes. The truck crapped out on me half way to town. I got the dead pedal, then rough running, then it cleared up so i turned around at a house and before i could get back on the road, it started running really bad ( like on one cylinder) then died. We trailered it back the shop and checked for codes and got 1691,1688,0251,and 0252. I cleared those codes and after cranking it and looking for fuel from injector lines, i got 1688 and 1693. I was getting good fuel from one line, some fuel fron another line, and none from another line. I will do a search for these codes, but if it is the pump, who has the best for the money? randy

The 1688 is an internal pump controller (electronics board) failure - the 251 and 252 are internal timing errors - sounds like either a failed pump, or *possibly* a bad connection at the plug/pump connection...

 

[Rattler]

I changed to a Glacier Diesel lift pump a couple of years ago and always run a steady 16 or 17 lbs. of fuel pressure. The truck has 194K on the original VP, so i guess that i have been one of the lucky ones. I will pull this one off today and order a rebuilt unit tomorrow. Randy. Is there any real difference between all of the thousand dollar rebuilts? Or any dealer to stay away from?

 

[DFerverda]

Hey Jo Mac, The vp you got from Thoroughbred diesel, got a couple questions,
1 What computer is on the new vp?
2 What is the stealth cover you mentioned?
Hope the install went well and am looking fwd to the feedback.
Maybe look into aarp motor club,the premier plan will give ya free towing up to 100 miles, cost is 80 bucks yr, just a thought.
Dirk

 

[SnoKing]

I changed to a Glacier Diesel lift pump a couple of years ago and always run a steady 16 or 17 lbs. of fuel pressure. The truck has 194K on the original VP, so i guess that i have been one of the lucky ones. I will pull this one off today and order a rebuilt unit tomorrow. Randy. Is there any real difference between all of the thousand dollar rebuilts? Or any dealer to stay away from?

Check out Midwest Fuel Injection. Good price and good core policy. SNOKING

 

[Rattler]

I was thinking about Midwest or Thoroughbred , If i go with Midwest it will save me 60 bucks in sales tax as they are not in my state. If i am correct in thinking that phone orders across state lines don't charge tax. Randy

 

[Joe Mc]

Hey Jo Mac, The vp you got from Thoroughbred diesel, got a couple questions,

1 What computer is on the new vp?

2 What is the stealth cover you mentioned?

Hope the install went well and am looking fwd to the feedback.

Maybe look into aarp motor club,the premier plan will give ya free towing up to 100 miles, cost is 80 bucks yr, just a thought.

Dirk

The computer was the latest updated unit as were everything else internal and external with the pump - according to their literature. see info on their site Bosch VP44 Dodge Injection Pump :: VP 44 Diesel Fuel Injection Pump



Stealth cover is just a better way to tap the pump for power adder box see link BD Stealth Cover for the VP44 Injector Pump



The install was pretty decent hardest thing was getting to the pump, and the inj lines off the back of the pump - a crows foot socket on a 6" extension did the trick.

 

[TDeltonto]

i still need my vp44 fixed just dont have the $$$ right now