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Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Wierd exhaust brake problem & 0253 code.

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Cummins724

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My brother had his check engine light set off last week & when he checked for codes... . got PO1693, PO253. I cleared them with Smarty & ran a ground to his airhorn to make sure that it wasn't a problem with the edge comp not getting proper ground... . no change. I then unhooked his edge comp to see if it was causing this problem & nothing changed... the codes showed again. He was driving down the road & hit his exhaust brake & sure enough the check engine light came on again with the same codes. He then realized that the exhaust brake paused before engaging & sometimes would not engage at all until he shut the truck off & restarted it. I checked for power coming from the ecm pin #20 & got no power when he hit the switch... . only sometimes. I disconnected the wire from the ecm pin #20 yesterday morning & he drove the truck all day & today with no light or codes. What would cause this to happen..... the wire was a tight connection to ecm & I wiggled it while he hit the switch & nothing helped. Is there a problem with the ecm internals? The truck ran perfect while the codes were set... . no hesitation or anything. What you guys think?
 
The 253 error code:

P0253 - Fuel Injection Pump Fuel Valve Open Circuit



That doesn't seem to relate to the exhaust brake control. check the connections on the pump.
 
My brother just called & said that the code came up again tonight... . we thought the problem was solved, but it came back. The code would show up every time that he would make a trip... ... usually in the first mile or so. Now after disconnecting the exhaust brake from the ecm..... he has put 110 miles on the truck before setting the code. I hope it isn't the VP44 already... . It only has 15k miles on this pump & it was a reman. from Industrial Injection. What is going on here..... he needs this truck to be reliable for work & getting scared that he is gonna break down somewhere 200 miles from home. He had a Duramax before this truck & didn't have problems... . now he is saying "see this is why I didn't want a Dodge". I just want to fix it before he does something stupid like trade for a D-max again. What else can I do to this thing to fix the problem? It runs perfect, but code makes me think. Please help! Any ideas are appreciated.
 
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Does anyone have a wiring schematic for the vp44? Any idea what voltages I should get between the pump & ecm, map sensor? Its hard to see in the vp44 in that little hole..... where does the ecm ground to..... Is it case ground or what? I'm kinda stuck here, but I'm starting to think it is a bad injection pump & just want to make sure before dishing out $1000 for a new vp44. Has anyone had problems with Industrial Injection reman. pumps? I have one on my truck & never had a problem.
 
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Don't know if this helps but there is a built in 2 second delay before the ECM engages the exhaust brake. If this is what he is seeing on the EB side it is normal. When I had the 253 code it finally appeared to be the fueling box. I completely removed the box and wiring (back to stock) and never got a code. They replaced the box and wiring harness and all has been well.



Dave
 
The pausing of the exhaust brake was way longer than normal..... about 5 second & it would sometimes no disengage for even longer. It sometimes wouldn't work at all. I removed the box completely & nothing changed at all. I disconnected the EB from the ecm & code didn't set for over 100 miles.
 
I just disconnected the wiring harness on the vp44, ecm, map, Iat sensors & cleaned all connections & sprayed them with cleaner... . then plugged them back in with dielectric grease on all connections. I think I've tried everything possible & can't think of anything else..... any ideas?
 
When I was having my problem I was told there was a disk/rotor in the VP that can get damaged and set a 253 code. I am afraid if your latest fix does not work you may be looking for a VP. I would call where you purchased it and see what they say/recommend.



Dave
 
DavidC said:
When I was having my problem I was told there was a disk/rotor in the VP that can get damaged and set a 253 code. I am afraid if your latest fix does not work you may be looking for a VP. I would call where you purchased it and see what they say/recommend.



Dave

I called Industrial Injection last Wednesday & they said that the pump is out of warranty..... purchased 8/04. They go by time it was purchased & not by mileage. This truck was a garage queen for the last 3 years & only managed to rack up 15k miles. The original pump lasted till 70k & now the truck only has 95k miles with good fuel pressure all the way through. I buy all of my injectors, pumps from II & never had a problem. Is it possible that the IAT or Map sensors can cause this problem?
 
Doubtful. A brief discription in a 99 service manual "Problem sensed with fuel circuit internal to fuel injection pump". If that is all the supplier could give you as advice I would be pretty ticked off. No troubleshooting, no things to check. This is not saying that the ECM could not be faulty with the EB problem and causing a 253 code although I do not think they are related. You have a tough one going here. Maybe find a Bosch service center and ask them?.



Dave
 
I called 5 Bosch dealers today & they all said that it sounds like a wiring problem... not a vp44 problem. I asked how it can be narrowed down to find out what is going on here & they said check the ground circuits of pcm/ecm. Anyone have a copy of these schematics to fax or email me... . I'm kinda lost here. The bosch man said I'll fax you a copy when my phone lines are fixed & I still haven't recieved them. Any advice is also very much appreciated.
 
The weather has been warmer here & code disappeared... . it hasn't come up at all for 500 miles. It seems to be a cold weather issue. How could that be? If I am wrong... . then the code should show up in the morning..... it is gonna be a cold one tonight.
 
The weather has been warmer here & code disappeared... . it hasn't come up at all for 500 miles. It seems to be a cold weather issue. How could that be? If I am wrong... . then the code should show up in the morning..... it is gonna be a cold one tonight.



I guess we found the problem... . code came up the next morning when temps went below 30*. This week had better weather & no more code.
 
We are having another problem with this same truck... . the seatbelt light is coming on every once in a while & staying on for 10-15 minutes while driving. At 11:00pm last night the alarm started going off for keyless entry. What is going on here? This is all sounding like a short or bad ground, but where do I start looking? I'd like to add that the 0253 code has definately been a cold wheather issue.
 
Mine sets the same code also when its really cold and i have to crank on it more to start. I also have gotton a low battery code once. The troubleshooter on the scan tool i used said to check grounds also. it hasn't bothered now since its warrmed up either for me. I'm going to put new bat. cables on and see if that helps, mine don't look soo good any more. None of this happened until i had to replace the engine bad deal, that had a vp on it that i'm using soo I'm a little curious as to what is really the problem also
 
His truck starts/runs perfect, but the code only comes up when it is cold. I am tired of messing with the truck as is my brother. Let me know what you find out.
 
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