Umm, could it be a dead pedal issue? I agree it might very well be your LP out, but as johnh just mentioned, when his went out it still ran great except for a slight stumble on mild acceleration. A buddy of mine also had his go out and he never new it until his shut down at 65mph and it killed the IP. Just like johnh's, it was running status quo.

For now you should get it scanned, if not by the odometer method, most reputable auto parts stores will do it as a courtesy.

 

What is that, dead pedal?

 

DM, You've probably received enough advice to make an informed decision already. It sure sounds like the FPCM (fuel pump control module) on the IP is out or on it's way out. Sort of like a 'dead pedal' symptom you will see occasionally on the IP. Like most of us that have had a bad IP, you tend to do some research to make sure that's what is it before spending a grand or better on just the part. As far as my own experience, this is what I learned:

A P216 code is bad. And good, because you don't have to troubleshoot anymore. The IP is done. There is nothing else you can really do except replace it.

I now change the fuel filter every two or three fuel loads. They are easy to get to, and not terribly expensive. I believe it was a tank of bad fuel which ultimately ended up damaging the pumps indirectly by overworking first the LP and subsequently starving the IP.

I now have fuel pressure gauges before and after the filter. The one after the filter I monitor all the time. I treat it like an oil pressure gauge: no reading, do not drive it.

A stock lift pump is of marginal quality. Looks like a standard Carter fuel pump but the vanes are different. The rate that these fail make a good case for the aftermarket pieces like FASS. I do not have one, but I should have spent the $400-600 and been done with it. Some of my LP issues have been self-induced (tank pick up) and I am still holding up with a stock LP for now. Some bad lift pumps will show few ill affects (un-monitored) until the starved IP starts to let you know it's time is up. I believe it something like 70% of the fuel supplied is returned to the tank and is used for cooling the IP. I have 5-7 psi at full throttle and 10-12 at idle with a stocker. My friends '01 has a FASS, and it's 16 all the time. Noisy. Vibrates a lot. Could be better down the road, we'll see. I don't think the engine is any more powerful than with the stocker that was 1psi.

I bought a Blue Chip Special X VP44 as a replacement. It does what they advertise, more power and slightly better fuel MPG. I recommend it. And, it makes some good black smoke with the Edge. 2hrs was the R&R I read up the string. That guy is good. A fat afternoon it took me, but straightforward. #6 injector line is fun.

In all, the Dodge fuel system is one that many of us know far too much about. It's good to know how things work, but usually it's because something failed and you had to troubleshoot. It's tough to take a strangers advise over something as impersonal as a message board, but more often than not, the advise I've seen regarding the LP and IP is pretty much on the money.

Which you will need a big handful of to get your truck back on the road. : )


DW

 

dead pedal is caused by either a bad TPS or a bad VP44
when my TPS went, i could still drive it but the engine would go to an idle going down the road... to reset it i would mash it to the floor a time or two, and all would be ok for a while...... as long as i had the cruise control on the "dead pedal" wouldn't occur, so until i replaced the TPS i used the cruise control every where i went

 

go try this APPS reset and tell us if it works.

 

Does anybody have any information about the VP44 Bosch fuel injection pump FASS 150 Series High Performance Lift Pump combination from: http://www.thoroughbreddiesel.com/bo...-pump.htm#lift