mrpiano458nte

Hello to everyone here. Hopefully with all the knowledgable people and techs here, you'll be able to steer me in the proper direction. I have a major problem with my Dodge Ram 4x4 2002 24 Cummings diesel. For the first 85,000 miles it ran perfectly. But now, it's a different story.

Between the rpms or 1100-1500 the accelerator refuses to respond at times. The rpm's will just sit there, no matter what I do with the accelerator pedal. However, if I take my foot off the pedal and allow the rpm's to go back to an idle and then step on it again to bypass that rpm range, it works ok! Some days, it will do this 30 or 40 times...and it's a real pain. The confusing thing is that it doesn't do it all the time!

There is also another problem which occurs that might be tied into the same defective part: If I start the truck at any given time, morning, noon or night, and then take off immediately, the accelerator pedal refuses to respond. The rpm's stay around 7-800. I've found that if I allow it to warm up for a few minutes before taking off, it will work fine. However, I have never had to do this before...it would just get-up and go.

I've had the truck to my Dodge Dealer three times so far. He placed a computer on it and we drove it around. When the problem occured, there was no code that came up on his screen to pin point the problem. He said sometimes codes don't show up immediately....hmmmmm.

Believe it or not, he's installed a new turbo as well as a new TPS sensor...but neither of these have solved the problem. Obviously, the fuel filter was changed as well but to no avail.

The mechanic is now at the point of being baffled, and I don't know where else to turn. He's even called Chrysler and they have NEVER heard of anything like this! Fortunately, I've found this forum and have my hopes that one of you can give me an educated answer or possibly point me to someone who might help.

Thanks in advance for any answers you might provide...I really appreciate it!

Myles

herb

i have the exact same problem. if you are able to find the problem PLEASE let me know and i will do the same for you.
Do a search for apps , and read those strings. they describe these same symptoms as a faulty apps, i had a new one installed a few months ago and am still having the same problem

j-fox

I think the dealership was baffled before you got there.
They CAN put the scanner in it and watch the APPS move.
Then they thought it was the turbo??? My MY.

Unhook the batteries for 30 minutes.
Ok, now reconnect them.
Get in the truck, turn key to run. Do not start it.
Slowly press the throttle to the floor, then release it slowly.
Turn key off.
Now start it and go for a drive.
Did it change it?
You could have a bad connection, broken wire ,Defective APPS or a computer bad.
Are you sure it is not a fuel system issue? When was the filter changed last.
It is not easy or correct to diagnose fron a remote area.
I'm just trying to steer you in the right direction.

mrpiano458nte

I tried doing the battery disconnect, etc, but it did not help. I spoke with my dealer again today regarding the problem, and he said to bring it to a diesel specialist to test the lift pump and the injection pump. He said that either of these could be the problem. He thought that the occasional "no accelerator response" at low RPM's was indicative of one of the pumps starting to go bad. Have you guys ever heard of such a thing? I have no other place to turn to....I need some advice. Thank you!

dieselman24

I was told that my 99 was the throttle position sensor and it might be the map sensor I have not done either one but would like to fix it though I dont even drive it because of that problem...

scuzman00

Kinda also sounds like what my 02 did just before the lift and VP-44 let the blue smoke out of both pumps. Check your lift pump fuel pressure just for grins. My bet is it is dying or has just died. BTW mine bit the bullet around 60K last september. You could also try the ignition on/off/on 3 times trick too, I read codes on the odometer but the dealer said there were none, till I showed him up myself!!!!

Good luck!!

Gary

mrpiano458nte

I tried the on/off/on 3 x's and some codes came up: P PCU; P1693; PECU; P0216. I called the service manager and told him...his reply was that they don't mean anything and are erroneous! Can any of you shed some light on this code message meaning? Thank you!

MnTom

You can look here for what the codes mean: https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...n&onlynewfaq=1
From what I understand, the Po216 is the death code for a VP. The P1693 is a companion code that means there is a code stored (or something like that).
Tom

Scubasteve

The service manager might be on crack with a comment like that. Hopefully he isn't the one working on your truck.


Injection pump is probably toast.


Jason

mrpiano458nte

Well, I just wanted to give all of you an update on my acceleration problem: The original Dodge dealer sent me to a "special diesel" mechanic in another town who knows "all about these cummings 24 valve motors and their problems! The only drawback is that he isn't Dodge certified, but they would somehow still honor his work under the 100,000 mile warranty.

After chatting with him for over an hour (I hope he doesn't bill me for this at the normal rate of $60/hr!!!!!!, he decided to do a few checks on it using some gauges later in the day.

He called me at the end of the day to say that the truck definitely has some "fuel starvation problems." He didn't have time to get into his exact findings, but he said it could possibly be the lift pump, injector pump, or "something" in the fuel tank.

What the heck is in the fuel tank? Can anyone enlighten me about that?

Also, another thing: Who is responsible for paying this man his $60/hr. fee as the dealer was the one who sent me to him because they were unable to diagnose the problem? They didn't have any devices or gauges to check the fuel flow, test for pump problems, etc!!!!! Shouldn't this be somehow covered under the warranty? I mean, hey, it was THEIR problem they didn't have the technology, right?

By the way, when I told this diesel mechanic gentleman (and he was a REAL knowledgeable fellow) that my digital odometer readout flashed a few different codes for the injector timing failure, he said that readout was not reliable!

Any advice from you Dodge owners/service guys/mechanics would be greatly appreciated. I feel like I've found a "home" here!!!

It's lousey being without a truck...turns my whole life upside down. I was so depressed yesterday that I actually went out and bought ANOTHER Dodge Ram....why did I ever do that!!!!!!! Maybe a Ford might have been better, huh??? LOL Thanks guys....

If any of you guys ever need info regarding a piano, contact me. I restore those old babies....specializing in the antique Steinways!!!

Myles

mrpiano458nte

One more thing I forgot to tell you guys: the mechanic said that it is NO GOOD to use Napa fuel filters because the "holes" in them are too large and allow too much junk to get into the fuel injectors. He said to ONLY use the Dodge ones because they have a membrane filter inside which catches the debris? What do you guys think of this??? Thanks....Myles

Scubasteve

Cant say anything about the fuel filters as I only use Fleetguard filters on my truck.

As far as the fuel problem you are having goes I still am leaning towards the lift pump taking out the inj pump.

If your truck is under warranty then the dealer should be paying for this no questions asked as they are the ones that can't fix it.

The local ford dealer does this all the time and sends the diesels outs to a local truck shop for repair.


Jason

MnTom

Sounds to me like you NEED to find another dealer.
Tom

dieselgeek

This shouldn't be a MAP sensor problem... if you disconnect the MAP sensor, the truck will run lazy but still smooth.

This sure sounds like an APPS issue to me - I can't see how hard this is to diagnose? Find the Voltage output on the apps, attach to it with a Voltmeter, and see if it's putting out the correct voltage range and if it's not jumping around, like mine is. I finally broke down and bought the $375 part from Dodge to be rid of the hassles...

mrpiano458nte

Well, the mechanic called me today. Here was his findings: "There is definitely a fuel restriction, and I found the injector pump to be defective. So I called Chrysler to order one and they requested that I FIRST change the lift pump. I told them that the lift pump was fine, but they insisted that I do what they asked. So they are sending me the Lift pump and I will install it tomorrow."

That is exactly what the diesel mechanic said! Now if that doesn't solve the problem, I guess he'll tell them and maybe I'll get a new IP as well. Who knows. I just don't understand why they don't take the mechanics word. In the meantime, I am without my #1 truck!

The mechanic also said that the dealer wanted him to change some little filter that was somewhere between the fuel tank and the motor,.....whatever that one is I have no idea!