desertram

I had posted part of this problem under the 24 valve section with another member who was having similar starting problems, but I will summarize here.

About 3 weeks ago I was having a problem starting, just cranked over until I pumped the throttle. Was not throwing any codes so took it to dealer. The problem was worse when I parked in my inclined driveway. They ran tests on the fuel system and said the lift pump was draining back into tank. Okay makes sense, so they replaced the lift pump under warranty.

I left the dealership right before they closed, went to the store and headed home. Took off from a stop light and by the time I got it into 5th, it started sputtering, huge white cloud of smoke and died. While I was waiting for the tow truck I cycled the ignition to check for codes and got P1693, P0230, and P0216. Had my dad look them up and said 0230-Transfer pump out of range, 0216 Fuel pump failure, he couldn't find the 1693. I talked to the dealer today and he said the brand new lift pump was bad.

My questions are:
Am I this unlucky to get a bad lift pump right out of the box (this problem started 3 days after having the tranny rebuilt)?
Is there something else that could have caused the lift pump to go bad, like an electrical overload or something?
Have I done damage to my VP44?

My truck is bone stock.

Thanks for the help.

desertram

Dealer just called and said lift pump would be there in 5 days, had to order one. I'm pretty disappointed, I only have 40K miles on it and since 1/4/04 I have had my truck for 2 weeks, dealer should make this months payment.

amartinson

AMEN to that!!

Make sure you keep good records in case of VP problems down the road.

Good Luck!

billg

I’ve heard of lift pumps being bad out of the box. Good advice from amartinson. When you go back ask them to check the vp-44 and get the results on paper. There will be a record of your concern. If everything is ok I would replace the banjo bolts with high flow ones. This will help your pumps.
http://216.167.41.9/CoastalData/show...ID=593&CATID=1
Good luck

Borush

Have the dealer check the injection pump when you are there. P0216 usually means a dying VP44.

rjd26746

Is this a problem with the filler pumps? I have a 2003 Dodge 2500 with 14000 miles and the filler pump went bad on sunday, I dont expect it back untill Thursday or Friday.

desertram

Thanks for the good advice everyone.

I will definately get everything on paper. I hope the VP44 is okay or that it goes, it goes out under warranty. I don't have any gauges, is it worth getting a FP gauge to monitor the lift pump? Will it tell me anything about my VP44?
I end up in a a lot of remote places. If what happened to me last night would have happened out in the woods I would have been SOL bigtime.

Thanks.

Borush

Definitely get a fuel pressure gauge after you get it back. It won't tell you much about the VP44 it self, but it will tell you if you are getting enough fuel pressure to it to keep it safe.

Good luck!

Boyd.

desertram

I guess I need to splurge for guages. How hard is it to install a 3 guage system, FP, EGT, and Boost in the A pillar, I have the tweeter? Is there another guage that is more important than any I have listed? Is it better to install the EGT pre or post turbo.

Any recomendations on manufacturers and suppliers?

Dealer found a lift pump closer, it's ready today, hope I make a littler further than last time.

firestorm

I also have a tweeter in my a pillar. I run Westech gauges, and currently have the FP installed, and trying to find the time to install the others. My EGT and Boost, are in one gauge, and my Trans. temp/ Rear end temp is in another gauge. Here are the ones I have.
Fuel Pressure http://216.167.41.9/CoastalData/show...ID=891&CATID=1
Boost/ EGT http://216.167.41.9/CoastalData/show...ID=413&CATID=1
Dual temp. http://216.167.41.9/CoastalData/show...ID=722&CATID=1
A-Pillar http://216.167.41.9/CoastalData/show...ID=653&CATID=1

Sticks

The gauge installation is easy. Just make sure you read the directions BEFORE you start, and look at all the parts that you have and look where they go. You may have to run to the hardware store for some fittings for the Boost gauge, and the Fuel Pressure gauge, depending on what gauge you get, and where you get them.

Get a pre turbo EGT gauge, and have a 7/16 drill bit and a 1/4 NPT tap.

Buy a grease gun hose with male 1/8NPT fittings for an isolator for the fuel pressure gauge. Adding a micro tune needle valve would be good as well. This will stop the pulsing from the pumps and give both a longer gauge life, and quiet the gauge.

jamiebah

Same thing happened to me, I was lucky in that the dealer found that the pump was bad and I had to wait an extra 10 days as there were 35 on back order nationally. The dealer told me that this is not the first time that they had run into that problem. That was 2 years ago this past January

uncleroty

I hope the lift pump didn't cause any damage to the injector pump!

BigBlue

If your getting the 0216 code, then you can rest assured that it's going to die. Make sure you have dodge document everything.

CaptainDD

The first code I got was the1693. Change the lift pump to a FASS system. Truck started to go from 65mph on highway to 50 and then would go back up. Got code P0500. I recieve a call from the dealer the next day that I had an appointment on Friday that I had not scheduled. Took the appointment and found out that the injector pump was going bad. I asked the tech why the codes did not show up when I turned the key on and off 3 times. His reply was there are to different monitoring systems and the one on the dash does not get all the codes. Any way unless you like walking take your truck to someone who knows how to check it out.