Coming home tonight, pulled away from a stop light and got on the pedal....not mashed, just accelerated. Went into 3rd gear and it was like you turned the switch off. I know zero about diesels, but I'm not afraid to learn. It's a 99' 2500 AutoTrans. If I put the truck on a scanner, I'm assuming it will pull code? If it's an injector pump, would I be best advised to change the lift pump as well. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

Your on the right track checking for codes. If it does end up being the VP44, it is in your best interest to change the lift pump. It may have been a bad lift pump that caused the injection pump to fail. A fuel pressure gauge is extremely recommended to try and prevent VP44 failures. A $5000 lift pump and $100 gauge go a long way compared to a $1000+ VP44.

 

That's a little high for a lift pump haha I think he ment $500.

 

How much fuel do you have in the tank? The fuel gauge in these trucks will all of a sudden read inaccurate. I had a similar situation. Fuel gauge was fine one tank and the next I was empty when the gauge read 1/4 tank. If you bump the starter can you hear the lift pump running? If so I'd suggest putting a couple gallons of fuel in it, bleed the injectors, and see if it fires. You do need a fuel pressure gauge asap. After I ran mine out of fuel the lift pump went out as well.

 

I put 30 gallons in it last week, and have only been 90 miles on the tank. Just out of curiosity, I've read that dirty fuel filters can starve the injection pump, and also the lift pump may run (you can hear it)....which I can, but can't mantain enough pressure for the injector pump via the filter. What's the odds of just replacing the lift pump and filter to see if it works? If it is an injector pump, and most folks suggest a new pump while you're at it, I'm already that far ahead of the curve. I know for a fact the a fuel pressure gauge is coming!!! Everyone I've talked to said that they change fuel filters by pressure and not mileage.

 

Yes a dirty fuel filter will cause insufficent fuel flow to the injection pump which will lead to ip failure. Especially with a stock lift pump. You might try replacing the filter, bleed injectors 1 3 and 4 (which may take a while if the lift pump is weak), and see if it will start so you know if you only need a lift pump or both. If you're buying both at the same time you might be able to get a better deal. If it does start it would be wise not to drive it until you get your fuel pressure gauge on.

 

Scanner read P1688. If that's the IP, so be it. Any recommendations as to what kind to buy? I'm not looking to obtain mega HP, maybe just bigger exhaust. Do most remans come with upgraded ECM's? I'm familiar with a wrench, just not on diesel. I need some help!

 

Yes 1688 is the ip but it doesn't necessarily mean the ip is bad. If you bled the injectors and it still wont fire, check the fuel relay in the fuse box by the battery. If the relay is good then I would say you need a new vp44. Take a look at this link VP44 Diagnostic

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Just a standard output vp44 is the way to go. Along with a good lift pump.

 

Standard IP and an Air Dog system is what I'm looking at. I'll look at the fuel relay in the morning. I had 15 psi to the filter via the LP and installed a new filter. I tried bleeding the system by loosening 1,3, and 4, pecking the starter, and I saw minimal fuel....and air bubbles coming out....less than I would expect, but like I said, I'm new to diesels. Thanks for the help!

 

With bubbles, it sounds like you are sucking air somewhere. You might try adding some more fuel to the tank. Bump the starter a few more times and close the injectors while the Lp is running and fuel is dripping. If the bubbles go away then there might be a crack up high on the pickup tube in the tank that's sucking air when the fuel level drops below it. Also could be a stuck overflow valve on the vp44 https://www.dieselbombers.com/98-5-0...formation.html I know I'm throwing a bunch of stuff at you to check, but I know I'd be pissed if I spent $1200 on a new ip and it not fix anything.