2002 Ram 2500 vin code 6. 120k miles
The truck started having what I thought was the "dead peddal" everyone describes intermittently. When it did it, it would stumble, buck, huge loss of power. Sometimes letting it idle for a minute made it stop. Sometimes shutting it down and restarting made it stop. When it wasn't acting up, it ran like normal. Lots of power, smooth, etc. It has this problem hot sometimes and cold sometimes. The only code was P0216 (VP44 death code)Anyway, I replaced the lift pump, fuel filter, and now the VP44. Still doing the same thing. Crap! The code cleared out after I replaced the VP44 and there are no codes showing up now. So the pump was probably worn out, but wasn't causing this problem. I also drained the fuel tank and filled with fresh fuel in case I had gotten a bad tank... Help.

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Also, I haven't noticed any smoke at all from the exhaust when this is happening...

 

have you checked the tps and apps? Since you replaced the VP

 

mine would buck and lose power and i changed the apps sensor and the alternator cause it was bad anyways and it still did it.then one day it died on me wouldnt start or anything i thought the ole vp went out so i went to the blue chip diesel website under the troubleshooting section and hot wired the pump and it ran it turned out to be the ecm bought one and runs awesome now hope this helps

 

Thanks guys. I figured it out and it's pretty stupid. I bought a fuel pressure gauge and put it on the inlet side of the VP44. Pressure built to 20 psi right away, but then fell to zero psi (at idle) withing 30 seconds of starting the truck. I freakin got a bad brand new lift pump from Auto Zone. Took it back and exchanged for another new one. Now the pressure stays at 20 psi. I probably didn't even need the VP44, but it was probably pretty worn out anyway since it was origional with 120k on it... I am ordering a gauge set for the A pillar this week so I can watch this thing like a hawk.

 

Get a low pressure sensor and install it on you a pillar, so if pressure goes below 10psi, the light will turn on and let u know its low. Just and added fail safe...

 

the VP44 isn't always bad at 120k mine has over 350k on mine and the vp44 was fine till my LP's both failed and i had to replace it but that was fcuase the lps were not saposed to be on a diesel and the guy before me forgot to mention he had put them on it. otherwise im sure my Vp woulda made it alot further but now ya got a spare if you need it