I just bought an 01 dodge a few weeks ago and its run awesome untill a few days ago untill it sputtered, died, and would not restart. I scaned for codes and there was nothing. I can hear the lift pumping and there is fuel to the injection pump inlet. The only thing I can figure is the injection pump but id like to be postitive before I spend $1500. What else can I check or how can I verify that its the IP? Thanks in advance

 

You can crack an injector line and see if fuel runs out. If none comes out, either the IP or the fuel cut off is out.

 

Sonuds like an air lock if there is no code. first loosen off the supply banjo to the IP, if fuel comes to there, tighten up and then see if fuel comes to the #1 injector by loosening the supply line nut (not when running if applicable). monitor if you can get fuel to that point. air bubbles will bleed if it is locked, no air or no fuel is dead IP but otherwise you are most likely just stuck and it will restart.

best bet is to measure fuel pressure with a gauge after the LP at the inlet to the IP and see what it says. if you are lower than 12 psi at idle there are problems.

 

Have you checked the fuel pressure to see what it actually is?

Be very careful cracking injector lines - the fuel is very high pressure 20000+ psi...never stick your hands or anything else around a cracked injector. Use some cardboard to check for spraying fuel.

How did you check for codes? I much prefer a scanner to the key on/off method.


You need to get an incab fuel pressure guage on that truck.


Oh, and BTW, you should be able to get a VP-44 for just over $1k....

 

On an '01 its about 15kpsi I thought? The 3rd gen's its as high as 27kpsi but either way it WILL FYU so do as per Evil.

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Getting a VP44 for around $1k is tough these days there Evil. You want to make sure it isn't a rebuild but a new case, new shuttle and so forth otherwise it is a waste of money. $1.5k is about right.

 

I checked codes with the key on/off and a scanner and got nothing. Im picking up a fuel pressure guage on the way home but it probely wont help much unless I can get it started right? Fuel came out at the banjo fitting but i havent had a chance to crack an injector so I will do that when I get home today. Do lift pumps generally fail and just stop working or do they pump and just not pump enough?How can you tell if the fuel cut is out?

 

At this point, they are all rebuilds.



Pensacola Diesel Inc. - DODGE/CUMMINS :: FUEL INJECTION PUMPS :: 1998-2002 Dodge Cummins Factory Authorized Rebuilt VP44 Fuel Pump


As well, many (if not all) of the site sponsiors will be able to hook you up with a new pump if need be.

 

No...generally, if a lift pump quits working the VP-44 can draw enough fuel so the truck can run. But, heres the kicker, the VP-44 is both lubricated and cooled by the fuel so if you dont have a fuel pressure guage you really have no idea if the VP-44 is getting enough fuel to keep it happy. Since you said that you recently purchased this truck, I would guess that the lift pump is not providing adequate fel and the VP-44 may have some damage. Sometimes an injector pump will die without throwing a code - but its pretty rare from what Ive read.

You generally want to know what the pressure is going into the VP-44 (There is a test port right on the pump just beside the fuel line inlet to the pump. Theres a schreader valve in there that you will have to take out so that you can get a fuel pressure reading). As well, cracking #1 injector will give you an idea if the VP-44 is working.

Lets not get too excited, as was said before, your VP-44 may be fine and you just have some air in the fuel system or a leak somewhere.

 

Yes, generally VP44's will throw a code well before they quit all together. You will have symtoms of no go from the skinny pedal and usually lots of white smoke. When they don't throw codes is generally because they are just dead in the water so to speak - in otherwords too far a long.

I've worked on a variety of these trucks where it would run but as soon as you change a fuel filter it would be dead because you have disrupted the flow of fuel that the VP44 had used in it vac.

This of course is a similar result if the pump is air locked but is generally a simple fix as described above.

Now, if you throw the gauge on the test port and it doesn't register you know that you don't have enough fuel coming through. It must show at the very least (which isn't good for the VP44) 6 psi at idle to even consider functionality.

All of this said, if you are handy look at getting a quote from one of the sponsors here on an Air Dog or FASS unit with Filters. Yes, they are not cheap but they will save your hide from this aggravation in the future. I had 1 VP44 and 2 LP's go on my truck before I swapped out the LP to a FASS 150.150 and that was 5 years ago this spring with no ill effects. My pressure gauge never reads lower than 13 at WOT and I'm usually doing 32+ pounds of boost, 2800 RPM and 135 km/h at that point.

If it is the VP44, get that and the IP as well as a cab pressure gauge and enjoy...

Cheers.

 

If the problem is VP44 related get yourself a FASS or Airdog and an Industrial Injection VP44 and be done. As stated above make sure you install a Fuel Pressure Gauge.