steele37031

Well guys I've got a problem my 99 dodge 3500 manual transmision cummins powered beast is dead.. Driving along as I stoped at a redlight it died almost like it stalled out but really slow not it's usual violent shudder but a really nice relaxed huff and dead no kicking or nothin...... Well I cracked all the injector lines except the last one at the fire wall (couldn't reach it with any of my wrenches) none of them pumped out a consistant flow of fuel, some pumped fuel realy well while others just sputtered a little, Basically 3,4,5 where good and 1,2 where weak inconsistant and low flow... All the electrical looks to be in order I checked the under hood box and the cab fuse box and all where good (am I'm forgeting to checkanything else?)... Is there anything else that could be wrong with my truck or is it my injector pump?

phox_mulder

Do you have good pressure from the lift pump.

Guessing you don't have a Fuel Pressure guage, since you didn't mention it.

Is there fuel in the fuel filter cannister?
Has the filter been changed recently?

Lack of fuel at the injectors could be either pump.

Lift pump is cheaper, much cheaper.


Just noticed this is your first post,
Welcome to the board, prepare yourself to learn alot here.


phox

steele37031

Thanks, Phox


Well I don't have a FP gauge, but when I remove the bleed bolt on the fuel filter canister it will shoot fuel out about 2-3 inches high..

I replaced the fuel filter about 2 tanks of fuel ago...

I also notice when I cut the key on the lift pump runs for a very long time instead of its usual 5 second run then it stops because preasure has built, but now it runs a long time like 15-20 seconds...

Could I have gotten an air bubble in the line and I'm not bleeding the system correctly?

I would really like this to be something simple like a simple lack of enough electrical output or an air bubble in the system or my lack of knowledge in bleeding air from the system...

phox_mulder

Well, your lift pump seems to be just fine if you get a geyser out of the bleed hole.

If I had to guess, which it appears I am doing, I'd say your VP44 has given up the ghost.

If you can get it somewhere to have the codes read, this would verify it.
Unless, like mine, it died without any codes being thrown.



phox

jigdog

steele
it is an easy test to do on the lift pump just slide the clamp on the rubber portion of the line between the filter and inj pump back so you can seperate the rubber part from the metal part of the line .pull them apart and put the loose end from the filter into a container .go to the ing key and bump the starter if the pump does not start when you turn the ing to on.the pump should put out about i think 1 half liter.i dont remember the exact amount it is in a link here under the search files.

steele37031

Well it seems like my injector pump, I have a shop in town that is willing to sell me eather a HO pump or the regular 235HP pump and they will accept my pump as a core on eather, what would be the best pump to buy for my application....

Latter I'm planing on a set of F1 stage 2 EDM injectors a boost fooler and eather upgrade my turbo to a hybrid or a full out HX40... no fueling boxes just straight mechanical hard part performance accessories..... That being said would the 245Hp or the 235Hp pump be better?

Geico266

What ever you decide get a fuel pressure gage first, around $50. You may be surprised like I was, to find out your LP is weak ($150) and it caused your $1200
IP to go out.

Are you starting to see the point?

It took me several months of fooling myself, thinking I didn't need the gages either. These trucks need gauges, or get the checkbook out. Or worse you'll get stranded.

steele37031

I'm thinking a full gauge set that includes a fuel preasure gauge and also replacing everything from the fuel filter back with 1/2 inch hose and a high flow pump with a regulator that will supply a constant 13-14PSI of fuel flow(Idle-WOT)...

Tazman

steele,

Might save yourself some greenbacks and grief by checking the LP first.

I know that advice has been given earlier but I couldn't help comment on the way your CTD "laid down".

Exact same sypyoms for me last Feb at -36 c. Could not get that beast to fire even though I had fuel at the canister (or so I thought)

I had backed off a banjo, bumped the starter and had fuel. (not)

It wasn't until I tried replacing the LP (cheaper) did I realise what 15 psi looks like. Man, I soaked the entire engine bay, my driveway and the dog when I bumped the new pump .

Needless to say gauges are a must. Try your LP first.

The 2-3 inch "geyser" might not cut it.

Good luck.

roadranger

The HO pump pumps less fuel than the SO pump, because the HO injectors themselves use less fuel.
That's why an EZ box on an HO engine won't produce as much horsepower gains as on an SO engine.

I'd stick with the 235HP SO pump...

Pa outlaw

i say it is the vp44 cause the injection pump will still run with out any fuel preasure being supplied from the tranferr pump or lift pump like we all know them, it strains the pumps and this is what you get a broken injection pumpdefinitly check your fuel preasure cause most likely it will be low or none, good luck

steele37031

Well guys it was the VP44 injection pump...

I just got done replacing it today with a HO pump and the truck screams compared to before the pump went out, it could be due to the fact of the old pump was always on its last leg or the HO pump on a regular 235hp motor works miracles...

Just for future information when the pump went out it didn't throw any codes or anything it just died...

Thanks to everyone that had something to share about the topic...

jrs_dodge_diesel

A weak lift pump can cause your problem. I know because it happened to a fellow CTD owner stationed with me on Guam. His truck died. We pulled it to the his garage and we got some parts. A lift pump and a VP44. He has a good connection with a local bus mechanic. There are a lot of buses on this rock that use the Cummins 5.9.

Anyway we tried like heck to get it to start, no luck. Got a small geyser out of the filter canister, about 2 inches high. It looked like a lot. It really isn't . We replaced the lift pump and did the same trick only he left the bleed screw in a bit. Holy Jeez, A lot of fuel made it past the bleed screw and shot the under side of the hood. We bumped the starter a few times to purge the filter canister and as much of the lines as we could. We had to crack injector lines and crank forever until it finally coughed and sputtered to life.

It seems you found out the bump the starter trick. When you just bump the starter it triggers the ECM which turns on the lift pump for 25 seconds.