Hey guys, I'm kind of new to diesels. My 2000 Ram 2500 has been pretty short on power for a while. The acceleration is not what it should be, and this last week I was pulling a 5000 lb. trailer up a 6% grade and I was having trouble maintaining 45mph... this didn't seem right to me. The fuel filter was replaced around 6K ago, and I took it to the auto parts place earlier today to run the codes and it said that there weren't any. I was reading a little about the VP44, when that goes bad does the truck still run? If it appears that's my problem, where should I go to find a new one?

 

hello im not much to ya i just did my vp and lp but i ran my truck for about 5000 miles with the 0216 code and lots of dead pedals till i saved up the 1200 bucks for the new "reman"vp im sure someone will jump in soon and help ya out and it may help some if ya fill out your sig. best of luck to ya

 

you need gauges, especially a fuel pressure gauge(let us know the pressure). Check you codes also, key on key off method.

 

As stated above, I did run the codes and got nothing. Is it possible to temporarly connect a fuel pressure guage under the hood only? I've done it with gasoline engines, but as stated before I'm a diesel n00b.

BTW, I took it out this evening and timed it from 0-60 in 15 seconds.

 

I'm not 100% sure, but on the fuel canister there should be two brass plugs 1/8 npt. You can check your fuel pressure there. Otherwise there is a schrader valve on the injection pump. You should have around 13-15 psi at idle and not less the 6 psi WOT. The only other thing that come to mind is a boost leak, so you could check your intercooler boots for leaks. Let us know. My guess would be the factory lift pump is weak, knowing the history of these trucks. If you're going to keep the truck, get some gauges. JMHO