hi guys. any help appreciated.

99 dodge 2500, in good shape, 230K miles on 5.9. aftermarket lift pump (which i can hear running) new injector pump not too long ago. i cracked the banjo fitting to return line from injector pump and watched fuel come out after turning on lifter pump so it has fuel to the injector pump.

anyway, it just won't start. cranks over fine but it won't even pretend to fire. I'm thinking some sort of electrical problem at this point. as i crank it over, i can watch the volt gauge just go down from 13 to 10. it has 2 batteries, even if one was bad, wouldn't the otherone supply enough amps to run the engine. i also thought alternator but don't know enough about the cummins electrical system to know where to start,


so,,any basic tests i can do electrically? it won't start so i guess i can't get a reading off the alternator.

how can i figure out if there is fuel going to the cyclinders? i assume the injectors are electronic, how can you tell if they have power?

any help appreciated.

thanks

 

The injectors are mechanical.
The VP-44 supplies several thousand pounds of fuel pressure to
"Pop" the needles off the seats to fire the injectors.

Any "fueling boxes" or "power enhancers" hooked up?
If so, unhook them first.

HOW long ago?
Even "brand new" pumps have died and left owners on the side of the road.

 

oh, i thought my year was not mechanical,,,it is the 24 valve engine. nothing like fueling enhancers or boxes attached, pretty stock overall.

so if it is not running, it must be a fuel problem? is there anyway to tell if fuel is getting into the cyclinders?

 

Check this site for some "Test" help:
http://www.bluechipdiesel.com/vp44diagnostichelp.html
I've had to replace 3 VP44 injection pumps in 150,000 miles.
(I'm running a Blue Chip Pump this time and hopefully the LAST time)

Each one left me on the side of the road, and the engine just died like someone turned the key off.
Usually folks state the electronics fry..... although I had two (from the same manufacturer) self-destruct internally after 'Hydraulic-Locking"

 

awesome!! thanks shovelhead.

any recommendations on where to buy a new vp44 injector pump? where is the cheapest place. can i rebuilt it?

 

on your 99 you can't pull the codes with the 3 key cycle but have you pulled them. if you have anyone close to you that has a smarty or local parts store. just wondering if you have codes and what they were.

 

You can't 'rebuild' a VP44 without a test bench to set it back up.
The test bench costs ~$10,000.

"Cheapest" pump is NOT always "Best" pump.
On the flip side, "Most Expen$ive" Pump does not always equal longest living pump.

 

What is your fuel pressure?

 

Does a 99 have a CKP? If so, that can stop the VP from firing. I don't know if it would kill a running motor. Mine didn't throw codes, would simply crank. The 2nd time it went out, I went with aftermarket lifetime. By all means, rent a scanner & pull codes.

Voltage dropping to 10 just means that you have been cranking & batteries are under a load. Full charge is 12.6 and should drop some but you may need to recharge &/or test if appropriate. That isn't your problem if crank speed is normal.

 

hey junkman, thanks

what is a CKP?


which aftermarket lifetime did you go with ?

I am assuming i have no codes to read as no "check engine" light is on, it just cranks without starting

 

oh, response to Lent,,,my fuel pressure mid teens, the sender is on the top of the fuel filter case.

 

Did you bleed the injectors?

 

no,,,but would love to know how to do that, can you elaborate? thanks

 

also curious as to why i would have to bleed the injectors,,,it was running normally on the freeway when it died and does not appear to have been a empty tank although i did put in about 5 gallons of fuel to be sure.

do you always have to bleed the injectors if you run out of fuel?

 

Yes if you run out of fuel you will have to bleed the injectors. Just crack open the lines where they go into the head, and have someone turn the engine over untill fuel is comeing out. Tighten the lines, and it should start. If you don't get fuel coming out of the lines when cracked open at the head, the injection pump is not working.