Hello, looking for advise please.

Have a 1999 dodge diesel stock that has started acting up a little in the cold. Truck will smoke more than usual on the first start in the morning (sometimes), after warm up--a minute or two the truck will dog out when accelerating until the RPMS are above a certain level or it warms up more I'm really not sure which. You can hear the difference when it dogs and kicks in as it sounds differnet--when ******* it's quite with no power like it going to stall but doesn't and when it kicks in it sounds like the normal loud truck I'm use to and shoots off down the road. Like to get some feed back as I leave it in the garage all night and am not doing anything different than usual in the winter---just started doing this in the last couple of weeks. Maybe try some fuel additive? Or maybe the Air Temp gauge or possible heat grid problems? Any ideas?

It hasn't been doing it every morning just some.

 

Sounds like a possible injectorpump goin out. Have it scanned for codes at a garage or advance auto loans them out. when you first start it in the mourning watch your voltage gauge, if it goes up and down every few seconds your grid heaters are working, you can see your lights dim too as the grid heater draws a bunch of power for a few seconds. But i would bet youll find some kind of code in there for the vp44.

 

Ok I will have it scanned and post the findings. Yes the grid heaters are working, every morning the volt dips and the lights fluctuate like normal.

 

I don't see anything about guages. You really NEED to watch the fuel pressure. That seems to be a big factor in keeping the VP alive.

 

Are you plugging in the block heater?

 

Mine smokes a lot in the morning too, Once its warm its fine, It is a pig when is real cold too. Again once warm its fine. Maybe its normal? If I use the block heater it drives real good on first startup try that.

 

Mine smokes a lot in the morning to but it's from the injectors and comp. I agree though that mine's an absolute dog in the morning when it's cold.

 

If it's the IP givin problems that usually results in problems with hot starts. Mine always started just fine when it was cold, but once I shut it off I'd better be there for a while cause it wasn't gonna start again till it cooled off. If it is white smoke coming out I would bet on the Lift Pump being gone for now and the Injector pump later.

 

Ok I had it plugged in all night last night even though it's in the garage and it still dogged until I got it over 1500 rpms then it kicked in and took off and ran just fine. It didn't act up as bad as if it was real cold but still did it. Ran fine the 25 miles to work until I got about a mile away and it did it breifly when I was running around 40mph (dogged and kicked in). I am going to run over today @ lunch and have it scanned so I will post the #'s then. I have a book with them listed but want to keep the history.

 

I would almost wonder about the batteries here to. If they are just gettin weak it may take those extra RPM's in the morning before they fully recharge and run everything right. Might have them checked while your there.

 

Hey guys ran by AutoZone...P.S. The guys at the Dodge place are real A holes so don't go there. Anyway they pulled PO216 and PO234. Does this mean I have to get an unscheduled x-mas present by having the injector pump replaced, is this the only option. My book refers to the timing so I was unsure.

 

Yep, the PO216 is the death code for the VP-44.

Some guys run for many miles with that code, but sooner or later it'll drop dead on you. The symptoms you're seeing will get worse and worse.

Look at it this way; If you had a 3rd gen with a CP3 pump, when it dies you are DEAD on the side of the road. At least now you aren't getting $$$ towed and have a bit of time to scrape up a few bucks...

When you get the new (rebuilt) VP installed, put a fuel pressure gauge on it and watch for when the lift pump dies. (no/low pressure) Biggest cause of VP-44 failures. Your lift pump MAY be dead right now, and that's what killed your VP!

And, as you've seen from your local dealer experience, DON'T get the VP-44 from them!

Good Luck

 

I had a funny feeling that the 0216 code was there.....................

 

Mine smokes whitish and I have the Fass and 17 psi. Try and get an hrvp44.

 

Add a little Powersource white bottle at Walmart, keeps the fuel from gelling in your injectors!

Rick