2000 Model 2500 3/4 ton auto tranny 24 valve cummins diesel completely stock truck with approximately 40,000 miles on motor. Hello fellow Dodge owners! I bought my truck as a pre-owned unit off the dealer lot about a year ago and it has ran great up until three days ago, when I drove through a 1 inch deep puddle of water at about 25 mph. Water apparently sprayed up under the engine and hit something critical, because as soon as I came out of the puddle, the engine instantly began sputtering with progressive worsening leading to a complete stall about 10 seconds later. I could not re-start the engine so I got towed home and I let her sit for a couple of hours, hoping the affected part would dry out. Still wouldn't start, so I gave her a shot of ether and got it to sputter and barely run (sounds like its only running on a couple of cylinders - will not spool up and pressing on accelerator has no effect on engine speed). I checked for engine codes and got a P1693. Then I searched the archives of this board and saw mention of the fuses in the engine bay which I removed and replaced (all looked good). No change. Disconnected the battery for an hour. Hooked it back up and still no change. I'm still getting the P1693 code. Do any of the experts out there have any ideas what to check next? I would prefer not to bring it to the dealer - they screwed me when I bought the truck and will do so again for the repair! All input greatly appreciated! Seanvu1

 

hey check your turbo for water and also drain your oil sounds like it might be hydro locked. real bad if this happened water in your cylinders and turbo. just a thought. had it happen before doing about the same thing, 25 mph through a shallow water puddle and same as your talking about. buddys 4x4 threw a rod, it still ran real rough though not a good thing. good luck hope this isnt the problem. but check it any ways.

 

I would take it to the dealer if you are still covered under warranty. But if you choose to do it yourself, start with the simple things. First of all I doubt the engine is hydrolocked if you went thru a 1" puddle of water since that little of water would have a hard time getting to the air filter on the 2nd gens.

The crankshaft sensor could be a culprit since it is located right where the dipstick tube enters the block. Check to make sure your connection is tight and free of water. Like others mentioned, check your VP44 connection. Your camshaft reference sensor located on the inner gear housing just under the VP44.

As Big Black Dodge mentioned, a diesel needs fuel and air. But an electronic engine also needs a timing reference signal from crank and cam, ECM voltage, VP44 voltage etc.

 

Check all electrical connection in the engine bay.

PCM, already mentioned, behind air cleaner, 3 plugs.
ECM, driver side of engine, behind fuel filter.
Fuel Injection Pump Control Module, on top of injectin pump.
Any and all sensors on the engine (Crank/Cam position, MAP, to name a few)

If you find any that are wet or look like they have been wet, clean them up with some electronics cleaner,
make sure they are dry, then apply some dialectric grease before reattaching.
This will help prevent future moisture from getting in.

You still have plenty of warranty left if the above doesn't work.


phox

 

What if your truck has a p1693 like mine but did not drive through a puddle?

 

Means you have another code hiding in there somewhere.

You'll have to get it read with a scan tool, either from the Dealer or a parts store.


phox

 

Thank you for all of your helpful replies. We checked all things mentioned and everything looked ok superficially. So we towed the truck to the local diesel repair shop and hooked it up to their computer. We got the dreaded P0251 code, which, according to the mechanic, means that the injection pump is bad. He told us that these injection pumps have a nasty tendency to "jump timing" internally, and will fail suddenly and unexpectedly. He had seen a number of previous clients that had the same thing happen to them. The fact that my pump failed at the instant that I drove through a puddle with water splashing everywhere was nothing more than a strange coincidence (I guess). Anyway, since it apparently is still under warranty, I'll get it towed to the Dodge dealer and hope that this is covered! Seanvu1

 

Hey, just for grins, let us know what the outcome is, ok?

 

I brought it to Dodge and they replaced injection pump under warantee - no out of pocket expense. The Dodge boys said the puddle had nothing to do with the failure. While I was pleased with that, I am somewhat troubled by the idea that these injection pumps can fail suddenly and unexpectedly, especially on such a low milage engine. Its a good thing that I wasn't being tailgated by an 18 wheeler at 80mph when this happened! Seanvu1

 

I am amazed you actually own one of these trucks

Seriously, I have seen a guy hydrolock a honda with an 18" deep puddle, no fender liner and cold air intake...

I've driven my truck through floorboard deep puddles...

If you hydro lock one of these things, you have bigger problems cause you are currently in the middle of a lake.

 

Cold water hitting a hot injection pump has been known to cause problems on the old 6.2 6.5 chevs. The vp44 is laid out basically the same way with the rotary - head&rotar pump. Pretty uncommon on the vp's but a possibilty.

seanvu1 - dont worry to much about it instantly failing. On average most injections pumps wont just fail completely