go to your local Cummins dealer and get a campaign pump for the cummins. about $65.
The VP44 is the injection pump, the LP (lift pump) feeds the VP, when the LP fails the VP can run but not good and usally leads to it's demise. That is why we stress to people how important the fuel pressure guage is on these trucks. A small investment in the guage might equal not having to spend $1100+ on a VP44.

 

Do what charliez posted, it is most likely only air in system. I would not go buy anything at this time , just bleed air out. Fuel should come out of a couple of loosened injector lines, after putting pump in continuous cycle and then try to start(just slightly bump starter-leave key on but don't start until pump is finished then start). Do this a few times(maybe 3-6 times depending). I would say lift pump is weak, or not working if no fuel comes out of loosened injector lines. Go to next step.

If no fuel comes out of injectors lines at all, remove fuel filter oulet line, put in to a bucket with a long rubber hose slipped over, and into a pail, while having lift pump go into continuous cycle. It should have lots of fuel coming out, if not replace lift pump, or an aftermarket system like FASS, etc. Once it's running check over lift pump pressure with a gauge, then invest in one for in cab monitoring of fuel pressure, before it costs you an injection pump.

 

Not a silly question.
VP-44 = Common name for the high pressure injection pump on 98.5-2002 Dodge Diesel Trucks. Do a search, you'll find that just about ALL of us have been through at least one.

 

LIke i said before Get a campaign pump from Cummins.
Torque you need to read the whole post, he already took the plug out of the filter housing and nothing.

 

I did read the whole post from him, that is why I told him what to do in my post. You will not bleed ALL of the air out of the fuel filter housing on only 1 ATTEMPT as it may take 3-4 or more times, ESPECIALLY IF lift pump is weak.






PJ, Not all of us have experienced a VP-44 failure either, there is quite a few(I'm at almost 250,000kms on original I.P.). Let's all make sure we give good advice, and not tell the guy to run out and buy parts, BEFORE a proper diagnosis has been done.

 

Again...thanks for ALL the great info!

 

"Just about"

I'd believe that to be true, you? Heck some went through two in less than 63,000 miles. You and Geico are in the minority by far.

 

PJ, those would be the very small minority(2 replaced in a short timeframe). Just like in anything made, there can be a bad bunch of rebuilds from various reasons like poor quality replacement parts, poor quality control overall, incorrrect tolerances in replacement parts, improper assembly/machining, etc. Also there are lots of other contributing factors like aeration/cavitation, dirty fuel, water, extreme heat/cold, lack of lubrication, running tank down too low on fuel , mileage on unit, higher fueling capacity from boxes than it was designed for, poor/weak lift pump design, crappy fuel LSD and now ULSD etc, I think I got most of them



I'm sure there was a poll on here last year, about who has experienced a VP-44 failure, and their mileage, and it wasn't as bad as most people believed. I don't think Geico and I are the only ones who haven't had a failure either . Even with some of the downfalls of VP-44 like it being a rotary pump design, with closer internal tolerances, fuel lubed internals not oil lubed like older inline pumps, they are not all bad, or the best design either. Maybe it's time to have another poll with the mileage/timeframe of both original IP failure and replacement failures on it. Care to start it.

 

Uhhh, NO.

I am not a member of that club anymore. It would be interesting to see though. I have seen one on Lift Pump failures in the last year or so, don't remember a VP poll though?

 

Maybe someone will do it then, so we can all have a more accurate reflection of the so called chronic problem. I for one don't believe your previous statement PJ, what do you base it on your personal view only, or do you have some information from Bosch or DC as to the actual failure rate percentages?

 

You have full clearance to start a poll??



Which statement don't you believe?

Tell you what would be more interesting, how about you entertain a $100.00 wager with me that this guy ends up with a new Lift pump AND VP-44?
No joke, that would make the topic interesting.

 

Have you tried pressurizing the fuel tank to prime the lift pump?
If not you might try by wrapping a rag around an air hose into the filler tube and cycling the pump. Don't blow up the fuel tank - just enough presure to push fuel to the pump.

 

Reread my post, what do you base your assumptions on, where is your backup to statement, do you have proof, or just what YOU believe to be the truth . You sound like a guy who WOULD AND DOES go buy parts and replace something, without a proper diagnosis, as you PROVED it, by TELLING him his lift pump and VP-44 are finished What kind of advice is that , as someone posted it is embarrassing to our forum, and especially embarrassing to you. . I don't need your permission to start a thread , hopefullythe guy you gave "GOOD ADVICE" to did not run out and buy parts, like you foolishly said was the problem.



I would say if anything, his lift pump might be weak and need replacing, he may get a code(from running IP out of fuel) but it doesn't mean it NEEDS to be replaced either, and I'll be glad to TAKE your money.


I for one don't subscribe to THAT type of mentality that you do(good thing)

 

Lets stop the bickering and get this guys truck running.
"Why can't we all just get along?"
Check it for codes tell us what you got. We already know that the LP is dead from what you told us about when you took the plug out of the top of the filter and ran the pump (how many times?) and got nothing, correct?
If you got no fuel from this point than cracking the injectors is not necessary.
Get the codes let us know. We will help you fix it.

 

If codes are present it DOES NOT MEAN lift pump OR injection pump are in need of replacing, as this is a commom mistake. Don't you guys get it yet . Codes can be set from running it dry, but again it doesn't mean that both need replacing. , especially when it was running fine previously.





Follow my post to get it started first, then diagnose from each step on from there. People that don't know what they are talking about, should NOT be giving advice.