I just pulled the old pump from my truck which was less than 2 years old and it was a Czech remanufactured pump. I have heared bad things about these pumps. What is specifically rong with these pumps besides they don't last?

 

never heard anything about czechs and the vp44 pump....the vp44 pump is simply a lemon IMHO and certain precautions must be followed to have good life with it

1) fuel pressure gauge
2) religious use of additives
3) FASS

 

that would be the beloved "black beauty". A number of years ago when you would order a VP it would come either natural, which was a "reman in GER", or the black one that was "reman in CZ". Maybe it was my bum luck, but I a few comebacks with those pumps. One went only nine miles before it seized up internally. Another one went one month and died. I also had at least two others that didn't make it a year. Can't account for the trucks that I did that weren't local, but I'm sure there were a few. That said I haven't seen one in awile. The latest ones have "reman in USA" on them, but who knows who is doing the actual work.

 

Mine was bought less than 2 years ago 70,000km from Cummins who I thaught I could trust to give me a good pump for the engine they made.
Always clean fuel and Power Service additive.
Now has timing failure.

 

There have been multiple updates to the pump housing in the advance bore area. The latest update was done mid 2004. This plus the other updates help to make the pump last longer. One of the updates actually reduced the life expectancy, and was used in 03 & 04?

 

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FWIW I would stay away from the dealers and cummins for another pump.
Contact one of the fellows at PDR in Langly, BC and have them send you out a pump. They can set you up with a stock/hot rod and sometimes they even get new ones. They will be cheaper and you can count on them.
http://www.piersdiesel.com/DodgeCanPrice.htm

 

2002 was the last year of the VP44 powered trucks.

03 on up are Common Rail.


phox

 

The VP44 model pump is still used in some industrial applications. The Dodge pu application ended in late 2002, when the HPCR fuel system was introduced on that application. Just because that particular model is no longer in new production doesn't mean that they stop making product improvements. There have been several parts improvements since new production stopped.

Czech Republic is where new production was done(on the injection pump). New production of the specific model number pumps (2) on the Dodge application ceased in late 2003, because we had new ones on back order for several months before Bosch cancelled the back order.

DTC 216 is normally caused by an advance piston that is sticking in the housing bore, and not letting the full advance movement take place. The scoring is normally caused by AIR IN THE FUEL SYSTEM. Get a warning light, or a pressure guage. Make sure the sender is installed downstream of the fuel filter, don't let the pressure go to zero.

"Siezure" , that problem was mostly addressed in late 99 with a change in the head assy. in the pump, the later ones rarely sieze.

 

So, my theory that remanufactured is better than new might hold some truth.

"New" built in 2002 might have some questionable parts.
Remanufactured in 2003 would have some, if not all, of those improvements.

Right?

phox

 

By late 2003/early 2004 I believe all current updated parts were in the distribution channel, for Bosch authorized repair service centers.