I have posted this problem B4 but still 3 months later am no further forward.

I have imported a 2001 Ram 24V into the UK and since May it intermittantly looses throttle and cuts to idle( causing to slow to a few MPH). When this happens you have to stop for a while and restart again in order for it to be OK and it can then go for a few hours OK. If you feels it starting to dip a few kicks of the throttle may stop but once it happens the above is the only way out.

As imported I have no warranty after year 1 and have recently taken to an American truck specialist who £1200 ( UK sterling) later basically handed it back saying there is no more he can do.

He tested all the components and Ran the latest Diagnosis from the USA. He did not get any fault codes !

The fuel lines have been tested, the sensors cleaned and in a calculated bit if guess work replaced the APPS ( which was nearly £500 of the above) He says he has checked all he can but still it does it does the same.The fuel vent is clear and the bung removed.

I have read through a large chunck of these forums and where applicable tried the advise.

This is a cry of help !! Any one with further advise would be greatly appreciated as at present I have a £40'000 truck that is still less than 2 years old that I cant really use.

I have gone to UK head office but they do not really help as no real Dodge experience... and when I try and contact Dodge USA they but me back to UK.

Any one help ?

 

Hi ttcchh

I hope I can be some help. I think that the info that this guy hasn't found any codes should tell you something- Either that you had too many restarts since the problem occurred so the code has been dropped when you visited him, or that the guy doesn't really know how to read them ;D

I'd suggest that you do some cheap stuff first- clean the contacts of the APPS, the Cummins ECM and the PCM on the firewall. Look for broken wires and traces of rodent activity.

Does the check engine light go on when you experience this condition or not ?

If you'd like to contact me do so at the phone number I'll provide in an IM on this board, or by IM

AlpineRAM

 

My '02 has done this too, when it's cold outside (< 25F) and I have the cruise control set. I get codes related to the APPS and the Vehicle Speed Sensor. Next time it does it, you should be able to pull the codes by turning the key on and off, not trying to start the truck, four times. It should flash the codes in the odometer display. Once you have the codes, http://www.obdii.com can provide a reference for the codes that perhaps the mechanic can reference in troubleshooting.

 

my truck has done the same thing on 3 or 4 different occasions. I replaced the air filter, fuel filter and checked all the connection. It happened again on my next long trip. It will not do it on trips less than 3 hours, which makes it hard to figure out. The first time it did set the check engine ligth but I cleared it. The second time the engine code cleared itself after restarting the truck. Anyway, since then I have replced the lift pump and hope that has solved my problems. I haven't had a reason to drive more than 3 hours yet so I am unsure just yet if I can stop searching. The APPS, CPS and a few other sensors do play a part though and the one thing I really worry about is the injection pump shut dwon do to overheating. Fuel volume and PSI from the lift pump is crucial to cooling injection pump. Good luck and hope I shed some more light on the subjet. By the way, have you purchased a maintenance manual(Chiltons/HAines), they can be helpful.

 

ttcchh, I am still trying to figure out the same problem with my truck. It will be going strong down the road and then all of a sudden loose power. It will work fine again for a short period of time if I push in the clutch and let the engine idle for just a second. Sorry to see that you installed a new APPS, but that was going to be the next part to throw at it. Thanks for saving me the $325 I was going to waste ;D.

This is what I have done so far:
1. New MAP sensor.
2. New IAT sensor.
3. Cleaned APPS connector.
4. Cleaned battery cables and discovered I had one dead battery. Figured the dead battery was the smoking gun. I was happy to pay for two new batteries since it was going to take care of my problem. No such luck
5. Followed the procedure to reset the APPS.

I have not yet taken to a dealership to have the codes pulled. I am planning to do so soon since I need to start using this truck! You will see that there are several of us trying to work on the same problem. Most of the other topic headings talk about "power loss".

He (or she) who figures this problem out first, wins!!!!

 

jdeereboy, have you pulled the codes when yours does it? Given the earlier responses and what you've replaced and/or cleaned so far, I'm thinking the VSS or its connections are about all that's left. Did you get a code about the VSS?

 

jfpointer, I did replace the ABS sensor in the rear axle but have not touched the speed sensor in the transfer case. No codes show when I turn the key on and off 4 times. I need to take it to someone with a OBDII scanner to pull any stored codes. I plan to go through every connection on the truck as soon as I have time. Going away for the weekend and will not have time to work on it till Tuesday.

 

This seems to be a wider spread problem than I thoughtwith these trucks !

Have since managed to pull some codes from the dash but several different threads appearing including fuel pump timing ?
turbo problems ? and air temp ?


There are also some others that dont seem to be relevent....I wanted to clear these codes so that i could read straight after it failed but it seems it needs a garage with scanner to do this ????

Anyway, this problem must be temperature related as it is unrecoverable when it happens with less than 30min driving and can be fixed by kicking the throttle when hot just as you feel the revs start to dip....When cold you have to stop and start ??? This has changed slightly as B4 I had the APPS it was doing it more often , hot or cold.....I wonder if there was more than one problem ????

I have now ordered a new IAT and will let you know.

 

Since mine only does it when it's cold out, I'm thinking about trying to get it to do it on the way to the dealer next winter, then calling the 1-800 number to have them dispatch a flatbed to haul it in and look at it. It's still under warranty, so the hauling and fix should be free. If I do that, I'll let everyone know how they fix it.

 

My truck was doing this on a regular basis for quite awile but its all good now.

My truck would go to idle for no reason when i was cruising along down the road. It was giivng me a p500 and p1693 code but after finally getting sick of this problem I took it in and had the codes pulled. SURPRISE!!! the computer had a code that never showed up when cycling the key . 121 was the number if I remeber correctly and the description of the problem was at less than 15% throttle the APPS and the ECM do not agree on the voltages present. I put a new APPS in and it has been good ever since.

Now I am just waiting for the Injection pump to grenade now.. : man.. you think it was designed by GM or something..


Good Luck my friend and I would suggest taking it somewhere else to have the codes pulled.



Jason

 

Well, according to our talk yesterday I'd like to ask you to give me the code numbers.

[quote author=ttcchh link=board=4;threadid=18589;start=0#msg178158 date=1062136715]
This seems to be a wider spread problem than I thoughtwith these trucks !

Have since managed to pull some codes from the dash but several different threads appearing including fuel pump timing ?
turbo problems ? and air temp ?


There are also some others that dont seem to be relevent....I wanted to clear these codes so that i could read straight after it failed but it seems it needs a garage with scanner to do this ????

Anyway, this problem must be temperature related as it is unrecoverable when it happens with less than 30min driving and can be fixed by kicking the throttle when hot just as you feel the revs start to dip....When cold you have to stop and start ??? This has changed slightly as B4 I had the APPS it was doing it more often , hot or cold.....I wonder if there was more than one problem ????

I have now ordered a new IAT and will let you know.


[/quote]
Could you also report on the findings of the mentioned block heater experiment and on any other stuff that strikes you as odd when having the problem?
As far as I understood you have much blue oily smoke when the truck cuts out. So to me it seems as if the pump still hears your "go" command but slips timing massively. Since the VP44 is a pump with a keyed shaft it can't slip, and because it has recovered it too ahs not slipped. I think that the timing solenoid control within the pump (ot it's control circuit)is shot. (Since you say that you have 10psi FP when it happens).
Now there are two alternative roads in my opinion: Get a new VP44 or have it rebuilt at a major Bosch service station (they do so in Austria, I don't know whether tey'll do it in GB)

If you think that I can help ypu just call, I'll see what I can do for you.

AlpineRAM

 

Looks like we have similar symptoms and, most likely, different causes going on here. First, there's no way to "catch" mine; it only does it when the cruise is on and then deactivated either with the button or the brake. No smoke, either. I had the same two codes that ScubaSteve mentioned, so maybe I'll just schedule an appointment and have the dealer pull the codes, suggesting that they look for the 121 he saw on his truck.

 

My truck would drop to idle after running it hard and then it would go back to normal. The only thing i did was the accelarator brackets and sensor apart and cleaned them. put it back together and i have had a problem in over 30k of hard miles.

 

I once again tested my fuel pressure last night. Originally I always had over 10 PSI. Last night the pressure would drop to 4 PSI when accelerating. I doubt this is the cause of my problem that sounds just like yours, but I need to fix this first. I have a new lift pump and adapter harness on order and hope to install this weekend. I am also going to install the larger bajo fittings. Next, I am going to take it to the Dodge dealer and see if they can pull any stored codes.

 

Didn't read the whole post so, this may have been suggested before. Everytime I have seen this problem it was the crank position sensor, located in the block up from the starter.