Last January I bought a 2002 2500 automatic SLT Sport Package for $25500 with an extended warranty. It now has 33000 miles, and so far I put in the Vulcan fuel lines, pump relocate kit,fuel pressure, and trans temp. pillar guages.

My question is; I have a 1992 12 valve that's been so reliable with around 300,000 miles, and still own it, should I sell this newer truck and get another 92 or 93, if I can find a real cream puff? The reason I ask is because I am hearing about so many problems guys are having with these newer rigs. I don't think it'll last as long nor be as problem free with all this electronic stuff.

Thanks very much for any input, Mike.

 

i would keep it. Ive been in the same boat you are, and sold my 02, now im kickin myself in the but. yeah you hear alot of the problems on this site and it kinda freaks you out, but unless you are havin problems with YOUR truck dont worry about what other people are having problems with. just watch your gauges, and dont get all worked up over other peoples problems.

 

you want to sell a 02 that only has 33 thousand miles on it?? the fuel upgrades and guages are just common stuff that should have came factory.

there are thousands more trucks out there that have never had a problem. You dont hear them because no-one says "hey, my truck is at 150 thousand miles and i havnt done anything to it"

they only get on here if they need help. So dont fret everybody elses problems

 

Thanks for the comments. Are you sayin' then, this 02 will be with the reliability program like my 92 still is?

Since the answere is Yes, then I need some nerf bars, used with my budget, just to stop others from doing door dings. Any one have some for a Quad cab 02, (say 100 miles) near Portland Oregon? Thanks a bunch..... mike

Roan.... I cannot seem to figure out how to send a PM back to you, but, your all the way in Texas. Wish you were up north somewhere.

 

mjgcamper, if i were in your position, I would keep that 02. Only 33,000 miles on it? Thats very low miles for its age. If you keep your truck clean and maintain it regularly there is no reason it shouldn't last you 300,000 miles like your 1st gen has. I have an 02 also and worried about the problem 24v have when i first got it but i've had mine for almost 2 yrs and its been the most problem free vehicle i've driven. I bought gauges for mine and they are a good help, I spoted a LP starting to go bad with mine. I vote for keeping the 2002.

 

facts are facts....you keep the 02 you will eventually be popping for an injection pump. I've already done one on my 01 and I fully expect to be buying one again someday. Nature of the beast. I'm quite certain I've changed over 100 of them at work.

 

I would keep it.

 

Remember too that if your judging by reading this board it's not a real accurate "poll" of problems since people come here mostly when they do have a problem.

It's like finding a pool and being surprised to find water!

 

There are some things you can do to improve the reliability of your '02.

Check the fuel pressure, paying attention to how steady the needle is, rather than to fuel pressure. This will help guage the health of your VP44. Assuming the guage is rock steady, with no bouncing, and contaminated fuel (water etc.) hasn't been used, the VP44 is probably in good shape.

If the fuel pressure is really low, say under 5 or 6 lbs at WOT, replace the lift pump.

Relocate the lift pump back to the frame, by the tank, and install a big line kit or larger banjos. Use an after-market lift pump if you like. Power the lift pump by a seperate power source instead of the stock power off the ECM.

Relocate the puke bottle, or service it every oil change.

Occasionally check the exhaust manifold bolts for tightness.

 

i say keep it...you have the FP gauge, and the line/relocated kit...you are already helping out the VP44 just by doing that. save your pennies a little longer and eventually spring for an aftermarket pump like the FASS II or one of the other pusher pumps. the stock lift pump is known for getting weak and dying. replace that with a quality alternative, change fuel filters regularly, and watch your FP gauge and that truck should last as long as you want it to.

ive seen lots of trucks for sale on ebay that are BONE STOCK 98.5-02 24v with over 200k on them, and they are only selling them to get a newer rig. not because the truck has failed them etc. also you will see that those high mile 24v are still fetching good money because when properly maintained the motor has another 300k left in it

 

Bart, Ive' done most of what you say already, but, why take the lift pump 12 volt power from another source? Never heard this one before!

What happens if you forget to clean out that bottle?

Thanks everyone for the votes. I am keeping the this truck partly based on your advice.

 

Cummins decision to power the lift pump straight from the ECM was a poor one from my perspective.

Adding a high amp-draw brush type motor to an area with sensative electronics isn't going to be good for them.

Plus I believe the largest failure point in VP44s and lift pumps is rapid fuel pressure pulsations. Those pulsations destroy the internal relief valve of the lift pump, causing fuel pressure to drop, and beat the high pressure chamber o-rings, inside the VP44, to death, causing loss of pressure and a resultant 0216 code. Put a lift pump on a unstable power souce and those pulsations start (the ECM is designed to pulse current to the lift pump to reduce fuel pressure for starting), get magnified by engine vibrations from the stock lift pump location, and lift pump internal pressure relief valve.

If the puke bottle isn't moved or serviced regularly, oil mist from it is sucked up by the fan and deposited in radiator fins, causing them to eventually plug up. The radiator is large enough that this doesn't affect engine temps running empty, but towing heavy loads up long grades, on warn days, the engine starts to overheat. This takes 50 to 60,000 miles before it becomes noticeable.

 

I say sell it cheap, I am loooking for an 02'. I will deal with all those problems you haven't had yet. No sense in you having to deal with them. I am sure you have enough to do. Let me take car of that old 02 Headache.

 

Now you know if one Cummins got sold cheap with low miles, the whole economy would get off balance. Greenspan would loose his retirement and we'd go into deflation. I can't do that!

 

I once knew a mechanic who worked at a Cadillac dealer. He told me "I would never buy one of those pieces of S***"
Well, of course if all day long you worked on Cadillacs with problems, you wouldnt be too keen on owning one. But what about all of the others that run for thousands of miles with no trouble? So maybe the 24v trucks do have some issues (yeah, I just paid the VP44 tax myself) I looked a long time for a Cummins Dodge that I liked, and almost bought a 12v. But now I have everything fixed the truck runs great, I had the paint and body work done, so I wouldnt sell it for the world. Overall they will outlast anything else out there, and with the help of the folks here at DTR, I can be assured that any other issues pop up I can handle them with ease. Jeez, I wish mine had 33K on it when I bought it, mine had 108K (and 2/3rds cheaper).