While towing a 5th wheel camper (bout 12k lbs) for about an hour or so I am going down the road fine (overdrive off) running bout 65 mph and 24-2500 rpm's.......then all of the suddden the power will drop to between 1900-2100 rpms and speed will gradully decrease to whatever I should be going for that rpm's. Get no check engine light (tried the key thing to read the code but it didn't work), transmission recently serviced, fuel filter changed, air filter changed. Sometimes I can feel what I think is the torque converter unlocking, sometimes not. If I move the gear selectro into netrual (without letting pedal off the floor) the rpm's will shoot up. It seems like if I pput the truck in netrual then back in drive everything is fine for a while then it does it again. Is this a tranny problem or something else??? Help Help Help.


Ok so I had the codes read had to codes but only 1 trip each, trans problem has happened multiple times. a 336 and a 213 or 218 (wrote it down on my hand); one was a crank postion sensor code and other was low fuel pressure. They have been reset and i gguess i see if they come back. My truck has the towing package so it came with an external trnny cooler.


1999 Dodge Ram 2500 Long bed 4x4 Diesel 120k miles. Only Mods are replacment APPS sensor, 5th wheel hitch and a set of air bags for the rear,and som e315 75 r16 to fill out the wheel wells(dealer adjusted computer to match new tire size).

 

ok, not sure but. sounds like you are gettin dead pedal (injection pump) look up in these forums p0216 and dead pedal and injection pump problems. you might find what you are looking for and what you dont want to spend!!! i had same problem with my dually except i didnt get as many codes as you.do you have a fuel press sensor? my truck only liked to do it on long trips at steady speeds. never around town

 

The engine codes you posted 0213 or 0218 don't exist in my list of codes. The 0336 is the Crank Shaft Position Sensor, low signal.

My second generation truck was a 6 speed manual, so I can't comment on your tranny. But my 96 was an automatic and when I towed with the overdrive off, I to was up in the rpm's. You stated you thought the torque converter was unlocking. Most automatics don't lock up with the overdrive turned off in that year area. At least my 96 did not until I turned the overdrive on.

Whats more likely is CPS signal to the cpu dropped off and the computer did not know what to tell the injection pump. Or, the tranny could have been really hot and the computer reduced power to the engine. Like Limp mode.

Anytime your running with the torque converter unlocked, heat builds fast in the tranny from the fluid sheer. Next time out, try running the speed up to 55-60 mph and engage the overdrive and see if it does it.

I lost the Crankshaft Position sensor in my 2000 3500 at 110,000 miles. When it acted up, it made the truck fall on it face. Loss of power.

I'd put a tranny temp guage in there. I have an Edge Insight in my truck that plugs into the computer terminal that gives me what the computer is seeing.

Here are the Codes in the 0210 area;

P0210 (M) Injector #10 Control Circuit Injector #10 output driver stage does not respond properly
to the control signal.

P0215 Fuel Injection Pump Control Circuit Failure in fuel pump relay control circuit.

P0216 (M) Fuel Injection Pump Timing Failure High fuel supply restriction, low fuel pressure or possible
wrong or incorrectly installed pump keyway.

P0217 Decreased Engine Performance Due
To Engine Overheat Condition
Engine overheating. ECM will derate engine performance.

P0219 Crankshaft Position Sensor
Overspeed Signal
Engine has exceeded rpm limits.

P0336 (M) Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor
Signal
Problem with voltage signal from CKP.

 

It was the 216 code. I have got an Edge module on the way so I can monitor the pressures and when everything is straight add A LITTLE bit of power......keeping fingers crossed it is just the lift pump going bad and I have caught it before it took out the injection pump

 

Good Luck..but I doubt it. Probably the VP-44 injector pump. Your symptome sound classic.
And, I believe key trick to read codes doe not work on 99's... think it started in 2001.

RJ

 

ok so i got a check engine light today and got the code read it was the crank postion sensor. So I have one on the way known of the parts stores had one in stock. I gather from the forum this is totally inrelated to my original enigne problem. I had the test fuel pressure gauge installed and had barley a pound of pressure at idle, so bad the diesel guy had to use a turkey baster and buket of diesel fuel to re prime the system. So based on that should I just replace the lift pump (and add a permenant gauge for fuel pressure), with the hopes that the injection pump has not been damaged or do I replaced both becasue of the original systoms?

 

I replaced two lift pumps on my 2000 3500 in 203,000 miles. One at 95K and one at 180K. I never had a fuel pressure guage. I was able to hear the lift pump when I turned the key on with the door open while parked in my driveway. When I did not hear it, I checked the pressure, like you, and replaced it. I never got the 0216 code. I guess I was lucky having never replaced the VP44.

I your case, now that you know the pump is bad, change it and the CPS. I think you'll be OK unless you overheated the electronic module in the VP44 by not flowing enough fuel around it. The VP44 will pull fuel for a short time on its own. Sounds like you may have caught it in time as you got the CPS code and not the 0216 today. All you can do is try it.

As far as the fuel pressure guage goes, there is a system sold that was 50 bucks or more that will let you know when the fuel pressure was less than 5psi.

https://usdieselparts.com/index.cfm/...TOKEN=22589204

 

Only install a permanent gauge if you believe all of the threads relating to dying VPs. Install an idiot light instead of a real gauge if you prefer to guess what your fuel pressure is. Install both lift pump & VP if you have an extra $1200 & don't want to bother with proper diagnosis. Stay with the stock lift pump if you are happy with it's design and service. No sense upgrading to a better pump & larger lines because these trucks are over built stock & don't have any known weaknesses.

 

i am not sure how to take that last post?

 

Could replace lift pump and then check pressure again. If still a problem, replace VP-44.
With the 0216 code.... pretty sure you will need both.
Doing both is surest and easiest way to go, if you have the money.

FP gauge is important on vp-44 CTD. Idiot light is second best way to go.
"Edge Module on the way" for FP and more fuel.....????

RJ

 

A better designed lift pump is the way to go, period. After 2 stock lift pumps on my 99, both of which I could still hear running, but they weren't actually pumping anything, I switched to a FASS and never looked back. Well, I did have a Holley Blue on there for a bit, but it couldn't pump enough fuel for the shower-head injectors I put in soon after.
I will say though, after recent threads I have read about FASS service/warranty, I would not buy another. I'd go with the Airdog. I believe they offer a setup so you can use some of your existing lines, instead of having to replace them all, if you don't want bigger lines.
If you get a reputable lift pump there is less need for a gauge, but otherwise a fuel pressure gauge is a whole lot cheaper than that VP44.

Chris

 

Ok so i moved some house projects and other things around to come up with the money for the stuff. my thought process being if the injector pump has been that starved (only around couple of pounds of pressure going to it for who knows how long and towing a 12k trailer) for fuel it has probally been damaged (from the sounds of thing here, it most likley has been damaged) and good (most likely) chance it will completley fail without warrning. So rather then risk being somewhere way far from home with the camper on the back and breaking down, having to pay the BIG dollar tow bill, pay some mechanic that at that point will be able to charge whatever he wants for the parts and labor because he knows I have know choice; I decided to just end up saving money in the long run and order a Lift Pump and Injection Pump. I ordered the VP44027 Bosh Fuel Injection Pump and a FASS 150 series 95gph high performance lift pump from mwfi (according to the website they are 4 star Bosh rebuilder and dont charge u for the core until 30 days later if you dont return it and even pay for the shippingg to send the core back) for 1543.22. It seemed like a steep but fair price. Also to make sure I dont have the injection pump go up again from lack of fuel and allso to monitor everything (and give me just a little extra gitty up) I have ordered the edge with attitude for the truck. Ok so now just waiting on the parts and the install. What is the next thing on this truck I need to start saving for so I am prepared?

 

OK, we weren't trying to scare you into a VP44. We just wanted to instill the importance of monitoring the fuel pressure.
I will say that my first pump failed at an unknown point and I did not have gauges at the time, or any knowledge of a problem until someone convinced ME to check my fuel pressure, and when I did I found that I had ZERO, and opening the test port lost the prime in the fuel system so I had to get a new LP, under warranty. As I said, after the second one quit, I was done with those stock LPs.

Even after all of that, I am still running my stock VP44 that came with the truck. I did buy a "spare" just in case, but so far it's just sitting in a box.
It's certainly up to you, but I'd run the old one until it dies before replacing it.
Yes, that could amount to a tow bill some day.

Chris