If it is a pump, why doesn't it do it all the time? If it is idling good...why does it only do it when I put it in gear? Then the question is why doesn't it idle good all the time...sometimes good..other times it won't idle unless I have my foot in the gas.
Tomorrow or Tuesday I will probably break down and take it to the Dodge dealer.
Does anyone know of a good diesel guy in/around Albuquerque, New Mexico?

 

You could run a flow rate and pressure test from the LP, if both are good, that pretty much leaves what most of us are suspecting, the VP - I hope it ISN'T the VP, but there is too much history of these things going South for us to think it may be something else. Many on this site have had the VP failure manifest itself across the gamut of limping for several months to immediate Dead-In-The-Water condition.

 

Well, I guess that I need to get the pressure checked on the fuel pump. That will let me know if it is the pump, right?

Against my best judgement I've been looking online at pumps. I found one at diesel source for $1100, but it doesn't look like the one I have on there now. Did they put 2 different pumps on that year (2001)? Also, talked to a buddy and found out there is a place in town that will rebuild mine if I pull it off. Any inputs or suggestions?

 

The intermittent chugging and sputtering could be because the electronic side of the VP is puking on you. Try this, start driving, when it sputters turn ignition key off/on while driving. If it reacts and starts driving fine, your VP electronics have "let their smoke out", (old electricians joke for smoked). The reason I know about the key trick while driving is because mine did the same thing for 55K miles b4 I unloaded my pocket change.


Good Luck!!!


Gary

 

yup..the electronic part of the pump fails 90% of the time. its not the mechanicals..they'll hang in there for 200 grand. like a 12v will. but the vibration kills the chip. its a hit or miss connection and will do it at the same rpm almost all the time. mines been doin it for 2 weeks at least and its almost always at 1500 rpm...but it will NEVER do it on cruise..it is odd but its 99% yer pumps toast...its a 2002 thing. they all do it sooner or later and the symptoms are VERY vague...good luck. 1100$ for a pump is a fair price

 

Go to Autozone and get your codes read. P0216 is the fault code for VP44 timing failure. We're just guessing so far. I personally don't trust dealers; I would get the code read first. Changing a vp44 is pretty straight forward (I could even do it as a diesel newbie on my '99) The dealer wanted $2500 to change it.

 

Well, I finally got back from work. The dealer pulled the code for the timing failure. I'm finally admitting that its the pump. Now the next round of questions.

How hard is this thing to change? Someone said earlier that it was easy...I've heard "you could do it over a weekend"...to "if you don't know diesels don't touch it!"

I know you have to have it timed to the motor, but I have no idea how to do that. Is it something I could read up on and figure it out? I've heard there is a special tool I'll need also.

Should I attempt it myself on a $1100 part? I can read and turn a wrench...so is that enough?
westy