Here's the truck: '01 HO 6spd QC LB 4wd 127,844 miles, no mods to speak of, no recent work


Here's the problem: I don't know if this is related or not but for the past 6 months or so I have had a APPS issue (i think) where if I do not move the pedal, especially at slow speeds, the throttle quits. To fix it, al I had to do was depress and FULLY release the pedal, i got it down to where it took me about a second to fix, it mostly happened in 2nd gear. Now $400+ for an annoyance was not feasible so I just lived with it.
The current problem: I live in Dallas and was doing my buddy a favor by towing his little Uhaul trailer to Phoenix and out in west Texas it starts acting weird. Getting on the highway with that extra weight or accelerating up a hill, it would start to do this thing that I later realized was cutting out. By cutting out I mean that it seems like a fuel delivery issue, it hesitates like I let off the pedal for half a second. After coming up the mountains to Flagstaff on my way home last night, it got really bad. I am 100% empty, no load, but it now refuses to go over 50 mph. I can cruise around town fine, but it will not do any real work like getting on the highway. I have a small set of tools with me and am willing to pay a mechanic if I have to but would like to keep it cheap obviously. Can anyone share some wisdom?

 

start with the basic's it takes fuel and air to run. Check your filters first. A you could have gotten a bad tank of fuel and your filter is doing its job and plugging up at the same time.

TallTom

 

I can make it happen by jerking the truck side to side while driving, especially if I jerk it to the left. I don't have a pressure gauge yet, just the the boost and pyro gauges that the previous owner installed. Truck is idling fine as i type this, it also has no problem starting. Bought this truck 32 months ago and have put 67,000 relatively trouble-free miles on it.....God bless.

 

Like TallTom said...........check your fuel filter and air filter. Without a gage, you will have to remove a fuel line before the filter or open the filter drain and "bump" the starter. If you don't have a lot of fuel coming out, it's probably a fuel pump problem.........whitch usually leads to a VP44 failure.

Also, have you checked for any codes? You can do the key "on/off" three times to check them. The CEL will not always come on.

 

My 1st thoughts are , TPS-throttle position senor , fuel pressure test , codes -some with key , not sure if yours fits but some yrs you can not get all codes with out scanner .
With less knowledge & tools , it will take a shop to find whats wrong & replace just what you need , if its beyond the basics like mentioned above , filters .
A cheap fix requires the right tools/tests & knowledge , other wise you end up just putting in parts until it works , then your luck , will the 1st part fix or number ???
Do the key code thing & get back with more info , turn key 3 times to on [ not start ] at the end of the 3rd time leave in on position , dash will tell what the codes are .

 

First, thanks to both of you who responded. Only code is 1693, which I understand is basically worthless, but I have had that one since the APPS issue. I opened the water drain on the filter and turned the key on and it was draining pretty good. I closed it and then turned the key off. I started it and it ran for 5 seconds or so and now it will not start. I'm going to make sure that there is no air in the lines, but I don't think that's the problem. Also, air filter was replaced a month ago and fuel filter about a year ago. Thanks again!

 

If you have 1 year on the fuel filter I'd change that first. Should be changed normal service every 10-15000 miles. Sooner if you get a bad tank of fuel as it can plug rapidly. Next, you may have lost its prime while you were working on draining the filter housing. I would change the filter, reprione the system and see where you go from there.

 

It was the injector pump. $1900 from the local dealership and $350 for labor. Thanks for all your help gentlemen, God bless you all.

 

Time may be an issue , but at that price , it would seem that one of the after market fuel systems would be cheaper , even waiting an extra day for overnight shipping .

 

What aftermarket pump would you purchase for a 2004 dodge ram 2500?

 

Make sure the lift pump is OK, or you'll be replacing another injection pump.