About six months ago I bought a Van Aaken "chip" on Ebay. There wasn't a way to know for sure if it had been used, but it probably had. The install was super easy, and the results were exactly what I was looking for.. a little better power, cleaner shifts and (I was skeptical) a little better mileage.

Everything was great, and during that time I ran some varying blends of commercial biodiesel (up to B100) with zero problems.

A couple of days ago I was driving along 40mph, my CEL came on, and felt the often described dead pedal. My truck was full of crap for recycling and the dump and I was dreading the idea of limping to a nearby Dodge dealership with a full load like that. (no Cummins shops around here). I called my wife to search through this site for some reset procedure.. turn the truck on & off, hoping for good luck, but none.

Finally I think about the box, and just wanted to make sure, so I unplugged the Van Aaken, and the truck immediately came back to normal running, but the CEL was still on. Hold the odm and turn the key 3 times, all things returned to normal. (Oy is this thing slow without the chip)

It's been too cold to go fiddle with it and reinstall the chip, but I need to do that soon. Anyone want to guess if it's a permanent chip failure, a hiccup, or the beginning of a pump failure?

Pete

99 QC 24v 4x4 100~thousand miles

 

you need to find out what that code was. The chip may have finished off your VP. Some guys have reported an ez killing a VP though it usually takes a fueling box to really do it quick. If it turns out to be your VP do youself a favor and get the hotrod vp.

 

You could contact VA and see if they'll check out the box for you. If it is the injection pump I doubt the VA had anything to do with it.

Where at in MD are you? Getting your Bio at Cropper? Did you get the "R" box on Ebay? Did you get it from Valley Fuel?

 

I'm in Silver Spring, and Montgomery County is the "Motorsports and industry-freezone" for better and for worse.

You're right, I meant to call VA just to see what they say. I'm working on a bio project with a guy who "imports" it from Virgina BD, which is just off the Richmond beltway. I've gotten some from the place near Westminster too.

You're scaring me by guessing that I got the chip from Valley Fuel.. I did.. WHYYYY?

Thanks for the quick feedback,

Pete

 

small world I am from md also (catonsville to be exact) just moved up here to hanover pa

how much is bio running you? I saw the place near westminster off rt26 that sells the soy/diesel but it was really pricey

Do you have a way to check your codes?

 

Bio is steep, pushing $3.80 a gallon, but the Maryland Soy Board has a 50% rebate program going right now, so the net cost is great.

Link: http://www.mdsoy.org/consumer/rebatefy05.pdf


About the codes: No, and even though I can usually fix most things I work on, I don't quite understand all the "code" discussions on the group. Is there a way to view some codes on the dash, or do I need to buy/rent a scanner?

 

Well, It's not really so much of a guess as an assumtion, or let's say "Educated Guess". They have been popping up on Ebay every so often selling a slightly inferior model of Van Aaken. I have read that since they came out with the V5, there are those older, "R" type boxes for sale at reduced prices. I have pondered getting one myself more than once. With my pointer hovering over the "Buy it Now" button. After some reading, I decided against it, as the newer version doesn't plug directly into the pump harness (I have a little warranty left).

From what I understand (no personal experience) the Van Aaken dosen't run the VP44 outside of normal parameters, but my feeling is, once you tamper with the harness on the back of the pump, your on your own.

I also have no experience with Valley Fuel, for all I know they could be stand up guys. I just decided I would wait a while and get the V-5 instead of the other one.

Good Luck, I would start with VA though, see if they can nip it in the bud for you.


Does your box have a metal casing or Plastic?

 

I have one and you are welcome to it...I am about 30 min from that filling station on 26 also autozone will usually have them and check your codes for free

 

I think on a 99 you do need a scanner. Have a Auto Zone parts store around you? They'll do it for free.
The one you DON'T want to see is the P0216, $50.00 says you got it.

Wish we had Bio near me.

 

yip on 99 you do need a scanner...key cycle does nothing.

IF you do need a VP do not buy one with out talkign to me first. I amy be able to help you out some

 

Thanks for the feedback guys.. The closest AutoZone is about 25 minutes away.. I'll find time this week to get out there and post the results.

Pete

ps.. the housing for my unit is plastic.

 

I got my VA box from Valley fuel also e few months ago. They sent me the plastic cased one first, but did exchanged it for the metal case with the boost fooler. I hove this wasn't a VA problem.

 

I also got mine from Valley Fuel. I have been having some problems with mine also. Did you call them and tell them you wanted one with a metal case? Mine is a plastic case. When I contacted them after I started to have problems with the box, they told me that everything had to be done through VA. So I sent VA an e-mail and I still havent heard back from them. That was about 2 weeks ago.

 

When I first got it I contacted him becaues the plastic case did not plug into the map sensor. It took ~2 weeks, but they swapped it out.

 

The boxes that Valley Fuel are selling are OLD boxes. The metal enclosure hasn't been used in over 4 years. Most of them have just been refreshed to look like new and are actually used.