MtnCamper

Last night, cruising to Denver, (75 or 80) I was kicked backed listing to my new exhaust system. Radio is set low.... All is good, right?

ALL of a sudden I am sucking wind and no power, check gauges .... temp dropping! Check tach ..... It's heading to zero! BLUE smoke is pouring out of the pipe.

Coast to the side of the road, and checked the codes, Guess what? P0216! Also P1693 code.

Called a roadside assistance and they had a flat bed out in half an hour. Now at the dealer, just waiting for him to call, and tell me what I think I already know.

duallydave

did you fuel presure drop to?or was it low to begin with?your still under waranty rite?hope so.sorry to hear that

duallydave

hope you took off the ez before the dealer sees it,they will blame it for sure.

MtnCamper

Amazing part is, I was just talking to my parts guy, about where I could add a fuel gauge. My A pillar is full. And I wanted it to look right. Like 2 days ago! So i don't know about the fuel pressure.

I have 75K miles on the truck. It SHOULD be covered.

MtnCamper

Ya I pulled it off, and had the originail data plug in the truck. So I capped that back to stock too. Also had just gotten a new fuse box cover, So I replaced the velcroed one with the new one. They may ask me about it, But I never had one!

Good thing the DW has a big purse!

duallydave

some dealers are more relaxed than otheres.let us know how it works out.cant believe dodge hasnt put a low presure warning lite in the dash.must be some kind of consperisy.

MtnCamper

Ok, I got a call from the dealer where my truck was towed to. Here’s the scoop.

My Fuel Level Sending unit, was sending a signal to the gauge that I had between ¼ and 3/8 of a tank of fuel. BUT I had none. In effect I ran out of fuel.

One thing I don’t understand is the code 216, Which is the Fuel Injection Pump, took a dump code. I would think if it ran out, I wouldn’t get the code.

Anyway, I have an extended warranty contract, BUT it only pays for the repair where I bought the truck. So at my expense, I’m having the truck moved tonight to the selling dealer. Plus I have to pay the diagnostic charges at the first dealer.

Go news (or bad depending on how you look at it) is my injection pump and lift pump are OK. I’m almost wishing the pump was indeed bad, so I could have gotten it replaced under the warranty.

But the truck will go to the dealer tonight and they will also diagnosis it again, so stay tuned.

tool

Well, you jusyt might have gotten yourself one step closer to a new pump.

The VP does not like being run dry..... definitely won't do it any good.

The sending unit/ fuel gauge is set up so that it will read empty when there are in fact several gallons left in the tank.

1. so you don't run it dry

2. because that added volume of fuel helps keep the VP cool due to the fuel being constantly returned to the tank. The more fuel in the tank, the cooler the pump,


Some people have experienced the VP death code from plugged filters and other fuel starvation scenarios. This may be your case.

duallydave

if the first dealer clears the codes and they come back you will soon know if the pump is bad.

Tom Bolitho

The VP-44 uses the incoming fuel pressure to adjust the timing. If you lose fuel flow it will set a 0216 code. It is the first step to losing the VP-44. I plugged a fuel filter and set the 0216 code. It was 35,000 miles later I lost the VP-44.

MtnCamper

Here's the outcome..... New

MODUL KIT-FUEL PUMP/LEVEL p/n 4897668AF $437.50
Labor $138.06

I have the extended warranty, so it cost me $100 + 5 gals of fuel. Truck seems to run Ok, I off now to put the box back on it.