Those who have tapped the VP44 pump wire, how long did your
pump last after the wire tap or is it still going strong. Who here has
the most miles on a wire tapped VP44. I'm asking because I'm taking
the plunge next week, Blue Chip APB box for me

 

i think its a toss up...

im under the impression that no matter how we answer, you will be tapping the wire. just beware that things could go south...make sure you have enough money to cover any possible problems.

good luck

ps- probably not the answer you are looking for, but when it comes to VP44s i dont believe there is a definite answer.

 

The wire tap box will not be the cause of a VP44 failure but rather will precipitate an existing problem......after much research and first hand experience, it is a very common misconception that a wire tap box will somehow compromise the integrity of the VP44. In reality, what actually happened was that the first batches of VP44's were manufactured with tolerances that were too tight. This made them heat up and seize easily because of lack of lubrication. Since the wire tap box was holding the solenoid open for longer durations to move more fuel in one revolution of the pump rotor, the pump body would deflect slightly more than normal and cause rotor seizures because of manufacturing defects between the rotor to pump body clearance. These are typically problems of the past and it didn't matter if there was a wire tap or not - the wire tap simply sped up the inevitable. If you read the posts on the current VP44 failures, by far, most of them set off the 0216 DTC which signifies an electronic failure with in the VP's control module. This is unrelated to the wire tap box issue. FWIW, the Comp and VP44 get along just fine on my 98.5.

 

The 1998.5 and 1999 trucks seemed to have the most problems,
VP44's going TU within 5 minutes of tapping the wire.

2000 had much better VP44's that could handle the tap better.
2001 even better.
2002, so far the best record at surviving the wire tap.

Common thought it if the VP44 survives the first 10 minutes of the wire tap, it will survive a long time.


phox

 

I tend to believe that HEAT kills the VP, as mine and about 10 others on DTR died a week into oppressive heat waves this year. I can only hope the one the dealer replaced mine with chugs on longer than the OE one, (68,000).

 

roll a dice, i think mine may crap out soon, then its hot rod time!

 

I am not sure, but I think mine made it about 2 hours after tapping the Comp for it to head south. No codes, nothing to note other than no fuel to the injectors. Replaced with a new HRVP44, and she is running like a freight train now. Just know that when you tap the wire things could get expensive. And if your pump does go belly claim ignorance so the Mrs. does not steam too much!!

 

Since I tapped my pump wire. Still seems to be going strong.

 

i tapped mine and it's been running fine for 2-3 weeks...but the VP44 was changed before i bought the truck to hopefully a reman unit. hopefully it was an "updated" model.

 

Geez, all these pump failures are scaring me. Aren't there any "feel good"
stories out there on wire tap boxes. I mean if so many pumps are dieing
with the wire being tapped ,won't the performance box manufacturers
go out of business. What is the percentage of pump failure out there
5% , 10% or 50% I certainly would like to know.

 

mine has been tapped for almost a full year. no problems.

 

The percentage of pump failures is small....we just get to read about every one!
Re-read this (from above)...
"The 1998.5 and 1999 trucks seemed to have the most problems,
2000 had much better VP44's that could handle the tap better.
2001 even better.
2002, so far the best record at surviving the wire tap.
Common thought it if the VP44 survives the first 10 minutes of the wire tap, it will survive a long time.
phox"

Go for it. Your odds for no problems are very good...assuming a healthy pump to start with. One other thing...run it on low settings for first couple of hours. Seem to help insure success if you don't charge out the driveway...set on max HP.

RJ

 

I don't abuse my truck , so I'll leave it on the low setting for the first
couple of days then slowly increase the power. I run Power Service every
other tank. I have 58,000 miles on it with no problems other than changing
out the lift pump at 54,500. Fuel gauge 16psi idle, 14 psi cruise , 11 psi WOT.
Van Aaken V5 has been on for 8,000 miles ,very satisfied. Injectors in for
last 5,000 miles. Overall I have been very happy with my truck with no
problems and don't want to start now. I just hope I'm not tempting fate

 

Reread my first post.....I think you might be missing the point : The wire tap box does NOT CAUSE the problem.....it merely precipitates an existing one. A VP44 in normal working order will not fail as the result of a wire tap box. The box often got blamed because the VP would fail shortly after the box was installed but the reality is that the VP already had an existing problem before the box was installed and it's days were already numbered. The electronic failures of the PC board on the VP control module that typically give out the 0216 DTC death code are not related to wire tap boxes.

 

In other words, if your Comp "causes" the pump to crap out, then it was on its way out anyway.

I lost my VP at 40K with no wire tap! (I was one of the rash of failures)

You either have a good one or you don't. You won't kill a good one by tapping the wire, JUST LIKE YOU WON'T KEEP A BAD ONE ALIVE BY *NOT* TAPPING THE WIRE.

That said, your VP has "worn in" using only a certain range of travel in the slot in the distribution head. When you tap the wire, it will use up more of this slot. In other words, keep the box set low (COMP on 2xwhatever) then slowly ramp it to higher settings after about 500miles on each setting. By the time you hit level 5, you should have had the box on for 2K miles or so and the pump should shrug off the tapped wire.

At least, that's MY theory