John_P

---------------------------------------
C Schomer:

No offense to you Sir but FWIW, I ran "Stanadyne Performance Formula" in my 2002 Dodge CTD 24 valve when I had it and it STILL ate THREE (3) VP-44 fuel pumps in 94,000 miles! In fact, I have run that same additive in ALL five of my Dodge CTD Pickups since 1992. Unfortunately for me, the additive did not help in the 2002. One other thing the membership here should know about my VP-44 pumps is two out of the three just DIED with no low fuel pressure or other warnings at all. And I had a pusher pump on it with a constant 15-16lbs of pressure at all times. The third VP-44 pump got the dreaded P-0216 code and it was replaced before it left me on the road DEAD.
As I said, I know some guys have good luck with them, but IMHO there are two kinds of VP-44 fuel pumps:

#1.) The ones that have failed and,.......

#2.) The ones that are GOING to fail...........

wild4stangs

We were trying to avoid getting another dually due to the yearly registration and DOT inspection fees if possible. Wanted to register it as a passenger vehicle vs. commercial. Also, currently we are seasonal and are not towing the big rig at all this year... Just need to be able to haul it if I have to.. I also tow an 8k boat trailer and a Bigtex motorcycle trailer.

Pirate

I had a '99 2500 bought used with about 70K on the clock. Traded it for the '07.5 with close to 160K on it. replaced the VP44 during that time and added a FASS lift pump. Watch for the dreaded block with the bad casting (forgot the casting designation). I had it and it did crack. The truck would handle my GN loaded over 20K but the auto trans did not hold up to it. Had to rebuild the trans around 100K and it was starting to go out again when I traded.

If I was looking for an older replacement I would look at the '04 or '04.5 and stay away from the '98.5 through '01 but that is just my personal preference.

u2slow

My vote is for the 12v 5spd. Simpler the better.

Swapping to a disc axle is easier and cheaper than doing a p-pump swap.

wild4stangs

Ok guys, I purchased an 02 2500 2wd auto QC... Got a great price, and low miles, no rust southern truck. I know about the vp44 issues, and I will be installing a Fass lift pump and full gauges shortly. I looked a quite a few 12v trucks, but most of the trucks were rough...

With regards to the 47re tranny, is there anything I should be doing with the transmission to help it live the towing life. The only thing I did with my 48re was add a deep Maghitech deep tranny pan. 135k on it with no issues at all.

Don T

Looking at an 03 with 470000 km on it and wanted to know if this truck has the p44 pump.looking to sell my 95 2500 4x4 auto and get a 6 speed std trans. I tow 10500 grw fiver. help on what years i should look for in a daulie with a six speed trans. Thanks Don

John_P

------------------------------------------------------------
Don:

To answer your question Sir,.......No, a 2003 Dodge CTD CR DOES NOT have a VP-44 fuel pump. The 2003 has a Bosch CP-3 Fuel Pump which is basically a mechanical pump. Also the 2003 to new trucks have the common-rail injection system.

Don T

John_P
Thanks for that info on the pump. I just have to decide if 450000 km is going to make this truck into a money pit. Could you tell me what kind of issue I might run into! I don`t have any problems with my 2nd gen , I just wanted more comforts ,air conditioning , and power mirrors would be nice. and the 6 speed trans over my auto. I have install a billet single TC and the truck shifts nice but with all I read on here on the autos I don`t trust my 47 rh. Thanks Don

John_P

-------------------------
You are very welcome Don! I am glad I could help you out.

Don, the Bosch CP-3 Pumps are pretty tough. I don't think you will see a problem with that pump on the 2003 you are looking at. However, that truck has a lift pump" which is mounted on the left side (drivers side) of the block near the fuel filter housing. They have been troublesome and Dodge changed to an "in-tank" lift pump in 2006. They seem to fail on the 2003 due to the high temperatures there along with the constant engine vibration. You can "retrofit" the 2003 with the newer "in-tank" design and Dodge has a kit for that now.

IMHO,....the other issue that the 2003 and newer Dodge CTD CR Cummins 5.9CR Engines have is the electronically controlled injectors. The CR Injectors in the 2003 go through THREE injection "events" each time a cylinder fires. So, you can imagine why they wear out faster than those mechanical injectors in your 2nd Gen! I own a 2006 Dodge CTD CR and at 100,000 miles I had to replace my injectors after experiencing long cranking times and occcasional rough idle and running. You can do a search on line and here on DTR through our vendors but you are looking at around $300.00-$400.00 per injector to replace them. Definitely more than the injectors in a 2nd Gen!

The 6-speed transmissions in the 2003 trucks have the VERY TOUGH NV-5600which IMHO is one of if not the best manuals Dodge ever put in these trucks.
My Son has one in his 2004 and it has given him no problems whatsoever.

---------
John_P

Diesel Dave2

Seen a few CR with melted pistons...Very thight tolerence in those injectors..Need very clean fuel and change your fuel filter on a regular basis. And also heard those tuners could wipe out a CR motor..But thats only what I heard...

Don T

I`am thinking I might be better off finding a 5 or 6 speed trans for my 2nd gen. My truck works great .I`am thinking the 03 will only be problems. No wonder the local farmer offered me $15000 for my truck after I let him take it for a drive .I turned him down and last weekend he bought a 96 with a 5 speed trans. He called to say his friend would buy my truck if I decide to sell. I guess I have been spoiled with my 95 second gen 5.9

John_P

--------------
Don, I hear what you are saying! I love my 1996 Dodge CTD 12 valve too. I bought it new and it is the BEST Dodge CTD I have owned out of five.

Don't let Diesel Dave scare you about the Dodge CTD CR Trucks though. They do have some issues, but are not as bad as some say. My 2006 has a had a programmer on it for 120,000 miles with no engine issues at all.

Diesel Dave2

Not trying to scare anyone...Just seen a few CR at the shop that I use to work at, with melted pistons.Maybe we have bad diesel fuel up here,which I heard is not the best.

patdaly

Nice looking truck.

Assuming your trans is solid, the best course would be to add a Valve Body and Torque converter from a reputable company, in addition to the deep pan. Will it require both? Probably not, but my luck with Murphy hasn't been the best.

If you have done well with your 48RE for 135K, I might be tempted to do the same with the new one. I lost the TC on Brownie towing sporadically at heavy loads.........

C Schomer

It doesn't take very much to go wrong to melt a diesel piston. Didn't you see any melted pistons in any other diesels? IIRC, there were lots of them in 12Vs when so many guys were trying to keep up with Joe and Piers' dyno numbers. Craig