I recently bought an upgraded vp44 from Blue chip diesel ($1600) because my original died. After installing the first pump the truck started right up and ran great for about 10 minutes, then I got a code saying injection pump timing failure. I talked to Chip and he sent me another right away. This second pump has been great for about a week. Now for some reason around 1,000 to 1,200 rpm when I mash the go petal it loses power, makes a horrible lugging sound then picks up and runs fine. I am also having trouble starting. Warm or cold it doesn't like to start on the first crank and sometimes it won't start on the the second. This doesn't happen every time I go to start it though.... about every 2-4 starts. I have 19psi to the pump, a new fuel filter, a new air filter, and no fuel leaks. I'm starting to think I got another bad VP. Does anyone have any suggestions or something I can try? Maybe something else went bad? Chip has been unavailable for the last 4 days. Any help would be appreciated!

Welcome to the family,

 

Did you recheck for codes again after this started happening again and did you try an APPS reset?

Thanks! I checked for codes with my smarty... got nothing. I reset the apps this morning and got the same result. 3 cranks to get it to fire and a nice puff of white smoke

Sounds like a vp44. I had a "brand new" one make it a hundred yards and fall on its face just like yoursMake sure all your fuel lines are tight espcially the ones on the vp44

Great.... guess I'll be fighting for another pump Monday

Any error codes on this one?

19psi all the time ? no drop ?

 

Mike isnt there a high limit to a stock VP44. I mean too much pressure ...... I think its higher than 19 though.

22-24psi if i remeber its in that range.

No reason for that high of pressure though. You only aiming to get the overflow open fully at 14 PSI under WOT. Going above 20 PSI is just risking the front VP44 seal...

 

I had one guy that was going around with a mechanical fuel pump from a 12V and running 35-40 PSI on a VP44 trying to prove a point. Yes you could go that high but your not going to gain anything. Might be unlucky and blow the front seal out of the VP44 though.

No codes yet with this pump. I have 19psi idling and around 16 with WOT. Problems keep persisting.

I guess its time to call BlueChip again. It's still under warranty.

I called Blue Chip today and we are going to talk about a pump with a brand new computer on Thursday. I hope this ends the problems!

Update: Blue Chip would not upgrade me to a pump with the new electronics, and I have given up faith on their pumps. I do appreciate that Doug is refunding my money once he sends me a core and I return the pump that has messed up timing. 

I have since purchased a pump from Industrial Injection and all of the problems have subsided! I even went about 125 miles today on the highway and some traffic and got 21mpg!

 

New Problem: The truck is randomly taking longer to fire than normal. It is usually when the truck is between 140-150 degrees.(-3 deg this morning and fired right away with short crank time & no block heater plugged in) I talked to a trusted mechanic today and he suggested checking the return line on the back of the head to see if there is air entering the system from there. Has anyone done this? I have no idea how or what I am looking for. 

Air leaks usually happen when cold espcially connector tube o-rings. Take some water and pour it on the injection pump when it acts up.

Injection pump has brand new electronics? I don't believe this will help, but I will give it a try.

Yea, the return fuel line at the back can cause what you are experiencing...

Well both Vulcan Performance and Diesel Auto Power sell pumps with NEW electronics for much less the Blue Chip.

Update: Blue Chip would not upgrade me to a pump with the new electronics, and I have given up faith on their pumps. I do appreciate that Doug is refunding my money once he sends me a core and I return the pump that has messed up timing. 

I have since purchased a pump from Industrial Injection and all of the problems have subsided! I even went about 125 miles today on the highway and some traffic and got 21mpg!

 

New Problem: The truck is randomly taking longer to fire than normal. It is usually when the truck is between 140-150 degrees.(-3 deg this morning and fired right away with short crank time & no block heater plugged in) I talked to a trusted mechanic today and he suggested checking the return line on the back of the head to see if there is air entering the system from there. Has anyone done this? I have no idea how or what I am looking for. 

 

Follow the return line off the VP to where it ties into a tee. That tee can leak and cause hard starting. There is also a line off the back of the head that ties into that tee and the sealing washers can go bad also causing the same issue, though the longer it sits the worse it gets, starting time that is and you say after sitting all night it starts ri  ght up.

Edited January 7, 201411 yr by dripley

I just thought of something. When it acts up, open the fuel fill cap and listen for a wooshing sound. Also try driving around with the cap off

What, you think he has a vacuum because of the fuel cap? If so, I dunno if that would really make a difference. My AD165 can suck the fuel tank in like its a paper bag!

What, you think he has a vacuum because of the fuel cap? If so, I dunno if that would really make a difference. My AD165 can suck the fuel tank in like its a paper bag!

i read about so many bad tank vent stories that I added my own reliable tank vent.

 

Hex, that's why you're an 'infidel' .... bad tank vent problems.......... spoken from a true truck psycologist.

Edited January 7, 201411 yr by JAG1