First time to post – Amateur Cummins owner.   My truck is 2001 2500 4WD Quadcab 5 speed – 4 inch MBRP exhaust with Donaldson muffler is only changes.  Truck has 115,000 miles.  I was driving in the PM (warm day) and the vehicle lost acceleration while pulling a hill in 5 gear (nothing in tow).  I pulled over and the truck never went dead. Once stopped I was able to change into 1^st and pull away with no other issues.  The truck did something similar one other time in the past with same circumstances (traveling up hill in 5^th gear) but did not have to pull over that time.  I pulled the codes out when I got home and found the following P1693, P0216.  I have been told the VP44 was the problem and would require replacement.  I have read around on this site and other forums.  I would appreciate any advice you would be willing to share.  I read something about alternator???  Thanks in advance for your time and any direction you may have!

** I do have a fuel pressure gauge and pressure was 15 psi when the issue occurred..

Your alternator is not the cause of the dead pedal. The P0216 tells me that your VP44 is having trouble with the timing piston meaning you are going to be replacing it. Not a matter of if, but a matter of when. The P1693 is a companion code meaning there is a code stored in the ECM or PCM and not much to worry about. Your dead pedal could also be from the APPS failing on your truck.

Yea the P0216 code... Mechanical failure of the injection pump on the timing piston. It seems your pump has taken on damage. I would clear the code and see if the code returns.

Also be careful of driving cause the pump may totally fail and leave you on the side of the road.

Thanks to all for the quick responses! I will have the code cleared and monitor.  Where would you buy pump and why if it is the VP44 as we all suspect?  Blue Chip, Mid-West?, NAPA?

THANKS AGAIN!

Diesel Auto Power or Vulcan Performance is my only two I deal with being they sell VP44's with a new PSG unit on top where you pay extra money at Blue Chip for new PSG, NAPA I can't confirm if the PSG is new or where they get rebuilt.

Check out Diesel Auto Power. As far as price and quality goes, they are hard to beat.

I just replaced the vp 44 on my 02 with one from Diesel auto power , it has all new electronics,rebuilt  by Industial InInjection.They also include a new return valve.They are a  very  reputable supplier.

UPDATE and a little advise requested. After a great deal of diagnostic time I have gotten Dead Pedal resolved. Ultimately you guys were spot on, VP44 was failing. I did something that I am starting to regret now.  In the process of changing the injector pump & lift pump I convinced myself that it would be a good time to improve my injectors...  Needless to say, I did and now I have ticking noise at idle. The truck runs well but the ticking or knocking at idle is worrisome.  The truck has just over 115,000 miles. I am going to adjust the valve lash now.   Do you think that could be the problem? Bad injector? Any ideas where this ticking/knocking noise would come from after injector replacement? 

Any and all advise would be greatly appreciated!!

One more piece of information to add -- Running EDGE EZ that was not connected before upgrading the injectors... I am sure that is an important piece of the puzzle.  THANKS AGAIN EVERYONE!

Pull the edge first

When installing the injectors did you tight the injector hold down first or did you tighten the crossover tube first? Correct answer is to seat the crossover tube first then tighten the injector cap then return back and tighten the cross over tube completely. Really common to get a high pressure fuel leak in the return rail creating weird issues because of tightening the injector cap first.

Thanks for the replys -- I did not do the work. But, lets assume for argument sake, that injector cap was tightened first.  How would identify the leak and/or correct the problem?