Sean Betts

What brand is suggested and any place you would recommend buying one from?

Problem solved.... I broke down and took the truck to a local shop. The issue was the ECU was stuck in limp mode. The shop used a higher end scanner to reset the ECU and now the truck is running like a top. I hope that this will help others that might run into the same issue. This was the cheapest trip to a mechanic that I ever had. I found out also that I need to upgrade my lift pump. I thought that the 2 pumps was plenty but WOT the truck is dropping down to 1-2 PSI. Thank you so much for all the help and advice.

I wanted to say thank you to everyone that has replied. This is cool that you all are helping strangers out. Everyone has been really cool and helpful. I am glad that I found this group. Mopar1973man thank you for creating and maintaining this forum. I checked out some of your other videos on YouTube. That’s a cool hyrdo setup.

Hi CMS, great minds think alike. Yes I used my air compressor and blew out the lines from the lift pump back. I inspected the inbound and return lines to the VP for any signs of crud silt or sand. Nothing.. They were exceptionally clean. I even caught the fuel that drains out in a glass pickle jar for inspection. There was nothing visible even when held up to a bright light. Also used a Harbor Freight thermometer gun and checked the cylinders. They were all within 50 or so degrees of each other. Tested right after start up. Tested after 10 minutes of idle. Tested with foot on the break simulating a medium load. I also did this to test the integrity of my EGT gauge that I added. About the filter cleaning the mud fuel. Either my ex-friend was right... Or the 4 new filters that lasted an average of 25 miles each cleaned up the mess. Has anyone experienced contaminated fuel? What are the symptoms?

Ed would you mind telling me where the crossover tube filters are located? Google was not much help for me today.

I forgot to mention... After loaning it to the ex-friend.... In part of my troubleshooting. I changed the lift pump again "still stock". Then I added gauges. At idle 20 PSI under heavy load, pressure would drop to 1 PSI. Too low for the VP. So I added a 2nd high volume rotary pump to the frame. Running 25-27 psi Idle cold and 10-12 PSI under heavy load. It's a getto set up but it is cheap and works. After all the other troubleshooting and still having no power... I pulled off the bed and inspected the tank. The fuel and the tank are shockingly clean. The plastic strainer in the tank was clean. As for the fuel filter. No pree-filter. I run Wix for the normal filter. I think they are rated at 5 microns?

Total miles ~3,000 in last 24 months. The truck has so little power it's just about unusable.

Did a blow by test and nothing at all. Just like its brand new.

It is p217. The temp gauge works.

@LiveOak Ya I'm not loaning it out to anyone again. I'm a slow learner.

The only codes are P1693 P0217

No ECU codes. Will double check soon with the key trick. VP pump is 2 years old. Truck has been such a dog the new VP only has about 4k miles on it.

Gauges Tranny temp. Lift pump pressure and turbo boost. Hammering on it I get 19 LBS Boost.

I agree with wild and free check the fan clutch. Your handshaking on the steering wheel.... To be safe, you should check your wheel bearings. Let me know if you need instructions on how to do this... Also for safety check your U-joints however your mileage would make me think they are good. You can do the quick forward reverse forward reverse and listen for a clunk or some other strange sound.

This is my first time reaching out to a forum for help. So please be patient with me. My 2001 Dodge has me stumped. Sorry about being long winded. My truck right now so underpowered it is unusable. 2 years ago noticed a significant loss of power. The truck threw the VP44 code. I bought a remanufactured VP44 from alligator performance in ID & changed out the lift pump. I put on about 100 miles and everything appears normal. I then loaned my tuck to a friend to tow some stuff about 800 miles. During his trip, he received a stellar deal on some fuel from Mexico. From looking at the fuel filters I guessing it was mud mixed with a little diesel. After suspect fill up he tows about 300 miles and calls me reports huge loss of power. He also tells me about his huge score of cheap suspect diesel but everything will be okay that filter will clean it and the truck has a water sensor. At the time I thought he was just pulling my leg. 100 miles later, he calls me to tell me the truck has been sputtering for the last 30 miles the AC quit working and now the truck died. When on the phone he tries to start the truck. It starts. I asked him to check the fuel filter. He tells me he is running late and cannot afford the time to check the filter. Against my instructions, he drives the truck with empty trailer another 200 miles. When I get the truck back, I check the fuel filter. It is covered in mud & slime. I drain the little remaining diesel that’s left in the truck. It looks like muddy water. The next 100 miles I go through 4 more fuel filters. Then the filters stop plugging up and everything appears to be normal. Might be important.. ***Loss of power noticed when I get the truck back*** I don’t know if the truck overheated. It was outside Phoenix in the summer where it just died on my former friend. The truck is all stock except for gages and lift pump. I did not have gages on the truck when my friend used it. No oil in water or water in oil. No consumption of fluids. The motor has 200100 miles. Tested turbo system to 19 LBS and its good. No leaks in the intercooler or boots. When I stomp on the gas the truck the lift pump is still pushing out 10#. I think the EGT’s get a little hotter than they should be. The truck will drive empty at 75. If you put any load behind it it’s only doing 45-50 if I’m lucky. 12,000# trailer up a hill outside St George the truck would only do 12MPH. In the past same hill same load it would do 40MPH no problems. Truck starts up and runs fine. Running down the freeway occasionally it will seem like a miss for a half a second then it’s back to running normal. I think that there is a slight difference in motor sound now vs before. It seems to be using much more fuel than before. However when I get on it there is no tail tail black smoke from the exhaust. The cruise control just recently quit working. If that helps troubleshoot anything. I’m looking for ideas.