my99ram

Back on original topic. I got my truck back today. The VP44 was sent back to the diesel shop in Nebraska. They put on the BOSCH test machine and said the VP44 passed all the tests. HMMMMM. They wanted to charge me $200 to send it back but I said NO WAY, pump was only a month old. So they sent it back, my mechanic put in back in and what do you know. IT WORKED! It's a miracle, but who cares, I got my truck back..... Oh happy day.

Had to give up and take it to a trusted mechanic. He found that the new VP44 was bad. Ohm reading from the electrical on the pump was open thus the P1690 code. Timing wire bad. Waiting for a replacement or repair from the place in Nebraska. 3 weeks later and I still have no truck.

Thanks, I'll let you know what I find. Probably pump pulling time.

Anyway to check this without pulling the pump?

Sorry, I know the post was a little long, but my question was in the last part of the post. Truck ran fine until the new VP44 was installed. I didn't notice the slight miss until I stopped for the night 350 miles away. Not sure which part of the testing I should start with. I have a fuel boss mechanical fuel pump, I use 2 stroke oil, I have all the gauges. Fuel pressure 17 psi. Had no codes until new VP44. Haven't cleared codes yet.

Hi all, I need some guidance, but first my story how the problem came to be. The first part of September we went to the midwest (Iowa) from Utah with a 2700lb camper in the back. Truck was running fine. First stop in Sidney, Neraska I noticed what looked like a large wet spot on the drivers side rear wheel well cover. Looked like I ran through a puddle, but no rain or puddles insight. Checked under the hood and did not see any problem. Checked under the truck in the morning and no leaks or spots on the ground. Ok so far so good. Next stop in Lincoln, Nebraska and the wet spot had just about disappeared. Got to Altoona, Ia. and still ok. The weather all the way there was good.. Left Iowa on the 3rd and the wind was very bad. Truck was bucking a head wind all the way to Kearney, Nebraska. Stopped for the night and looked at the rear wheel area again. Major wetness there and front wheel well also. More checking and discovered diesel fuel had been spraying all over. Drips on the ground from the fuel under the frame and engine. Looked under the hood, started the engine, had the wife rev the engine while I looked for the leak. Nothing!!! Still 700 miles to go to home. Now what? I guess find a trusted shop in Kearney to look at it. Friday the 4th. Mechanic took over an hour and a half trying to find the blasted leak. Finally found it. I was coming from the middle of the back of the VP44 where the little button or electrical connector is located. You could see it just barely blowing bubbles. I guess the added workload from the headwind made it leak that much better. VP44 bad, one available in the area. He started taking the old one off to get ready for the replacement. Got a call from his supplier, the employee he talked to was wrong as he sold the last one and just shipped it out. Should have one in by the 9th. Great, labor day weekend, stranded, no place to go, no VP44! Got towed to a campground to spend the weekend. The old VP44 had 1 month left on the warranty and only 4000 miles on it, but I had no way to get a replacement for the defective one and no way to replace it myself. Ate that one. Fast forward to the 9th. Got a new one (rebuilt of course) and we were on our way ( A lot poorer though). Started great, ran fine at freeway speeds, but I noticed a little miss at idle when we stopped for the night. Started fine the next morning, but still had an occasional miss at idle. Made it home ok. Still had the miss at idle. Been busy with doctor appointments and such so the truck just sat in the garage. Went out yesterday, started the truck, still had the miss at idle. Not normal so I checked for codes and the P1690 showed up. I just know enough to be dangerous without a little (a lot) of help. What could it possibly be and what is the best way to fix it? 99 SLT 2500 Ram, 71676 original miles, fuel boss, 4 gauges, all the rest stock.

Thanks

My NAPA doesn't have this but I found this. Is it the same? https://trimantec.com/products/airtac-npc-push-to-connect-fitting-male-connector-npc1-4-3-8?variant=31806281416757&currency=USD&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=google+shopping&utm_source=Bing&utm_medium=CPC&utm_campaign=Shopping&msclkid=9f082587d71918f23d597ab93b78b62a

Stock lift pump is NOT fine! Replace ASAP. You will be sorry if you don't. Just sayin. Alan

Thanks for the replies and the info. I have a reader and will reset the code. Now hopefully I can be as lucky as Int3Man.

Update: I had a check engine light that stayed on after the truck hard started after it quit. Code P1689. Did NOT clear code. Swapped fuel pump relay with the horn relay. Truck started and ran with the check engine light still on. Bought and installed a new fuel pump relay. Started the truck and all the normal dash warning lights correctly cycled on and then off. The check engine light cycled itself off. I did NOT clear the P1689 code. Went about 12 miles turned the truck off, waited about 5 minutes, started it back up, all lights normal cycle and check engine light went off again. Did the truck reset its own 'check engine light' code? Did I fix my problem? Only time will tell I guess.

Thanks to both Dripley and IBMobile for clearing that up. So I guess my next option is to drive til it dies again or not. I am hoping for the drive option.

Yup, horn worked. I have a question concerning this article. Does this mod replace the original fuel pump relay or an addition too? I printed it out and read it but can't quite wrap the old grey matter around it, yet. More thinking needed.....

Swapped it with the horn relay. Went for a 10 mile test. No problems, ran fine. However, it started and ran fine for about 100 miles after the first time it quit before it quit the second time. I hate intermittent problems.

Where could an interested person find such a device?

Thanks, where can I get a mounting like yours?

I'll replace the relay first and report back if it works or not. Might take awhile as I don't drive the truck that much in the winter.

Ok, thanks. I see that now. However, what is a fusible link?

I have been reading your articles and have a question about the Electric Fuel Gauge article. I am taking my tap point from the top of the existing fuel canister with a needle valve. I have a mechanical gauge now, but I am going to replace it with the ISSPRO EV2. Is this far enough from the VP44 or should I go a little further away before putting the sender in? I also have a question about the W-T ground wire mod - simplified version. In the article next to the last picture there is a connection in the ground wire about 3 inches to the right of your hand. Is this the fusible link that you talk about at the end of your article? I did my ground mod using W-T's method. I didn't see the simplified method until now. Thanks, Alan

Thanks Michael, I hope my fix is easy too!

Thanks, I have done the ground mod. I did it on Sept 26th 2018. My readings before - 037.6mv and after - 017.5 mv. Thanks, Will check the wiring. That is the first thing I am going to try, then wiring next per the article DTC P1689.

Thoroughbred diesel Carter only is used for initial startup then turns off using a hobbs switch. Fuel boss then takes over.

First a little background. After my last trip of about 1200 miles I decided to upgrade my lift pump because the old (new) carter was misbehaving (again). I replace the original carter before last years 7000 mile trip, fuel filter also. Worked flawless as far as carters do. Ran about 7-9lbs FP until about 300 miles from home. Pressure went to '0' for about 10 seconds while entering the freeway and then returned to normal. When I got home I changed the fuel filter and then all was well. This year the carter went to '0' again for about a minute or so up in Sandpoint, Idaho and then came back up to 6-9 lbs. Made it back home ok and changed out the carter to a fuel boss. After changing to the fuel boss I took the truck for a test drive. I went about 1/4 of a mile and while driving about 40mph the engine shut down. I coasted to the side of the road and started the truck back up. Check engine light came on. Fuel boss gives me a constant 17 -19 fuel pressure. Ok, go to O'reily, read codes P1689, P1690. Crap, never had codes before. Checked online at other dodge sites (hadn't found this site before ordering the VP, crap) they said VP44 is bad. Crap! I figured I needed a new VP44 because I never had fuel pressure readings above 9lbs with the carter. Mostly between 7-9. Sometimes 3-4. Replaced VP44. Truck running again. Happy again. I don't use the truck much around town. Mostly for trips. I have a slide in camper. Had about 100 miles on the new VP44. Wednesday the 21st. Went to get some lumber for a stair project. On my way home, about 1/4 mile from the store and going 45 mph the truck shuts off again, engine just dies. Coast to the side of the road. Truck won't start. Wait about 5 min. Truck starts and I make it home. I park in the driveway. About 4 hours later I go to start the truck to put it in the garage. It won't start and check engine light is back on. I bought a code reader and it says P1689. Today I go to see if the truck will start. It starts right up. Starting pressure is about 7 with the carter until the fuel boss kicks in and then 17. What can I check to get to the bottom of this problem? Would it be something the fuel boss is causing or just coincidence? I have never had any problems with the truck except a bad ABS sensor in the differential and now this stumper.

Thank you very much for the quick answer. That location was the one that I was leaning toward.

Hi all, Glad to be part of this forum. I live in Roy, Utah. Just had my 70th birthday. Been retired for 10 years from the phone company. I have a 99 Ram 2500 automatic, stock, with only 65360 miles. Been having carter fuel pump issues so I upgraded to the fuel boss. Just started having the 45-60 mph in and out converter shift problems. Alan