death code 1688

[deadwoodbuck]

So me and my 2000 2500 24 valve 5.9L diesel are happy listening to Alan Jackson one moment...the next I'm armstronging my truck to the side of the road...DEAD.  She turns over, no obvious hanging wire...so I get the ol lady and the 06 subby and chain line and she tows me up the street and I slide her back into berthing.  Good bud shows up with a $6000 dollar computer analyzer and delivers the bad news...code 1688 injector pump is TU.  So as a new member into the 1688 club should I...New ($2400) or remanufactured($1200)?  Do it myself...got some tools, no shop, inclination and mechanical tudes to do most...or find my reliable mechanic and help him make finish up his show room floor?  Just looking for a little guidance from my fellow 1688 club members.  Hey I got 158K out of it...

[DRobnsn]

Get one from Souce automotive in Oregon if your going to do it yourself. No tax, good shop and good guys to deal with, quick shipping. I'm sure he will recommend a reman as the company who rebuilds them pitches pumps that have worn castings. Your not really gaining anything IMHO buying new.

Do you have a fuel pressure gauge on the truck? How old is the lift pump? Is it stock?

I had mine take a dump in Wyoming on a hunt a few years back. Rip at Source automotive quickly shipped a pump to the shop I had doing the install. Had I been home I would have done it myself but I was in the middle of nowhere with not much in the way of tools. If I remember correctly it cost me about 2500 or so for the whole mess. Fortunately my truck didn't die on the road, we were scouting a few days before season and I decided to try the key on 3 times code checking trick for fun and up popped the death code. After a fiasco on the phone with several people helping me find a shop 150 miles away. I orchestrated the shipping to the shop I knew nothing about and had my hunting partner follow me to the shop to drop my truck off. I managed to get it back the day after season opened. That sucked!!! Could have been worse I suppose.

[JLS]

Once you get it done I would be for installing a fuel pressure guage, and I would check your lift pump.  The 2nd gen Dodges were notorious for losing lift pumps, which in turn would lead to the demise of the VP44.  The lift pump is an easy DIY for around $100, and the fuel pressure guage isn't too hard to do either.  Check Geno's Garage, they should be able to get you set up.

[Fowlweather25]

Go with a reman. And since youre dropping 1200 on a vp spend another 175 and get a new lift pump. Just to be safe. If youre planning on keeping the pickup you could also look into retrofitting the lift pump into the tank. A lot better for it. Also get a fp gauge. Its cheap insurance. If you dont have proper tools or are not mechanically inclined i would suggest having a shop do it. There are a couple of very important variables that need to be done correctly or youre buying another vp.

[deadwoodbuck]

I've got 10000 miles on a new lift pump.  something about sticking a pump into the fuel tank where I cannot readily access it that is odd.  sounds like I need to install a fuel pressure guage installed.  is that just going to say your dead or will I see the fuel pressure slowly going south and to take action?  Drobnson  how did you drive your rig anywhere with a injector pump down?  good information to ask about.  so it begins...not if the lift pump will need to be replaced since it is 10000miles new.  after a you tube search...think i'll let the boys in the know do the job.  thanks fellow members of the 1688 club for some great insights.  i'll let you know how it turns out.

[et1702]

Definitely reman.  I noticed that you are up in Bellingham.  I have a 2001 that the VP went out on at 105,000mi.  I had Randy's Offroad put in Marysville install a reman from BD diesel up in your neck of the woods, and it's still running strong after 175K miles.  As others have mentioned, put in a fuel pressure guage.  Loss of fuel pressure is the #1 killer of these pumps.  I also put in a FASS 95gph fuel pump.  Get rid of the stock pump mounted on the side of the engine just below the fuel filter.  They are notorious for dying at the most in opportune times.  Even if it appears to still be working, once they start to wear, fuel pressure under load drops too low and will kill your new VP.  Cheap insurance to go w/FASS or Bully Dog aftermarket fuel pump.  In fact, I think you void the warranty on the new VP, unless you install a new lift pump at same time. So, might as well get a quality one.

Good luck.

ET

[JLS]

Even if it appears to still be working, once they start to wear, fuel pressure under load drops too low and will kill your new VP. 

 

Mine would show good fuel pressure at idle, but would bottom out under throttle.  You end up starving the VP44 and putting too much of a load on it to suck fuel in, instead of pushing it.

[deadwoodbuck]

so they want to go Bocsh on the pumps...sound good?  also they can install an idiot light "cause you would pay more attention to that than a guage"...$2450.  they can do it this week.  OR...industrial injection pump, check the pressure on the lift pump and may or may not replace, check the injectors and can do either light or guage...about and depending $2700...but can't get to till next week.  interesting

[DRobnsn]

I've got 10000 miles on a new lift pump.  something about sticking a pump into the fuel tank where I cannot readily access it that is odd.  sounds like I need to install a fuel pressure guage installed.  is that just going to say your dead or will I see the fuel pressure slowly going south and to take action?  Drobnson  how did you drive your rig anywhere with a injector pump down?  good information to ask about.  so it begins...not if the lift pump will need to be replaced since it is 10000miles new.  after a you tube search...think i'll let the boys in the know do the job.  thanks fellow members of the 1688 club for some great insights.  i'll let you know how it turns out.

My truck threw the P0216 code which if I remember correctly is Injector pump internal timing failure. With this code it doesn't necessarily die but it can at any time. At the time I read your on borrowed time when the P0216 comes up. If I recall correctly Source auto gets their pumps from Oregon Fuel Injection, Rip at Source auto asked me if I had a gauge on it. Which I did he then told me to not connect my Edge box to the pump until I had 500 miles or so on it. After that go ahead and hook it up if you prefer and the warranty will still stand. Another option for you would be to buy a line kit and a new stock style pump and move it back as close to the tank as possible those pumps are made to push not pull fuel. Although if you can spring for the FASS or AIR DOG I highly recommend it.

http://sourceautomotive.biz/rebuiltboschvp44dieselinjectionpumpso.aspx

Here you go, one year warranty with a wire tap box. $1395. minus the core charge.   To me it really says something that a company will stand behind the pump with a wire tap style box. Allot of people say the wire tap boxes are hard on pumps.

Here is a few options for the line kit.   http://www.vulcanperformance.com/category-s/182.htm

[DRobnsn]

so they want to go Bocsh on the pumps...sound good?  also they can install an idiot light "cause you would pay more attention to that than a guage"...$2450.  they can do it this week.  OR...industrial injection pump, check the pressure on the lift pump and may or may not replace, check the injectors and can do either light or guage...about and depending $2700...but can't get to till next week.  interesting

Personally I like gauges over lights but I like to see exactly what is going on. I had a Dakota digital gauge set up to flash at me when it dropped below a certain pressure. The main reason I had it setup to flash was I drag raced it from time to time and its very hard to watch that while watching boost, egt gauges, launching in 4wd running the lockup converter switch and the overdrive lockout button trying to stay on the track.   

[deadwoodbuck]

so after gleaning through the great suggestions...I pulled the trigger.  I did not have the skills and tools much less a covered shop to change it out myself.  I had my Fass high capacity lift pump installed just outside the fuel tank for better pumping.  I had an idiot light for low fuel pressure installed...the guage was a $400 bill.  a new fuel filter was also added.  Northland diesel say they are the injection specialist with all the test gear, tools and could get to it in short time.  I dropped it off Monday morning and by noon on Tuesday it was done.  I had a reman Bosch injection pump installed ($1500) for a grand total of $2400.  they did a great job...so far...quick and clean.  thanks for all the suggestions that help me do the right thing.  so now all I have to do is pay for it.

[gonehuntin68]

Sorry bro just did mine about a year ago. Im sure if you have any mechanical skills you could have done it yourself, but you must of had the money, and sounds like it was done right.