2001 Dodge cummins 5.9

[kountryparson]

I have a 2001 Dodge cummins it has 129,000 miles on it. Runs good and I have kept it serviced. I serviced the transmission at 100,000 miles had to replace solenoid, transduce and filter. I have only driven it 29,000 miles should I change fluid and filter again. Did that back in 2010. I've heard that the transmission is the weak point of the truck. I've changed lift pump and replaced enjector pump about 1,000 miles ago. I'm thinking about traveling out west this summer. I pull a 2010 28ft. Coachmen Express some 5500 pounds.
Anything you think I should check.

[Jim2007]

Hi all... Thanks to all that commented on my diesel questions. Jim2007

[oakbowery]

My 01 had a fuel pressure gauge installed when I got it (only a month ago). The gauge reads about 11 psi idling and 8 or so when I'm pulling up a hill or accelerating. I know nothing about a diesel but from what I've read this seems a little low. Can one of you experts tell me if this is a problem? Can I increase the fuel pressure?

[bcbigfoot]

can't stress enough what others have said about fuel PSI gauge.

Check your front wheel bearings (Unit bearings ), jack axle up till wheel just leaves ground, then get a pry bar between ground and tire jump and wiggle the pry bar, check for any clunking, spin the tire and listen for any roughness or growling.

Check between rad and AC condenser (use a flashlight) for a build up of oily dirty crust that can block more than 1/2 the rad fines is very typical of 98 to 2002 trucks.

Good luck and have fun on your trip.

[Dave2001]

If you do not have them you should get a set of gauges. Monitor fuel pressure, Transmission temperature, and exhaust gas temperature (for the turbo). Your truck will run with a bad lift pump, but it will eventually kill the injection pump. Boost is also nice to monitor.
I went thru several lift pumps before I bought a Raptor fuel pump, it is an electric gear driven pump. Second generation Dodges (98-02) had problems with lift pumps. They went from motor mounted to in tank mounted and this seemed to help later models.
I also use two stroke motor oil added to my fuel at a 200:1 mixture. This helps keep the injection pump lubricated and quiets the pump and injector noise some. Some may argue this point , but I think it helps.
Make sure you follow the recommended fluid change intervals in your manual.

[KD4UPL]

Have you checked your owners' manual for the recommend service interval on your transmission when used in heavy service? I'd go by that rather then the consensus of a forum.
I would bet that it says to service the trans every 25,00 or maybe 30,000 miles when used for towing like you are doing.
It's time to get the trans serviced.

[john_bet]

My '04.5 now has over 180k. Only the water pump has been replace on engine. Trans was rebuilt at 154K as first gear was begining to slip. My steering is a rack and pinion and still tight. And my oem lift pump is still going strong at almost 11 1/2 years old. We traveled 7K miles last year to out west and back in 7 weeks without a problem. I have my trans serviced every 30K. Hooking up in morning for a short weekend trip.

[crcr]

I have a 2004.5 and I have an Insight CTS monitor plugged into the OBD port that can pull any data off the engine that the computer has. So I'm guessing that you all are suggesting that I start monitoring fuel pressure. Will that info be available from the OBD port? If so, what range should the fuel pressure run in?

Thanks for any info!

[Raften]

The lesson here is keep a close eye on your fuel pressure. I went thru five lift pumps before I installed a FASS. Got so I could change out a pump in fifteen minutes flat on my back with a headlamp at midnight in a parking lot.never a problem with the FASS and you don't have to buy the whole filter rig, just the pump. What lift pump recall, I never got a notice, not that it matters now. I have a '01.

[gtwitch]

My 99 2500 has 212K on it and atleast 50% with trailer on it (not real heavy though), 3 lift pumps and 1 VP 44 inj pump (caused by first bad lift pump and no pfuel pressure gage) Has had pressure gage since VP failure , which is abloulte necessity, NOw you can see the lift pumps apporach failure and change them!

Had the NV4500 speed fail due to a Lube failure at 202k miles. (wrong lube installed by me at 125k miles, bad on me and costly also.

Truck still runs better than new and will upll my trailers down the road and in the mountains for years to come even though the body may fall off in piles of rust and I live in Wyoming at 19% average humidity and minor salt on the roads that I travel. OH WELL!!
gtwitch in wyoming

[Jim2007]

Hi; I have a 2004 dodge 2500 diesel for a tow vehicle. It has about 103,500 miles on it. The lift pump has been replaced and I did replace the steering tie rods and other part in the steering. I have not done any work on the engine except replace the lift pump and maintenance recommended by owners booklet. The booklet states that the engine needs Adjustment of valve lash clearance at 116K. This is my first diesel truck so I am on the learning curve. Questions include: What is a adjustment of valve lash clearance? Is there other maintenance I should be doing? Seem to me that I have a lot of miles on the engine and have not had much problem. Comments welcome. 2007Jim

[path1]

We keep hearing about the weak trans also. We just did 4,000 mile trip with wives new to us trailer, 30 feet 8,000 pounds. 2001 3/4 ton auto trans 77,000 miles.

I carry the usual stuff along, (filters, extra belt etc.)


Pre-trip bought a tonneau cover from Geno's garage. Surprised how good it worked. But somethings are taller than 19 inches (top of pick up box), so the room in the bed disappeared fast. And I brought way to much stuff. Not only a hassle to carry around, also makes it hard to find stuff.

I went from the mode of: I'll bring it just in case. Somewhere that changed into, if this part breaks, I've already have one at home so I'll bring, so I won't to have to buy another. Weight added up quick. All my fluids and filters were serviced already. But did step up changing the brake fluid. Also batteries were over 11 years old. Got them tested and installed new ones.

During the trip

Had 2 problems: (that were not my fault)

One was a brass plug blew out of exhaust brake port at the exhaust fitting. Makes a big racket that you would think the world is coming to an end. Burned a hole in the insulation above trans dip stick.

Second was ABS light came on when we were going up hill not down. Turned out some ABS wires that come together right above the diff had wiggled the connection loose, sending a signal to dash light. (Thanks for reminding me, I need to fix it right. Zip tie probably not going to last all that long).

That trip was the first time I've heard the fan kick in many years. Around 100 degrees that day on the hills to Las Vegas from LA area.

No other problems and saw many same vintage, and one over 400,000 miles. Never had the pyro over 1200. Just fell in with the trucks when it got close to 1200 on the long but not so steep hills. Watched all those with mega horse power beat me to the top of the hill.

Post trip Trailer made rear end squat down about 2 1/2 inches. No big deal I thought but I am going to install air bags. Trailer is "wide body" some rain spray and a few rocks are hitting front of trailer, going to install something, not sure what yet.

And going to spend the money and get fixed what our old safety director called "just more driver distractions" things like the A/C that hasn't worked for more than 5 years and getting a new radio. Old one was stolen long, long time ago. Might even upgrade to CD versus cassette tape:B

Hope this helps, enjoy your trip

[lc0338]

kountryparson wrote:
I have a 2001 Dodge cummins it has 129,000 miles on it. Runs good and I have kept it serviced. I serviced the transmission at 100,000 miles had to replace solenoid, transduce and filter. I have only driven it 29,000 miles should I change fluid and filter again. Did that back in 2010. I've heard that the transmission is the weak point of the truck. I've changed lift pump and replaced enjector pump about 1,000 miles ago. I'm thinking about traveling out west this summer. I pull a 2010 28ft. Coachmen Express some 5500 pounds.
Anything you think I should check.

I own a 2001 3500 dodge with 5.9 diesel engine but mine is a 5 speed manual transmission. I bought it new as cab and chassis. You mentioned you replaced the lift pump and injector pump. In my opinion the weak point on my truck was the lift pump. If the lift pump gets weak and puts less than 5 psi fuel pressure to the injector pump it will destroy the injector pump. I had a fass fuel system put on with a fuel pressure gauge mounted on the steering column so I can monitor my lift pump fuel pressure. My injector pump is original, never replaced. Since injector pumps are a $2K plus cost I would make sure you have something added to monitor your lift pump pressure or you will be buying another injector pump in the not too distant future. My 01 now has about 130,000 miles on it.

[MEXICOWANDERER]

Fluid temp is ultra-critical. I use ATF-4 in the toad even though MoPar says it is optional. It's pretty hard to "wear out" transmission fluid if it hasn't been overheated. Time, by itself is not a big deal. I like to do a dipstick smear on a piece of white paper. Then place a smear next to it with same brand, new fluid. If the dipstick smear is the least bit darker or shade of color different then I schedule a service. My oil pan has a neodybdium magnet stuck to the bottom. Transmissions are mostly aluminum with bronze bushings. Steel shavings are a sign the pump is giving out. I want to know beforehand. I don't like to receive breakdown telegrams on a remote roadway.

[jwmII]

A trip out West in the summer means heat. Be sure all rubber items are up for the trip. Tires, hoses, belts, Ac fully charged, engine cooling system clean and using proper mix of coolant. New radiator cap of proper pressure rating.