12 Valve Lost fuel on the overpass

[RogerKinney]

I have had the fuel heater plug melt on two different trucks and suck air through the plug. You can't see it melted until you unplug it. I filled the plug with silicone on one to get it home, and then removed the heater altogether once in the shop. The heater is not really ever needed. It about drove me crazy figuring this out, exact same symptoms yours has.

Thanks for sharing your experience with the heater plug. That heater seems more trouble than it's worth.
Can you elaborate on the description of the "plug"? Where is that located in the heater mechanism?
Looking forward to finding this plug!

 

[RogerKinney]

Did you make it home, have to get it towed?

Yeah would try some of the basics one more go round. Def makes a different sound when it's done, and yes you finger might just feel like it's going to fall off.

Pre-filter screen is super easy to pull off and look at that one.

 

[RogerKinney]

Home is 12 miles up the road. Son came to pick me up. Loaned me his car for my trips to go work on the truck.
Fortunately, AAA Premium is good for free tow up to 200 miles.
A friend will pull the trailer home.
Sure do appreciate the help from the forum.

 

[STeichert]

It is the electrical plug that goes into the heater itself. It is just above the lift pump and is part of the unit that you remove the screen to clean. The heater is a black plastic donut shaped piece that sandwiches between the screen and the bottom cap.
My truck was a 96 also and just died while driving just like what happened to you. The heater can be removed permanently, and you just put the cap on without the heater, but on the road I just put the silicone in the connection and left it unplugged. Truck ran great like that.

 

[BigPapa]

To remove the heater, first remove the bowl and the screen. Then you'll need an allen wrench to remove the adapter that holds the heater in. After removing the adapter and the heater, put the bowl and screen back on and you're done.

 

[RogerKinney]

It is the electrical plug that goes into the heater itself. It is just above the lift pump and is part of the unit that you remove the screen to clean. The heater is a black plastic donut shaped piece that sandwiches between the screen and the bottom cap.
My truck was a 96 also and just died while driving just like what happened to you. The heater can be removed permanently, and you just put the cap on without the heater, but on the road I just put the silicone in the connection and left it unplugged. Truck ran great like that.

OK, thanks! I'm off to check it out!

 

[RogerKinney]

To remove the heater, first remove the bowl and the screen. Then you'll need an allen wrench to remove the adapter that holds the heater in. After removing the adapter and the heater, put the bowl and screen back on and you're done.

Very good! Appreciate the sequence and detail. Can't wait to get after this. I miss my truck.

 

[GrantP]

Have you tried cracking an injector line open to bleed it? Slightly loosen a line at the injector (do not remove it) and crank until fuel comes out. Retighten and start.

 

[BigPapa]

I've never cracked a line on a 2nd Gen 12-valve. Asking for trouble reseating it if you ask me.

 

[RogerKinney]

It is the electrical plug that goes into the heater itself. It is just above the lift pump and is part of the unit that you remove the screen to clean. The heater is a black plastic donut shaped piece that sandwiches between the screen and the bottom cap.
My truck was a 96 also and just died while driving just like what happened to you. The heater can be removed permanently, and you just put the cap on without the heater, but on the road I just put the silicone in the connection and left it unplugged. Truck ran great like that.

 

[RogerKinney]

Plugging the fuel heater electrical connection with silicone worked! Truck fired up pretty rough, then smoothed out to normal idle. Drove it home, ran like a champ as usual.
Huge thanks to all who shared their wisdom to narrow down the problem. I learned many good tips that I can share with others.
Thanks guys! I am forever grateful.

 

[Timd32]

Edited...

I have deleted the heater deal, you need a Allen set for that, there is a small screw deal that unscrews then toss the heater, then screw back in the threaded deal and toss the cover back on.

 

[BigPapa]

Glad you got it home. Mr. Teichert is your hero.

 

[BigPapa]

We're you able to test the output psi or flow of the Lift Pump?

Just an FYI, these pages you've posted are of a 1st Gen VE engine. The OP has a '96.

 

[Timd32]

Double post.

 

[Timd32]

That's pretty wild it would shut the truck down while driving being on the input side of the lift pump.

I was still on page 1 of the thread missed the silicone deal.

Will delete that last post.

Not the first or last fuel heater to be tossed.

 

[STeichert]

I'm so glad it worked! Mine did it on the road while in Ely Nv. Lucky it was in town and not on the desert. It was years ago, but someone here on TDR told me to check the plug and sure enough when I unplugged it it was melted. Big Papa thanks for the more clear instructions on how to remove it, It's been to long and I couldn't remember the exact process.

 

[STeichert]

I'm so glad it worked! Mine did it on the road while in Ely Nv. Lucky it was in town and not on the desert. It was years ago, but someone here on TDR told me to check the plug and sure enough when I unplugged it it was melted. Big Papa thanks for the more clear instructions on how to remove it, It's been to long and I couldn't remember the exact process.