'97 Turbo maintenance

[MBrewer]

Hello ` My 97 3500 pulled a 5th wheel for a friend. He was hard pressed to reach 50 MPH and suggested the turbo was not spooling up as it should. The truck has been sitting for years very little use. Recommendations please. Driving around town maybe 500 miles in the past year I didn't notice low power. Thank you.

 

[NIsaacs]

We need way more info on the truck, trailer and road traveled. Transmission, gear ratio, tire size and any mods at all. Your sig says stock. A stock '97 is no speed demon with a heavy load.

 

[BigPapa]

Yes, more info is needed.

How old is your fuel filter? Change it first.

The next thing I'd look at is the air box, filter, and all associated tubing for restrictions like a mouse nest.

Look at the turbo while the tubing is off. A bit of side-to-side shaft movement is normal, just make sure the wheel doesn't contact the housing. There should be NO in-and-out shaft play.

Check your Fuel Shutoff Solenoid. Make sure the boot isn't coming apart and binding plunger travel. If the boot is disintegrating, pull it all off and make sure none of it is inside the spring. The boot isn't necessary unless you're in the rust belt. Make sure the plunger is making full travel.

All that checks out, take your fuel cap off and pull the 5th wheel and see if there's a difference. If there is, your tank vent is clogged.

Was there lots of black smoke when he couldn't get up to speed?

 

[Timd32]

Good list to start with there.

 

[MBrewer]

We need way more info on the truck, trailer and road traveled. Transmission, gear ratio, tire size and any mods at all. Your sig says stock. A stock '97 is no speed demon with a heavy load.

Thank you! - Stock truck as far as I know. the 5th wheel travel trailer was heavy, I'd say <19K, tires are stock. No mods other than a pack brake, and an empty extra tank in the bed. Driver had pressed the peddle to the floor. Road way was flat smooth.

 

[NIsaacs]

Thank you! - Stock truck as far as I know. the 5th wheel travel trailer was heavy, I'd say <19K, tires are stock. No mods other than a pack brake, and an empty extra tank in the bed. Driver had pressed the peddle to the floor. Road way was flat smooth.

The '97 3500 dually is only rated for 16k gcw w/3.54 and 18k w/4.10's auto or manual. So yes, a 19k trailer will pull the fire out. Without boost and pyro readings it will be hard to help you trouble shoot. My guess is, it is probably fine, just overloaded.

 

[MBrewer]

Yes, more info is needed.

How old is your fuel filter? Change it first.

The next thing I'd look at is the air box, filter, and all associated tubing for restrictions like a mouse nest.

Look at the turbo while the tubing is off. A bit of side-to-side shaft movement is normal, just make sure the wheel doesn't contact the housing. There should be NO in-and-out shaft play.

Check your Fuel Shutoff Solenoid. Make sure the boot isn't coming apart and binding plunger travel. If the boot is disintegrating, pull it all off and make sure none of it is inside the spring. The boot isn't necessary unless you're in the rust belt. Make sure the plunger is making full travel.

All that checks out, take your fuel cap off and pull the 5th wheel and see if there's a difference. If there is, your tank vent is clogged.

Was there lots of black smoke when he couldn't get up to speed?

Thank you
fuel filter is years old I'll check, box filter should be good, but I have mice in the area, so I'll be checking that too.
Fuel Shutoff Solenoid was replace a few years back, I will check this also.
The tank is a possible issue, A local shop replaced the unit in the main tank that sends the signal to the fuel gauge. The changed unit died soon. A while ago I was under and noticed a rather large dent in the tank. I guessed he used a jack to push the tank up, to gain access.,
The unit in the spare tank also quit sending a good signal. (they always show empty these days.)
Smoke - yes but it was not under load and cleared up after a few miles.
again Thank you

 

[MBrewer]

Good list to start with there.[/QUOTE]
Thanks

 

[MBrewer]

The '97 3500 dually is only rated for 16k gcw w/3.54 and 18k w/4.10's auto or manual. So yes, a 19k trailer will pull the fire out. Without boost and pyro readings it will be hard to help you trouble shoot. My guess is, it is probably fine, just overloaded.

Thanks - the trailer was pulled across country several times by the original owner. I pulled it several states without issues. I once intended to add gauges (long story) but didn't.
Thank you for commenting - I've given the trailer away, but may pull it one more time across the state to some vacant land the new trailer owner is purchasing, So I'll try to figure out how to get it up to speed in the future.
Thanks again