Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) '99 died, help!

[starkmr]

A friend of mine has a '99 SLT 3500 4x4 that died this morning. He went out to start it to let it warm up (11 degrees here) and said that it started running rough and then died. He got it started one more time and it ran about 30 seconds and died again. He's drained the water separator to no avail. Truck won't start now. He says he can perceive a little pressure at the filter and so thinks that the tranfer pump is fine. My inclination is that the pump has given up the ghost. Any ideas? He's checking for codes now, I'll post them when I hear back from him.

 

[kenny61]

Obvious question but does he have fuel in the tank. You can;'t go by them crappy fuel gauges

 

[blacksheepdiesel]

So, no fuel psi gauge? Need one, even if temporary.

You can test the VP and see if it will work apart from ecm and wiring. Follow the connections in post #4 of this thread https://www.turbodieselregister.com...nsmission-1998-5-2002/74018-testing-vp44.html

If the truck starts the VP is good which means the problem is ecm or other electrical. If the truck does not start check to make SURE it is getting fuel from lift pump. Also, make sure batteries can turn engine over fast enough to start. If both of these things check out then start looking at ecm and wiring.

Godspeed,
Trent

 

[starkmr]

Yes, there is fuel in the tank. No codes were thrown. I'm having him do the fuel pump tests this afternoon when he gets home from work.

 

[JLandry]

(11 degrees here)

Boy... at that temp I'd be inclined to think he might have water frozen somewhere in the fuel system or maybe the fuel filter is plugged with gelled fuel. Is that possible?



At a minimum he should open the fuel filter housing and see if it has fuel in it. If not, then at least he'll know that either the fuel supply lines are blocked or the lift pump isn't working (failed or has become plugged).



Regards,



John L.

 

[BSander]

I suspect the injection pump, they often do not throw a code when they die at start up. I suspect the lift pump was unable to supply fuel to the injectoin pump, yet as the injection pump was starving and burning up the truck ran fine. The lift pump may still "work" but is not supplying enough fuel to the injection pump. At the least this truck needs a fuel pressure gauge.

 

[DavidC]

Being it is a 99 he has two brass plugs on the top of the fuel filter, loosen one of them till it is almost out, bump the engine and the lift pump will run for 30 seconds. If the pump and fuel is ok he should see a fair amount of fuel burbling around that plug. This is how I fill the canister after a filter change. Keep some paper towels close for cleanup and keep 2 to 3 threads started on the plug. If there is a fair amount of fuel tighten the plug.



Dave