Archived Big Problem- won't start

[cluckmaster]

Big Problem- hope someone has an idea or two. Last couple of weeks, my truck has been idling a little rough, wanting to stall if I don't keep a little fuel to it. Today, I was driving home from work and, pulling up to a stop light, it stalled. I coasted into the median, and started to crank on it, but I got a high screaming or whining sound and it sounded like the motor turned over really slowly twice. To get it going, I cranked on it and gave it a bunch of throttle, and it finally started to turn over faster and caught, blowing tons of black smoke. It ran incredibly rough as I pulled it into a parking lot, and tried to stall if I let off of the throttle or gave it too much. I was able to start it up the same way a couple of times, but after it stalled about the third time, it won't start back up. It doesn't whine anymore, but just cranks and cranks and blows some white smoke. Pulled intake boot off the turbo and the impellor was in good shape and turned easily, with no play in shaft. Replaced fuel lines and lift pump last summer, and the fuel heater was removed because it was leaking. Any ideads on what's going on? What are the symptoms of a bad injector pump? Thanks, and hope to hear from someone!





'97 4x4 2500 #8 plate/ straight piped/ 252k mi on truck/ 162k mi on motor/ auto/ lukes linked/ 35" MT Claws

 

[Andy Redmond]

Fuel pressure across filter? 25psi would be excellent after the filter with no more than 5 psi across the filter. Losing prime (notorious return line), overflow valve stuck open etc. A temporary fuel psi test reading would allow us to give you more feed back.



How are your batteries and starter contacts, was the starter sticking? (whining). Starter contacts can go in less than 100 miles, batteries usually last 3 yrs. min. if properly maintained.



If we know it has fuel, then ck. the shut down solenoid, it has a hold coil and a pull coil. Bump the starter and leave the key on, run out and ck. to see if it pulled up. Can you help it up further? If you helped it up, its in need of adjust. or replacement. Before replacement, assure the relay is sending voltage to the solenoid (it frequently fails). Its mounted to the firewall above the fuel filter.



Its the larger of the two relays (70 amp). If the contact in the relay is burned it can cause intermittant voltage and therefore intermittant solenoid operation. The relays can be sourced from Dodge, Foster Truck, or I can help you with one (send a pm). Hint I change about three of these to one shut down solenoid.



The AFC link could possibly be binding on the injection pump torque plate (above fuel plate on pump gov. housing) causing insufficient or excessive fueling.



The timing may have slipped. .



The governor in the pump could have problems.



Finally, I messed with a 96 auto trans 12v. that had torq. converter /transmission problems, that mimicked (sp) your malady (intermittantly). The converter had issues internally and blocked fluid flow that brought a well-uprated engine "to its knees, when in drive at idle. "



Could be none of the above, let us know what you find.



Andy