Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) crank, fire, quit...crank, fire, quit...crank, fire, quit

[Tomscreek]

Well, that's what it sounded like the other day when I tried to start it at about 10 degrees outside. It would crank over, fire and quit. Did that about 6 times before it finally stayed running. 10 degrees really isn't that cold and I was starting to get a little worried. Any ideas?

 

[wyosteve]

tom, do you have a fuel pressure gauge? If not, the lift pump could be fried. Then the VP44 has to pull all the fuel from the tank thru the filter and with it being relatively cold, the fuel doesn't flow as easily so the VP may not be able to pull enough to fire it up. Or, the filter could be plugged to some degree. Might try changing it.

 

[Tomscreek]

That was my concern, the lift pump. I've got 55,000. miles on the original. No, I don't have a FP gauge either. I don't remember it ever doing that before. I'm almost positive the fuel filter is good as I just changed it recently and I get fuel exclusively at one truck stop and the filters have always looked like brand new whenever I change them. May have to have the dealer check the lift pump I guess.

 

[csevers]

Once you got it running were the headlights dimming, could you hear the egine rpm drop a little due to the load of the intake heater coming on? You may have a heater relay not working.



Craig

 

[Tomscreek]

thanks but no it's not the heater grid, it's working ok

 

[Loren]

Tom,



One possibility is an intermittant failure of the hold-coil on the fuel shut-off. The fuel shut-off solenoid has a pull coil and a hold coil. The pull coil draws a lot of current and is used to initially open the fuel valve. The hold coil holds it open with a much lower current.



If the pull coil is working but the hold coil isn't, the fuel valve will open until the pull coil shuts off. This could cause the symptoms you are describing.



I would guess that the easiest way to check this out would be to have a friend start the truck while you watch the fuel valve. If it goes closed after a few seconds, that's likely your problem.



Good luck.



Loren

 

[DMC]

Toms Creek : I assume you are laying your foot on the pedal to feather the throttle a little. If not you may have some water in your fuel filter. This all assumes you are running treated fuel.

The temperature hear gets into the teens here every know and then and when it does I ussually feather the throttle just enough to make it run smooth, Ussually around 800-900 rpms. Hold these rpms for a about 20 - 30 seconds, then the truck ussually idles on its own. However I have throttle stick and set the rpms at 1000 and let the truck run for about 5 min before taking off and driving it in such a way that keeps the rpms to a minimum until I see at least 140* on the temp gauge.





Good Luck



Don