Archived down and out

[dustoff]

well on my way early this morning to a pig pickin, my truck left me stranded... it cranked fine this morning, no warning until it quit... was running interstate about 65, it sputtered and smoked like hell for a couple of seconds and then cut off... coasted to the side and tried to restart numerous times but no luck... it will try to crank after about 10 seconds of cranking but just smokes big time and acts like it is on one cylinder and just dies... checked all intercooler connections and they are good, no water in the filter, no fuel smell anywhere... had it towed to the dealer but do not trust them at all... . give me some things to consider... what does a bad lift pump do or anything else that comes to mind... i did change the overflow valve about a month ago and it just never seemed like it cranked as well after that... probably my imagination. . any help is appreciated...

 

[illflem]

Assuming you didn't get a bad load of fuel and the filters are clogged it sounds like an electrical problem with the fuel shut down system. The problem is rarely the shutdown solenoid but the dealer loves to replace this $300 part when the problem is just a poor connection or a $25 relay. Many times when the dealer replaces the $300 solenoid the problem is fixed only because in the process they accidentally fix the bad connection. Ask for the old solenoid if they replace it, it is probably ok. Let us know what happens, good luck.

 

[dustoff]

thanks bill... it does seem to be not getting fuel... i believe there are two relays on the firewall... are one of these fellers the culprit or as you said just a bad connection... . thanks again

 

[Missouri Mule]

Dustoff,

Yes the larger of the two relays (closest to fender) is the fuel shut off relay.

The smaller one is for the fuel heater.



What color smoke are you blowing?

If your getting smoke something besides air is getting into cylinders.

 

[dustoff]

missouriM... the smoke was a blueish white smoke. and a lot of it while try to crank after the engine had died... thanks

 

[dustoff]

dealer still has not taken the truck inside yet... being a holiday they seem busy... with my luck the problem will cost more than the truck is worth... its never anything simple... i'll keep things posted...

 

[Evan A. Beck]

Here's a couple possibilities...



Failed lift pump, allowing oil to mix with the fuel and vice versa. Check the oil level and see if it is higher than normal. Check its odor for diese fuel. I have seen left pumps fail internally, resulting in similar symptoms as yours, albeit not as bad.



Slipped timing. When you try to crank it, does it blow a lot of heavy white smoke? If it has slipped a lot, the engine will not run, but might sound like it is trying to fire. Another remote possibility is injection pump failure, but that is pretty rare. Plus, pump failures are usually gradual, not an all-of-a-sudden type of thing like on your truck.



Keep us posted!

 

[dustoff]

thanks all for the replies and there is a very embarrassing explanation on the *12 valve* forum... . thanks again and now i can spell humiliation

 

[paccool]

:-laf :-laf :-laf



Sorry to laugh Dustoff but this sounds like something I would do!



Not that I ever have , er, ah, never mind!



Stan

 

[Ram-bo]

Dustoff ----- My truck did something very similar last weekend ---- second time in two weeks (first time started bucking like crazy while towing my fifth wheel, the second time (not pulling) just cruising the interstate about 65 mph (believe it or not ----- on the way to a pig pickin )



I was advised to try disconnecting the positive battery terminals (both batteries) and let it set for about 5 minutes. This will "reset" the ECM to the factory default settings (if it's a computer problem). It worked both times for me. I need to get it checked out (trying to find the time )