Electrical Problems

[Diesel_Junkie]

Before I dive in head first, I wanted to ask if anyone has seen some common electrical problems with the speedo or fuel sender.



I have a 92 W250 with NV4500

THe cruise control never worked, but the speedo and odometer did, and then one day, I had the battery disconnected and after I put it back on, the needle just bounces occasionally. I dont know what to do other than start reading a book.



The fuel sender reads the fuel level from Full to Empty but goes to E after about 9 gallons out of 30.



Weird problems,



Just wondering if anyone has some experience with any of these, before I duplicate effort.

Thanks,

 

[AlK]

Diesel_Junkie,

I have not had any problems with the fuel sending unit. However, the speed/distance sensor has acted up. Take it off (on the 4x4 it is on the transfer case)and clean it up and make sure that the electrical connection is good and tight.

---

Al

 

[ggorremans]

Do a search in the archieves regarding your fuel sender problem. It is common. There is a home-grown fix floating around somewhere.

My truck has always had the same symptoms as yours. I just live with it.

Gary

 

[Diesel_Junkie]

HHAA

Yea I know, I have been living with it for too long now.

I used to know how much fuel I had by the milage, but now that is gone, all i have is the GPS to tell me my milage. The last thing I need is to run out of fuel on my semi-regular trip from the bay area to the sierras.

I will try the search.

Thanks,

does the speed sensor usually go bad?

 

[ggorremans]

Have not heard of much trouble with the speed sensor. Al's approach to fixing it hopefully will work for you.

Dave Fritz's RAM website used to have a fix for the fuel gauge problem, a replacement sending unit that went in the tank (if I remember correctly). Just tried to locate it on his site... could not. I probably have it in hardcopy somewhere.



Get the speedo to work, punch the trip odometer everytime you fill the tank (don't forget your diesel fuel additive) and look for a diesel truck stop around 500 miles later (that's when my LOW FUEL lite usually comes on).

Good luck

Gary

 

[Diesel_Junkie]

Id love to see that sender fix if you can find it, thanks!



I am going to give it all a shot this weekend. I just wish i didnt have to work on it as much as I do.



HHHmmmm 2003 dually crewcab cummins 6-speed... . I like the idea more each day.

 

[Frenchman]

Fuel sending unit

I have the same problem with my sender but my does come back into the loop at about 1/3 tank. when the fuel level dropped to Empty , thats exactly what it says cause as I was coming home from the mall last night it ran out of fuel. Now mind you I have 65 gals in the aux tank but with the auto transmission it does not give time to change tanks, and wouldn't you know it I didn't have tool one with me. Two hours later in 45 degrees weather my wife was a bit upset at me for running out of fuel!! Finnally my son brought me a 17 mm so I could bleed the injectors, Had it running ia less than a minute.



Was letting the fuel get low in the main tank so I could drop the tank to check the sender and now have to find out why it did not give me any warning that the fuel was that low, Usually have power problems with rough running but this time it just stopped running and went dead doing 45 mph, now that was fun with no power anything... !!!

 

[Diesel_Junkie]

My Low fuel light usually comes on at 5 gallons, it works perfectly.



I have never run mine out of fuel, but I think I read that there is a manual lever on the lift pump, and all you have to do is pump it like 30-40 times and it will flush the air out. I have installed a few 4BTs in vans, and all I had to do was pump that lever to get'em started.



I didnt get anything solved this weekend. The connection at the transfer case was not the problem.

 

[Hutchew]

Check the connections on the PCM

or ECM, whatever it's called. If you were messing around in the area of the battery. it's located behind it. The speedometer for sure and probably the fuel gauge are controlled through it. Hope you don't have a bad one, as they are anywhere from 250-275 new, from NAPA. It also controls the voltage and output of the alternator, have you noticed problems there, too?

 

[Diesel_Junkie]

I am guessing that the speedo problem is either the sensor, or a connection, or something that processes the Vehicle speed sensor signal(hopefully not the VCM.

I dont think the fuel sender goes through the VCM.

Where is the best place to get books on the truck?