Engine dies...

[hcbartlett]

2005 5.9L at 250,00 down from Missouri to South Padre Island without any difficulty. Now when I begin to accelerate at moderate rate the engine dies, every thing goes blank, no "check engine light". I drag it to the curb, put it in park, and it starts back up just fine. Radio would not come on. Heater wouldn't work; in fact occasionally it would blow cold air like AC. We changed the ignition switch. Now heater and radio work, but it still dies when I first accelerate. After I am going 20-30 mph all is well. It has never done this at speed. Is this a "warm up" problem, fuel pump problem?

 

[Darkbloodmon]

What do you mean go blank? Do you mean all electronics shut off with the engine?

If so it sounds like from what you've noted thus far you could have an electrical issue, start simple and check the batteries and the crossover cables.

 

[RogerM]

05 here as well. This may or may not be related but grounding can cause odd issues. Knowing we have cable issues I recently purchased the terminal ends from Geno’s. My terminals were corrosion free from using AGM batteries. However upon snipping factory sealed ends off, I noticed the copper inside had corrosion on both ground cables. I snipped it back as far as possible and terminated to new terminals using NO-OX. I will be ordering new cables when restocked.

 

[hcbartlett]

Yes. All electronics shut off as soon as the engine simply quits. I have cleaned both battery's pos and neg terminals and applied dielectric grease where appropriate. I am still uncertain if this is primarily an electrical or fuel problem as it disappears when the engine warms up a little.

 

[AEdelheit]

Yes. All electronics shut off as soon as the engine simply quits. I have cleaned both battery's pos and neg terminals and applied dielectric grease where appropriate. I am still uncertain if this is primarily an electrical or fuel problem as it disappears when the engine warms up a little.

Electronics would not shut off due to a fuel issue so you have an electrical issue.

 

[hcbartlett]

What electrical problem goes away when the truck warms up a little and never happens when I am at highway or city speeds?

 

[Ozymandias]

Something that is temperature sensitive, like a cold solder point or a broken board.
I guess this problem will be hard to figure out until it is totally broken.

Did you go to a dealer to read the electronics for saved faults?
I hope you didn't delete the memory with a cheap scanner.

 

[Darkbloodmon]

Yes. All electronics shut off as soon as the engine simply quits. I have cleaned both battery's pos and neg terminals and applied dielectric grease where appropriate. I am still uncertain if this is primarily an electrical or fuel problem as it disappears when the engine warms up a little.

Try doing a voltage drop test on your cross over cables. Simple stuff first make sure you're grounds and contacts are clean and secure. Check your alternator power wire, etc.

 

[AEdelheit]

What electrical problem goes away when the truck warms up a little and never happens when I am at highway or city speeds?

Along with checking all the crossover cables , contacts and what not I would look around the Power distribution center as everything goes through there or possible ignition switch since either of those 2 items could shut down everything at once.

Why it only happens when cold and not on the highway I dont know but welcome to the world of electrical quirks, Unless its the batteries not having enough capacity to maintain electrical operation when the grid heater turns on but that would be odd if it cranks fine.

 

[BigPapa]

What electrical problem goes away when the truck warms up a little and never happens when I am at highway or city speeds?

Weak batteries. When you jump it off and get it running, the batteries get charged enough that it doesn't happen.

 

[hcbartlett]

Weak batteries. When you jump it off and get it running, the batteries get charged enough that it doesn't happen.

 

[hcbartlett]

Interesting. I'll get to Oreilly's tomorrow.

 

[GCroyle]

Seems obvious to us but make sure they test each battery individually meaning disconnect a ground cable from one battery.

 

[Ozymandias]

That raises the question, how old are the batteries.

 

[RogerM]

Along with checking all the crossover cables , contacts and what not I would look around the Power distribution center as everything goes through there or possible ignition switch since either of those 2 items could shut down everything at once.

Why it only happens when cold and not on the highway I dont know but welcome to the world of electrical quirks, Unless its the batteries not having enough capacity to maintain electrical operation when the grid heater turns on but that would be odd if it cranks fine.

Sir, I actually had my factory batteries die in that manner. I had left dinner pulling out to highway and it died. Restarted and kept rpm’s up while stopped. I had new AGM diehard at home knowing mine were EOL. I figured the sudden cold and grid heater draw was the culprit. Odd but true story.

 

[hcbartlett]

New batteries (Wal Mart Easy Start) March 2018

 

[BigPapa]

New batteries (Wal Mart Easy Start) March 2018

My money says they’re bad.

 

[hcbartlett]

OReilly's says my batteries are OK. I'llget to my dealer when I get home in April. Many thanks for the help with this bizzare ptoblem

 

[BigPapa]

Did you drive the truck there and have them tested? If so, I’d suggest removing them and take them to more than one place and have them tested.

 

[sag2]

Pull the ECM off and stick it in the oven at 175°. Plug it back in and fire it up without wasting any time. Leave it off the block so it does not transfer any heat out of the ECM. Long shot but free.