engine stumbles, died

[jbucha4]

i was accelerating earlier and the truck stumbled, so i put it back in neutral and then in gear again with no problems. Later on i was idling at an intersection and the truck died on me. I had to crank it four times for it to fire. i quickly turned around and headed home to get the wifes car. Lift pump going bad maybe? Fuel injector? any ideas

 

[lmills]

I think you are on the right track. I would first check the fuel filter, then verify that you have good fuel pressure. If the lift pump has never been addressed, it is possibly failing. I would check those areas before checking injectors

 

[jbucha4]

ok to check it what would i do? do i pull the line and catch fuel and measure quantity?

 

[BK]

how did it run once it fired?

my vp44 died.

I was on the highway, came off the go pedal and as I coasted to the light at the exit ramp it died. took several times to get it restarted. Stalled while idling in the parking lot I made it to. took many tries to get it restarted, ran rough, couldn't keep an idle.

 

[jbucha4]

there weren't any codes

 

[RShipp]

Do you have any aftermarket timing or fuel box? I have seen aftermarket parts go bad and there be nothing wrong with the engine. I would unhook any if you do, and go for a test drive before I start looking at the fuel pump.

 

[scootergmc]

I vote for lift pump.

 

[jbucha4]

No everything is stock, there's 163,000 miles on the truck. So how would I test the pump

 

[DE Jeeper]

When was the last time you changed your fuel filter? If its been a while start there. I had a cloged filter with my fass and it had similar symptoms. Start with the easy stuff. Next it might be a good excuse to by some guages like a low pressure gauge. When I though my lp pump was going bad I got a fass, but it turns out the injectors were failing at 120k.



Aaron

 

[RShipp]

DE Jeeper is right. Could be a clogged fuel filter, or due to the cold, it may have moisture in it that is freezing and causing a blockage. As for testing the fuel pump, just hook a pressure gauge up to the output going into the filter housing and see what pressures you get. I'm not certain what the pressures should be. My GUESS is they should be around 20 psi.

 

[jbucha4]

i try to change my fuel filter every 10-15k miles. Its been about 3 months maybe since i changed my filter. im going to try to get one tommorrow at work but i dont want to drive my truck until i know its fixed. I first want to test the low pressure lift pump but i dont know how. i have the tools to do a injector return flow test and i have tools to swap injectors/ pull fuel tubes and block off lines

 

[BK]

My 99 didn't set any codes, with as bad as it the vp44 was.

I was told by the dealer mechanic that the newer ones are better at setting a code with a weak vp44, but still not perfect.

 

[lmills]

you can do a flow test by running the fuel line coming off the filter housing into a bucket, but the easiest thing to do would be to get a test gauge and tap into the pressure line and get a reading

 

[sag2]

Do a volume test after the filter. You want at least 400ml in ten seconds. The miller tool is 9014, but you can pull the line off the CP3 if you don't have the tool. If you do a volume test before and after the filter you just tested the filter without removing or replacing it.

 

[jbucha4]

ok i have finally have been able to get to look at my truck. I pulled off the lines going to the cp3 pump, didnt know which one so i took off each, one line had a few drips coming and the other had none. I cycled the key a few times to the on position and no fuel was really coming out of the line that had some drops coming out. when i turn the key i can hear something kicking on but i dont think its the fuel pump. is 65 or 70 degrees outside so i know its not the grid heater. im pretty sure my lift pump is out. i was wondering what line is the output on the fuel filter the one out of the bottom of the filter or the one that is at the top. ?

 

[lmills]

The one that comes out of the bottom of the filter housing and goes to the cp3 is the fuel going to the cp3 pump. The one that leaves the cp3 and goes to the banjo bolt on the front of the fuel filter housing is the fuel return going back to the tank. It removes any excess fuel that the cp3 does not use.

If you have no fuel coming out of the line that goes from the bottom of the fuel filter housing to the cp3, after bumping the starter, then the lift pump is dead. Remember you have to bump the starter, and not just turn the key to the on position. Turning the key to the on position does not always make the lift pump run.

I would either look into an aftermarket system like the airdog, fass or walbro system. You could also check Dodge Cummins and Ford Power Stroke Diesel Truck Accessories - Geno's Garage , I think they sell factory replacement fuel pumps that will bolt in place of the factory fuel canister pump.

 

[pwerwagn]

Dang, my truck did this same thing on the way home. Its sitting right in the middle of Ghetto-ville 25 miles from here. Fixing to go get it now, I hope the whole truck is still there... .



What mine did, was I was 4-wheeling, pointed downhill. It died, with about 1/8th tank. So I figured i just uncovered the pickup. It started back up, but stumbled. I got it on flat ground, and it would start and go a ways... then die. It would idle for a LONG time, but as soon as i moved it would die.



Fortunately... I made it right in the middle of the ghetto when it finally died for good.



sure hope its the lift pump or filter..... I sold the 12V friday since the 3rd gen has been fairly reliable!!!



--Jeff

 

[jbucha4]

ok I figured out its the lift pump, i bumped the starter and let it run for about 12 sec and only measured about 6. 5 fl oz, which is less than 200mL. Im going to order a new one tonight or in the morning, thanks for the help

 

[jbucha4]

Fortunately... I made it right in the middle of the ghetto when it finally died for good.

that sucks, hopefully no one messes with it

 

[pwerwagn]

Nah, i got it home safely... however now the truck runs just fine.