Attention: TDR Forum Junkies 
So there I was, driving to UTI in Rancho Cucamonga to put our Camaro-Mustang Challenge 94 Mustang on the dyno for some testing and fuel pressure adjustment. I was unable to go to the race at Willow Springs this weekend, so the driver, Brett Sciuto, was pulling the car on his Hemi Dodge Ram. I pulled up to a light, idle in neutral, and the truck died. I was shocked, but turned the key off and then back on and it started right up. Ok, maybe a fluke...
Next stop light, same problem.
Got the truck running with a little more trouble, basically floored it like you would with a flooded car, and it started. Drove that last couple miles at low speed and rpm, just waiting for it to die again.
Got to UTI to find out that it was "Stinko duh Mayonaise" and they had cancelled classes for the day.
Stood in the parking lot for about 20 minutes, truck idling, no problems.
Left UTI and headed up to Foothill to head home. Again, no problems.
Got all the way on the freeway at Foothill. Just as I was looking to merge into the next lane, no power. Engine was still turning over and steering was working, but no acceleration. Pulled over to the side of the road and started looking for problems. Checked fuses, grounds, oil level, etc. No evidence of anything wrong. Bled some fuel out of the filter in case there was some water trapped in there, etc. Everything looked good. Sat there for a while, wondering what to do, gave it a shot and... it started so I put it in gear and hit the road.
Got all the way to Summit, now in the left lane because the center median is nice and wide, the right side has a narrow shoulder with a drop-off. I figured if they were going to have to tow it, it would be better to have some more space.
Truck died in the left lane at Summit as I was slowing down for stopped cars. Died right on the spot. Some idiot in a Chevy tried to inform me that his Chevy was still running. Been there, done that. My Chevy (gas engine) was in the shop for emissions and A/C before it was a month old. Anyway, a couple guys stopped and helped me push the hernia generating beast onto the shoulder. I called Roadside Assistance and they told me that I would have to have the truck towed to Ontario. I was not very interested in having the truck at a dealer I don't know 60 miles from the house. I told them to send the tow truck and if my truck started, I would get it as close to Victorville as I could.
I sat on the shoulder and listened to the Bill Handel (Handel on the Law, KFI 640 AM) podcast. That took about an hour. I was getting impatient and decided to see if the truck would start. Sure enough, and we're off and running again.
I see the tow truck on the other side of the freeway and call his company to let him know to turn around. I got the truck all the way up the Cajon pass and to 7th Street before it died again. It actually died on the freeway, but I managed to coast it onto the offramp.
The tow truck showed up about 5 minutes later and towed me in.
From conversations I have had, it would appear I am now a member of the lift pump club. I am hoping that I can convince them to replace the valve cover gasket and injection pump at the same time.
I was quoted a $100 deductible, but according to D/C, the Cummins only has deductible after 5 years, so I will be talking to them about that today.
I originally thought that the H. O. motors had a new lift pump design. Guess I was wrong.
Next stop light, same problem.
Got the truck running with a little more trouble, basically floored it like you would with a flooded car, and it started. Drove that last couple miles at low speed and rpm, just waiting for it to die again.
Got to UTI to find out that it was "Stinko duh Mayonaise" and they had cancelled classes for the day.
Stood in the parking lot for about 20 minutes, truck idling, no problems.
Left UTI and headed up to Foothill to head home. Again, no problems.
Got all the way on the freeway at Foothill. Just as I was looking to merge into the next lane, no power. Engine was still turning over and steering was working, but no acceleration. Pulled over to the side of the road and started looking for problems. Checked fuses, grounds, oil level, etc. No evidence of anything wrong. Bled some fuel out of the filter in case there was some water trapped in there, etc. Everything looked good. Sat there for a while, wondering what to do, gave it a shot and... it started so I put it in gear and hit the road.
Got all the way to Summit, now in the left lane because the center median is nice and wide, the right side has a narrow shoulder with a drop-off. I figured if they were going to have to tow it, it would be better to have some more space.
Truck died in the left lane at Summit as I was slowing down for stopped cars. Died right on the spot. Some idiot in a Chevy tried to inform me that his Chevy was still running. Been there, done that. My Chevy (gas engine) was in the shop for emissions and A/C before it was a month old. Anyway, a couple guys stopped and helped me push the hernia generating beast onto the shoulder. I called Roadside Assistance and they told me that I would have to have the truck towed to Ontario. I was not very interested in having the truck at a dealer I don't know 60 miles from the house. I told them to send the tow truck and if my truck started, I would get it as close to Victorville as I could.
I sat on the shoulder and listened to the Bill Handel (Handel on the Law, KFI 640 AM) podcast. That took about an hour. I was getting impatient and decided to see if the truck would start. Sure enough, and we're off and running again.
I see the tow truck on the other side of the freeway and call his company to let him know to turn around. I got the truck all the way up the Cajon pass and to 7th Street before it died again. It actually died on the freeway, but I managed to coast it onto the offramp.
The tow truck showed up about 5 minutes later and towed me in.
From conversations I have had, it would appear I am now a member of the lift pump club. I am hoping that I can convince them to replace the valve cover gasket and injection pump at the same time.
I was quoted a $100 deductible, but according to D/C, the Cummins only has deductible after 5 years, so I will be talking to them about that today.
I originally thought that the H. O. motors had a new lift pump design. Guess I was wrong.
