My first diesel!!

[esamuelson]

I finally got a cummins diesel truck, I have been wanting one for years. The new truck is a 1992 w350, club cab, a518, with all the normal bells and whistles! Well of course a used vehicle always has some problems so that is why I am writing. The first is I have no od!! The speedo does not work and the tps is disconnected. I believe from what I have been reading here that these two things control the od? I have the parts for the speedo ordered ( new drive and driven gears), the problem with the tps is that I have the tps but am missing what connects it to the injection pump!! I don't know if this is just a short shaft or what? I talked with 3 of the local dealers and they all gave me the " I don't have that in my book so I have no idea what that is, sorry... " If any of you guys have a used one that you want to part with or if you have a part # that I could have to order one that would be great!! I don't know why someone would have removed this unless the tps is bad and giving problems. I will have to test like one of the threads was saying and maybe I need one of these as well.



Thanks for all the help!

 

[Greenleaf]

Look in the glove box. After I ordered some new stuff I found what I needed in the glove box.



The dealer is going to be of limited help to you. Good thing you have the TDR. Otherwise, you'd be on your own. Up the creek they say.



GL

 

[tugboatphil]

Congratulations, and Welcome Aboard!!



Sorry I can't help with the part info, but stick around awhile. Someone will sooner or later.

 

[Bob Beauchaine]

Welcome aboard you will like it here - a lot of good people with excellent advise.



Bob

 

[esamuelson]

I checked the glovebox as soon as I found that the piece was missing. I cleaned the whole truck out but still did not find it. Thanks for the idea though!

 

[Philip]

It is a small bolt that threads into the TPS. Then the head goes into the throttle shaft socket.



I am not sure of the size of the bolt. The head is 10MM so I would guess the bolt is metric.



If you can post pic's of what you have so we can figure out what is missing.



I have a 93 so it should be the same. I know the parts in that setup.



Welcome to 1st gen land.

 

[1stgen4evr]

I can shed some light on the small bolt that is the connector between the TPS and the pump shaft. I took my TPS off and didn't realize that the bolt wasn't attached to anything. I lost it while driving. The bolt (fifteen cent little piece of nothing) had to be bought with the plate that the TPS mounts on. It was available five years ago for 90 dollars at the dealer. If you can find someone who has the part so you know what it looks like, you can duplicate it by fitting a proper size bolt to the TPS and pump shaft.



But read on regarding the TPS, the computer and the speedo drive. You may want to make some other approach to solving the problem. When the system works, it's transparent but when it gives problems, you can get a boat load of grief. There is a good chance that you have a computer problem that the previous owner could not/ did not solve. The info available from TDR can get you going. I assure you that you are not the first to have the problem.



Even with the correct original parts, the bolt is a poor link with the TPS. There was a post a while back regarding the fact that the nut will sometimes be loose on the bolt and give eratic performance.



James

 

[Philip]

I was at the dealer I buy parts from. We spent over 30 minutes going threw the parts manuals. Dodge does not show the bolt and the piece under the TPS.



I hope you only need the bolt.

 

[esamuelson]

Sorry the pictures took so long I never posted pics before, I hope this works. You can see what I have and hopefully tell me what I need. Philip was saying about how he had to buy the mounting assembly to get the correct parts. As you can see from one of the photos I have an assembly or possibly a part number on that plate. I may be able to give this to the dealer and maybe they can come up with something. I am expecting to find something else wrong and this would be the reason they removed the tps, I guess you can always hope for the best!

There are a couple of other things I need. The throttle linkage from the bellcrank? to the injection pump has 2 plastic socket ends on it that fit over and lock onto the ball studs. The problem is the plastic sockets are worn out and not locking on properly, my dealer says you have to buy the whole round and handed me some rod that was twice to long and z shaped not straight. Can you buy those socket ends somewhere else?

I also need new exhaust from the turbo back. Should I get stock, 4 inch the whole way back, muffler or no muffler???

Thanks guys!!

 

[BushWakr - RIP]

It looks like your missing the plastic "stub" that has a hole were the hex head bolt is threaded into.

Since this is an "auto trans only" part it may be a bit of a booger to find at a reasonable cost/headache.

I'll ask around the shop tomorrow and see if we have the part(s) kickin around in a "used parts" bin or something.

The hex nut that protrudes down from the TPS body and sits in the hex socket has to protrude the right amount. It can't be too much or it'll bind up when you go to insert it into the hex socket, too little and it won't "bite" enough. Pretty basic once you look at it though, so don't be nervous.



When you get to the point of installing the hex bolt keep in mind that it has to be a pretty snug fit or it will turn on you... your best to thread it in until you have just the right amount of protrusion, then, back it out a bit, apply mild loctite and thread back in... that will keep in place fairly well for you.



Here is a link with some pics on the TPS and it's proper adjustment.



http://www.piersdiesel.com/Tech1GTPS.htm



If you look here:



You'll see some pictures I have in my picture gallery... look around and you'll find some info and stuff on our pumps and parts... .



pb. .

 

[esamuelson]

Looking at the pictures on how to set the tps up it looks to me like the tps I have does not match what is in the pictures? Mine has a slotted hole in it, almost looks like the tip of a screw driver and it sounds like the one in the tech manuel is a hex head like a nut? Is that in fact what it is or am I just not seeing everything? Do you think I have the wrong tps?

 

[esamuelson]

I answered my own question. The current tps on the truck does not even bolt to the mounting bracket, the holes do not line up. So I guess I need a new tps along with engineering the linkage. They also took out the weather pack connector and soldered the wires right to the tps. Does anyone know where I can get a new connector and where is the best price for the tps? I know the dealer price was around $230 or something like that.



I really appreciate all the help you guys have given me, it is so nice finding a group of knowledgable people to talk with about a vehicle that the dealer seams to know nothing about!!

 

[dpuckett]

TPS purchase- O'Reilley auto parts (Lifetime warranty- Mom is on #4 now; same part as you pay $230 from DC), or Cummins (5ft/ 5sec warranty on most parts).



Speedo trouble- Check the wires and connections to the speed sensor. I have had troubles with the VSS going bad, and the speedo jumping all over. If yours is non-moving, I's try the wiring getting there first. Hold off on the gears unless you have already found them in need of replacement.



TPS hookup- There should be somewhere to get the plug in. Find a shop/ perts store, and go through their books. It might take a while, but you should be able to find it. I have seen the same plug in in other places on the truck. Just like the VSS and oil pressure plug ins are the same.....



Daniel

 

[1stgen4evr]

Tps

I talked with a member who installed a (ten turn) rehostat (that is what the TPS is) in the place of the TPS, mounted on the lower dash. He can control the shift point for the OD with this.



You may be able to get the OD to function at a reasonable price but lots of owners have bailed out on trying to make the original system function. If you computer IS bad, the TPS won't solve the problem. Does the alternator work, does the air work properly? IF those things are malfunctioning, you have a greater problem.



There are trucks this model in the slavage yards and the parts are available if you know what you need. Avoid the dealers like you would avoid aids. There are very few that even know about TDR much less about the correct function of the first gen system. I had my 92 at the dealer when it was in warranty and they replaced the OD in an attemp to correct the hunting. Never once looked at the computer or any of the dozen sensors that input to the computer. I have a toggle switch that I control the OD by simply fliping it on or off.



The 93 is a different story. It has never given trouble. It works flawlessly and I never think about it.



As you get to know your truck you may want to upgrade to the lockup transmission and that will require some different controls anyway. I had considered changing the 92 to manual but have reconsidered that since there is a lot of good info on the lockup and upgraded trannys that are now available.



Just some other considerations along with my two cents.



James

 

[esamuelson]

The truck seems to be charging ok, the air works, I don't know how well because it is 70 degrees out so it is a little hard to know how cold it is, but the pump kicks in. I ordered a fsm for it today so hopefully that will show me how things work and then I will understand how it all ties in. I have a couple of other dodge trucks, 73 4x4 club cab, 76 4x4 club cab, 79 4x4 club cab, but of course they are all gasers with NO computer at all. I originally thought the 1st gens were non computer controlled as well but am learning that is not all truth.

I really don't know if the od works at all I have been trying to find a way to bypass the sensors and computer just to test it. I figured once I get the speedo working (should be tomorrow!!) I can hopefully just clamp the tps at part throttle and if I am not mistaken the od should work but will not kick out when it should. Does this sound right?? When I drove the truck home on the interstate it wouldn't do more than about 60 maybe 65, with the pedal floor boarded!! So I need the od unless there is some other problem that I haven't found yet.

I really wanted a manual trans truck, mainly due to all the g. hm. trannies I burnt up. I could not seem to find one in my price range or the truck was beat. I was told the chrysler 727 was a good heavy duty trans and should hold up to the type of towing and hauling I do. One of the first things I want to do is and a trans temp gauge and keep an eye on temp, What is the normal operqting temp of these? How hot is to hot? Can you just add another cooler and keep the trans temp down or are these tyrannies just not up to the diesel?

I still need exhaust yet to get the truck pa state inspected. I am really anxious to get it on the road and drive it more but the pennies are running low and the parts list keeps growing!! Well at least I got a good truck to start with, I guess you can always build like you want it as time and money permit!!

 

[pepecat]

I have an '89 with the 727, it's my first cummins truck. I'd say the 727 adjusted well and in good shape will be fine towing, but it all depends on what you want to tow! I've had the trans temp sensor/gauge setup for a while and never seen it come past 180 F and usually it's much lower. It's always low at cruising speeds, even up hills. Constant stop and go traffic in LA on hot days I saw 180 F in the pan. But this is with a mag hytec deep transmission pan. NOt sure what the temps were before.

but you have the A518 anyway which is like a 727 with gearvendors out back of the transmission as far as I understand.



I'm not sure whether or not I have an aftermarket T. C. in in the transmission but it sure does engage nicely. I'm sure an 89% would be the best, howevever.

hope this helps.

 

[esamuelson]

I got the speedo fixed today but still have no od. I guess next I will check the voltage on the center wire on the tps and see what I get. Can someone tell me what color wire goes were or what function? There is no plug on my tps, someone soldered the wires direct to the tps and I am wondering if they wired it wrong. My cruise does not work, is that part of the tps or something different?

 

[Philip]

You need the TPS for OD to work the way the system is designed.



The orange wire with a black stripe is the return wire to the computer. It goes into the computer on the second row of terminals. Second terminal from the front end of the truck.

 

[esamuelson]

I am going to go to Radio Shack tomorrow and get a reostat and wire that in in place of the tps, and put that in the cab. I am hoping by doing this I can adjust it will I drive and see if the od will work than. If this fails to work I will have to hot wire the od to a switch and see if it works independent of the computer. Does anyone know how to do this? I did not get my service manual yet so I don't know what wires do what. Can someone tell me if the cruise goes through the computer and/or the tps? I am getting more and more concerned that I have a computer problem :{

 

[Paychk]

The cruise goes throught the computer, but not the TPS.



schematics here:



https://www.turbodieselregister.com/user_gallery/displayalbum.php?&userid=5777&albumid=678