Need help, Truck died

[Fireman]

The temp got down to 18 deg overnight, that may not be cold to some but it's cold in Alabama. I went out around 10:00 and the temp was up to 28. Cranked the truck, it seemed a little louder than usual, but it's always a little louder when it's cold. Backed out of the drive and eased on down the road, everything seemed normal, then 1/4 mile later it died. I tried several times to restart, it would crank and then die in about 2 sec. Got it back to the house and pulled out the filter (4,000 mi on it), looked normal except for 2 little pieces of ice near the bottom. Drained the filter cup, the fuel looked normal and sloshing it around I could detect 5 or 6 little water bubbles smaller than a pinhead in the bottom of the bucket. Put in a new filter, cranked the truck and it ran about 1 min before it died. Next I pulled out the manual to figgure out my next move. Check the fuel heater and the fuelheater relay. Guess what ??? There was no wire going to the fuel heater. To keep it short the fuel heater and the WIF sensor had NEVER been hooked up I finally found the plug for the fuel heater and plugged it in. Thinking I had the problem whipped I tried to crank the truck, now it won't even hit a lick. :{ I can hear the lift pump running (2 sec when switched on and about 25 sec when you bump the starter and turn the switch back to the on position) so I ASSUME that the lift pump is working properly. I can also hear the grid heater for the intake cycling. Any ideas or advice ?? Help



I also want to thank Dean Upson for going out in 5 deg weather with a flashlight and a cell phone to look under his hood to help me confirm the wire colors for the plugs I was searching for. What a guy ! Thanks Dean.



Fireman

 

[DCaswell]

Just because you can hear the lift pump doesn't mean it is actually pumping fuel, I could hear mine but the lil buggar was not moving fuel. That was @ 50k. Replaced under warranty & inj pump shortly after. Hope your luck is better than mine

 

[rbattelle]

I've never experienced this, so take this advice with a grain of salt. I think it's got something to do with the cold temps, and I think you froze something up. It's possible that Alabama doesn't have quite the right diesel blend for temps that low. Just guessing. You could either wait for the weather to warm up a little and heat the engine/fuel tank/fuel lines. Or I think PowerService makes a product that you can pour in the tank and in the filter canister to un-gel or un-freeze anything stuck in there. I think Diesel 911 does it.



Anyway, those are my suggestions... it's what I'd do if it were my truck. But like I said, this has never happened to me (yet), so I cannot speak from experience.



-Ryan

 

[Kimber]

Mine did that last year after a 10* night.

I could hear the lift pump, but it was not moving fuel. (took the filter out to watch)

I put a small electric heater under the truck and draped blankets around to block the wind at the ground. After about 2 hours fuel started moving again. My guess is ice pellets clogging the line.

 

[DGFoster]

I've never experienced this, so take this advice with a grain of salt. I think it's got something to do with the cold temps, and I think you froze something up. It's possible that Alabama doesn't have quite the right diesel blend for temps that low. Just guessing. You could either wait for the weather to warm up a little and heat the engine/fuel tank/fuel lines. Or I think PowerService makes a product that you can pour in the tank and in the filter canister to un-gel or un-freeze anything stuck in there. I think Diesel 911 does it.



Anyway, those are my suggestions... it's what I'd do if it were my truck. But like I said, this has never happened to me (yet), so I cannot speak from experience.



-Ryan

I agree with rbattelle,sounds like it has froze up on you,a little water can cause some major problems when it gets that cold.

 

[ScottBrown]

Your frozen The 911 should get you going, but you will have to work at it. If you can put it inside a heated building for 4-5 hours then crank it

 

[Fireman]

Yep, I was thinking the cold was the problem, though it's never happened before. I called the truck stop where I buy all my fuel and asked if they were buying a "winter blend" diesel, they said "Naw all's we got is diesel fuel" It has warmed up some today, so I'll try the diesel 911. Just don't want to carry it to the dealer for something stupid. I had a lift pump die on my 2nd Gen, but was still able to drive it (slowly).



Anyhow, thanks for the input. If thawing doesn't work then it is off to the dealer.



Fireman

 

[ScottBrown]

She wont let you down Remember to put a warm blanket on her before she goes nite nite. :-laf

 

[JimBeck]

need help truck died

Fuel shouldn't jelll at 18 but water could freeze in fuel.

 

[joeyou]

The temp got down to 18 deg overnight, that may not be cold to some but it's cold in Alabama. I went out around 10:00 and the temp was up to 28. Cranked the truck, it seemed a little louder than usual, but it's always a little louder when it's cold. Backed out of the drive and eased on down the road, everything seemed normal, then 1/4 mile later it died. I tried several times to restart, it would crank and then die in about 2 sec. Got it back to the house and pulled out the filter (4,000 mi on it), looked normal except for 2 little pieces of ice near the bottom. Drained the filter cup, the fuel looked normal and sloshing it around I could detect 5 or 6 little water bubbles smaller than a pinhead in the bottom of the bucket. Put in a new filter, cranked the truck and it ran about 1 min before it died. Next I pulled out the manual to figgure out my next move. Check the fuel heater and the fuelheater relay. Guess what ??? There was no wire going to the fuel heater. To keep it short the fuel heater and the WIF sensor had NEVER been hooked up I finally found the plug for the fuel heater and plugged it in. Thinking I had the problem whipped I tried to crank the truck, now it won't even hit a lick. :{ I can hear the lift pump running (2 sec when switched on and about 25 sec when you bump the starter and turn the switch back to the on position) so I ASSUME that the lift pump is working properly. I can also hear the grid heater for the intake cycling. Any ideas or advice ?? Help



I also want to thank Dean Upson for going out in 5 deg weather with a flashlight and a cell phone to look under his hood to help me confirm the wire colors for the plugs I was searching for. What a guy ! Thanks Dean.



Fireman

Sounds like you've got water in the fuel causing the surface of the filter to ice up... this can happen even though the fuel is still liquid.

 

[Casey Balvert]

Heck that puppy is not acclimatized to the COLD. She is just used to those mild southern temperatures. Bring that sucker up to Canada. Fix her right up. Make a REAL truck out of her. Hope you get her thawed out before April 16th.

 

[Dean Upson]

I also want to thank Dean Upson for going out in 5 deg weather with a flashlight and a cell phone to look under his hood to help me confirm the wire colors for the plugs I was searching for. What a guy ! Thanks Dean.



Fireman

You are more than welcome, Fireman. You shudda waited to call until this morning it was -3* . I agree with the general feeling here, ice in your Alabama fuel or just plain untreated fuel. If you know any of the people that work at the truck stop, ask them if they had any more complaints. I guess that Casey and I will have to tow you north in April . Good luck.



Dean

 

[Fireman]

Gottta love living in Alabama. Monday it never got above freezing, Tuesday it went over 60 deg. Truck still wont start. Casey called and told me that the county's CTD has had 3 lift pumps in the last year and when that little sucker dies he truck won't run at all. Anyway it is at the dealer now, soon as I hear something I'll let you guys know. Sure hope I'm not walking over the hill and through the woods to Gran,mas house this Christmas.



Fireman

 

[jnelson]

Put a jug undr the drain line and open the canister drain and bump the starter. If the fuel is squirting out like a fire hose (sorry couldnt help myself) your lp should be OK. If it trickles out - dead lp.

 

[willyslover]

add a couple gal of Kerosene to your fuel during the cold snap. . life will be good for ya