Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Please help with Engine cutting out!

[JCyrbok]

Was on a long road trip this weekend and had the following happen to me about 6 times.



While cruising along at 80mph/2200rpm engine would suddenly drop power and accelorator would be "dead" for about 5 seconds each time. Tach appears to stay at engine RPM and engine does not sound like it slows. each time it occured it occured very near the 80mph/2200rpm point. When it occurs the pedal does nothing regardless of input and the power comes back just as quick as it goes away.



No smoke, no MIL/chimes, Codes PCU1693 and ECM0216 are set, but I think they are "left" over from last total lift pump failure a month ago.



When the cut out occurs FP , EGT and Boost are normal for my speed. Here were/are my initial thoughs.



1) Bad fuel/fuel gelling: It had gotten quite a bit colder as I was driving and this was my first though, except it started 2 hours into my trip and only occured in a narrow "window" .

2) Fear that my VP may be on the way out: started to notice a pulsating noise that I could not pinpoint but sounds like from the driver/front of engine. This noise starts at aprox 1850rpms and increases in freqency as engine speed increases/goes away when let up on accelorator.

3) Some kind of transmission problem: Noticed on return trip that when I aprubtly let up off of accelorator and the Torque convertor un-locked, and then back to accelorator and it re-locked, the feeling was very close to the feeling when the engine cut out.

4) Problem with Fuel box, which I will take off today and see it it has any effect tommorw.



On the return trip truck ran great, no problems, even started in 2 deg weather with out being plugged in over night. I had filled up the tank prior to leaving yesterday at my regular station and added Standyne like always.

Fueled up when I arrived in Traverse City and double dosed the Standyne, just in case it was water and/or gelling and to protect the VP.



Was not able to test the 80mph/2200rpm "trigger" on the way home though due to snow, ice and wind the ENTIRE way. Truck ran with out a single stumble though.



Any help/ideas would be appreciated, I'm starting to get tired of the " See I told you ,you didnt need a $35,000 truck" look from my wife (even though its not that often)when something goes wrong with my truck.



Thanks again and all ideas will be appreciated,

J-

 

[Huff N Puff]

Check the fuel filter,It also sounds like the TPS could be glitching. I'm not certain but I think the converter should unlock when you decel.

 

[JCyrbok]

Yeah TC should un-lock when u decelerate, but when the cut out was occuring, I was either slightly accelorating, or maintaining steady, but the feel was like when the TC un-locks then relocks.



I'll check the fuel filter too, and drain off any water. But I would think that if it was the filter the problem would not intermintant or association with a speed/rpm, but I could be wrong. Thanks for the ideas HnP.



Thanks

J-

 

[Huff N Puff]

The converter locking & unlocking is another reason to check the TPS.

 

[Scott Elliott]

I am not a mechanic, but that sounds similar to what my truck was doing two months ago (I have a 5 speed). I would be going down hill in gear with no load when the engine would bog down. When I lightly (or not) applied the pedal, I got no response. After about five seconds, it returned to normal but poured out blue smoke. It had been doing this for about two months and getting worse. It did it at 70-80 mph (approx. 2000-2200 rpm's. ) I had codes P1693 and 0216. My fuel filter was new/clean. I took it to the dealer and the VP was replaced under warranty. They said my LP was good, based on flow rate, but my FP gauge was at 0 at wot, so I just had it replaced elsewhere on my own dime.

 

[cerberusiam]

Reset the APPS and see if that will help. Get your codes cleared also so you can be sure what is being thrown. The P0216 code is a pump timing failure (VE) and the other is a companion code which some times is a good indication the VE is on its way out. Had roughly the same thing happen and fought it for 2 weeks before we got it to throw enogh codes to determine the pump was bad. Do a search on "dead pedal" and see what you get back for results.

 

[JCyrbok]

Thanks for the info guys, although the likelyhood of the VP being bad is not what I wanted to hear. I only have 42,000 miles on my truck and would hate for a major componet to fail this "soon" after rolling off the showroom floor. Good thing is engine warranty is still there, bad thing is dealer will have to work on the truck!.



Thanks again

J-

 

[JCyrbok]

Update

Took my Diesel Dynamics True Torque box off and truck runs fine now, no pulsating noise and I cant get the problem to repeat either. But I can really tell the difference between with and with out the box on!



The box is less then 1. 5 years old, anyone know if there is a warranty or how DD is to deal with on a bad box?



Thanks

J-

 

[SnoKing]

Did you have the ground for the box going straight to the battery neg post. If not, you might want to try it again grounded that way. SNOKING

 

[Fishin Guide]

I do not believe that particular box has a seperate ground. If I am wrong, please ignore me.



Dave

 

[JCyrbok]

Nope no seperate ground. Its basically an Edge EZ distrubted under the Diesel Dynamics "brand" even has an Edge EZ serial number and built on date tag on the back. Hooks to the ECM plug and MAP sensor plug.



ANyone know how DD is with dealing with a bad box?



Thanks

J-

 

[Ram4Sam]

They did right by me....

J, a couple of years ago, I had a bad miss and suspected my box was bad. Mine was about the same age as yours. I called DD and they had me double check the connections, and after no improvement, sent me a new box with no hassles.

They sent me a new one first and I sent the old one back in the same box the new one came in. They didn't even want my credit card info to insure that I would send the old one back. I have bought from them a couple of times and have always been treated great.



Sam

 

[JCyrbok]

Cool thnx Sam, that is good to hear. I have always heard great things about DD and have never had any problems with them, but have never had any trouble this "big" (read expensive). I would hate to be out close to $500 for less than 1. 5 years worth of use, thats not a very good return in my opinion.



Thanks for the info, I'll be getting ahold of DD after the holidays.



Thanks

J-

 

[2-ND TIME]

Pleased with

Boy it is sure good to here of companies that treat one like that. Sure wish that I could find someone that could fix this 99 JUNK of mine since NEW OUT OF THE BOX !!!! :-{}

 

[Beast2B]

Keith Locklier (KLocklier on TDR) works for DD and checks out the site. Great guy to work with, ditto the good dealings with DD from me, too.

 

[AutomationJoe]

I am having the exact same problem with my truck now. Dead Pedal, Cyclic Sound that changes frequency with RPM and the problem comes and goes like a little gremlin in the engine.

I don't however, have any type of performance box on the engine.

The Injection Pump Timing code is set, but the deal says that I have had 255 good starts since the code was set and they can't warranty the pump until they can get the pump to repeat the same problem in the shop.

So far no luck with that.



If my hunch is right, your problem may still be lurking around.

Let me know if you find out what this problem is. I would really like to get rid of the gremlins ASAP.



Good Luck!!

 

[JCyrbok]

Thnx for the info Joe, sounds like the same problem, and sounds like the injection pump. I still think that my box had something to do with it, because it started after box was installed and stopped when it was removed. I tried like hell to get the problem to replicate yesterday with out the box and could not get any part of the problem to occur let alone the whole problem. I ran back and forth a couple of times up and down the highway to Cabelas, about a 40mile round trip for me and I did it twice, as hard as I could, with no problem.



Thanks

J-

 

[BarryG]

J:

That is what my truck was doing when my vp went out. I also took my ez off and could not get it to do it and then it did do it with out the box. Started doing it more frequently as well. After several trips to the dealer because they "could not duplicate" they finally broke down and replaced the vp as it did keep setting the 216 code. The service writer said he was sure it was the pump and so did the mechanic but STAR would not authorize warranty replacement unless it continued to set the code. I called edge and voiced my concerns over the box possibly being the culprit and they said they didnt think so but they would be happy to replace it if it would make me feel better. Told them yeah I think I would feel better they sent me out a new one and a call tag to send back the old one. Top notch service, have heard the same about DD's service.

 

[cpeters]

I also had a problem when running at 80 plus mph with a load, truck would cut back to 7psi and lose speed. If I pushed in the clutch and let it idle 5sec it would come right back full steam. Had 0216 code and took off va box at my mech recommendation and have been trying to reproduce for 30,000 miles slow miles with out a problems. box had 5yrs/150,000 miles and served me well.