Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Truck died and won't restart

[SConklin]

I have a 2002 truck with a 12v conversion built inside and out by PDR. It's built to operate at WOT up to 4k rpm's comfortably with a stoopid pump.
I was getting on the throttle harder than usual tonight, and as soon as I let off, the rpms went to zero, and I could not restart the truck. I cracked opened and checked every single fuel line. I have good pressure, and good return fuel flow. However, neither side of any injection lines (pump side or injector side) are bleeding off any fuel when cracked open and the engine is cranked. There are no chips in the oil, and the motor is designed to be twice as stout as a standard motor anyways, so I doubt it's the motor. The only electronics that I could forsee preventing the motor from starting is the shutoff solenoid, however, it seems like a coincidence that it would have died right as I was getting into the throttle, and going fast. Or maybe I'm wrong. Is that a common issue for 12v pullers or racers (I'm fairly new to the 12v world - coming from a 24v). Otherwise, I would have to assume that it's the pump itself, but I've never heard of a PDR pump or hardly any P7100s at all for that matter, failing that often (that's why I ditched the 24v in the first place!!!).
Am I correct in assuming that it's the fuel shutoff solenoid? A relay? Fuse? What would be most probable?
Thanks,
Skyler

 

[Joe G.]

Turn the key to start. If it does not start leave the key on and check to see if the fuel solenoid has pulled up. If it has not, pull it up. It should stay up. Then turn the key to start and see what happens. If it starts then it may be the fuel solenoid relay or the hot line from the battery to the fuel solenoid. I have no idea how that is set up on your truck. On my '95 the power to the contacts of the relay is through a fusable link. I think the '98 12 valve has a fuse for that function. If the fuel solenoid does pull up then you need to look at the injection pump. The fuel solenoid lever is attached to the pump. I think it parks the rack when it's down so fuel is cut off to the plungers.

 

[KingS]

yep what he said when mine did I was wot leaving a gas station and truck died I coasted around the corner and look to se what happened call my garage mecanic and his first words were you need a new relay or shutoff soleniod he said most likley the shutoff I took a coat hanger tied the soleniod up hopped in truck started right up went up order a new one from tst and then used a old choke lever system for a week to start and stop truck till prat got there.

 

[SConklin]

I get a wait to start light and I also held up the shutoff solenoid arm (retracted up) while trying to crank the motor. Same result. It just cranks, with nothing. Now what? I'm guessing it's fuel pump related, unless I just missed something. I initially cracked every single fuel injection line, on the pump and at the injectors, and didn't even get a drip of fuel from them. So... the pump must not be firing any fuel, unless I'm missing something... Anything else electronic that could be an issue, if there's no difference between the solenoid held up or not?

Skyler

 

[SConklin]

BTW... anyone know of a good diesel shop near Ely, NV that's not afraid of a modified cummins and a stoopid pump? (I'm guessing Diesel Dynamics in Las Vegas, and Industrial Injection in Salt Lake City are the closest shops, but if anyone's got a closer option, I'd appreciate it!

Skyler

 

[Joe G.]

First of all the wait to start light has nothing to do with anything.



Did you hold up the solenoid or push it up with the key on so that it stayed up? If you were holding it up while you were cranking and it would not stay up without help then you have a fuel solenoid problem.



When you turn the key to start the fuel solenoid pulls up. It will stay up after the key returns from start to run and stay up as long as the key is on. If turning the key to start does not pull the solenoid up. Then push it up with the key on and let go. It should stay there. If you have to hold it up then there is a problem with it.

 

[Matthug]

First of all the wait to start light has nothing to do with anything.

.

Actually if it's less than 60 degrees out and the intake heater kicks on my shutoff selenoid won't kick up until the intake heater has warmed up and the wait to start light turns off. Otherwise if it's more than 60 degrees out than yeah the shutoff selenoid kicks up right away when the key is turned on.

 

[kbbt]

Same thing happened to me

Check the throttle cable linkage on the side of the injection pump, I had the key come out of the keyway, the throttle would still move but would not turn the shaft on the pump to allow any fuel in.

 

[Joe G.]

Actually if it's less than 60 degrees out and the intake heater kicks on my shutoff selenoid won't kick up until the intake heater has warmed up and the wait to start light turns off. Otherwise if it's more than 60 degrees out than yeah the shutoff selenoid kicks up right away when the key is turned on.

My '95 will crank and start regardless of outside temps at least down to 10. That's as cold as I have had it. I give it a little pedal. Turn the key and it starts right now. It's always been that way. It's less than 60 a lot where I live.

 

[SConklin]

The solenoid stays up when in the on position.

Skyler

 

[Missouri Mule]

Correct, the ignition switch supplies power to the hold up coil on the fuel shut off solenoid when in the "run" position.

The pull up coil gets power when the igntion switch is in the "start" position.

 

[pwerwagn]

Actually if it's less than 60 degrees out and the intake heater kicks on my shutoff selenoid won't kick up until the intake heater has warmed up and the wait to start light turns off. Otherwise if it's more than 60 degrees out than yeah the shutoff selenoid kicks up right away when the key is turned on.

Mine doesnt do that. Mine will start regardless of the temp, with the light on.

 

[KYOUNG]

I think your fuel pump timing slipped!!!!

 

[Matthug]

Mine doesnt do that. Mine will start regardless of the temp, with the light on.

Must be a 94' thing then, I've found a lot of things are 94' specific.

 

[pwerwagn]

I bet you're right Matt. Wonder if the first gens would start with the light on below 60*? Maybe it was a feature carried over to the first P-pumped trucks.

--Jeff

 

[Howard Durand]

As KBBT mentioned earlier, make sure that the linkage is working properly when the shutdown solenoid is pulling up and that the shaft into the pump is turning.

About the only way I could see the wait to start warning and the intake heaters preventing a start would be a dead battery. I have several times turned the ignition right to start without waiting for the heaters and the engine starts.

 

[MMcCallie]

What about the lift pump? Does it flow when cranking? Possibly a major air leak at the fuel heater? If you try using a small electric fuel pump after the lift pump/heater from a small jug of diesel, what does it do?

 

[Joe G.]

Since you have good fuel flow I think the fuel supply system is working. If you force the fuel solenoid to stay up with a piece of wire or something like that and it still will not start I think you have a P7100 problem. Hopefully, it's only slipped timing.