Truck Dies

[JWTX]

Ok. It's happened twice now. The first time I just played it off as a quirk. The first time I cranked the truck and had it idling to cool the cab down when it died. This time I started up from a red light behind two big rigs. I got on the throttle, then let off when the big rigs slowed to shift, then went back to the throttle but it wan't there. The truck had died. I put the truck in neutral and re-cranked it as I coasted. Truck re-fired and drove fine after that.



Anyone else with this problem, or do I just have some evil gremlins?



Thanks

JW

 

[LightmanE300]

Are you sure theres not a ford 6. 0 under the hood?

 

[JWTX]

Well I just went out to another location and twice in a row it would stumble from a stop if you let off the throttle real quick. Like it couldn't make up its mind to die or keep running. So, I laid on it WOT till 55MPH and it didn't do it the rest of the way. When I leave and go back will be another test. It's sounding more like a TPS or cam sensor. There are no trouble lights so getting the dealer to help may be a problem.



JW

 

[Prairie Dog]

How many miles on it? If it's got 10k or more it may be time for a fuel filter (thats where the evil gremlins congregate).

 

[CATCRACKER]

fuel filter

 

[JWTX]

It's got just over 4K miles. It doesn't seem to have lost any power and didn't act up the rest of the day. I might just be paranoid but it feels like it's a little rougher at idle. Also the tach sometimes dips down to 725RPM verses the usual 750RPM. I'll try a filter change this evening just for grins.

 

[MattSt]

Check your air filter also. I'm not sure how it happened or what it was, but after 2500 miles my filter was FILLED with dirt and caused a bad stumble and power loss.



Since the filter minder is always sucked to the dead zone it wasn't exactly helping me any!

 

[4xquadrod]

If it is an auto, are you sure it is leaving in 1st as opposed to second? I have heard of an adjustment out with the trans linkage and causing stalls due to taking off in 2nd.



Steve

 

[bnewman68]

I had the same problem JWTX has. I was in Northern New Mexico, and Colorado when my problem occurred. The truck would just die at idle and sometimes would die as you leave a stop light. The problem would not happen every day. It was very disappointing to me, so I went to a dealership in Taos, NM and got a new fuel filter-still died (13,000 miles) What the problem turned out to be was a wiring harness, (Cummins control module) The check engine light also would appear at times.

PS the truck was an 03 SO 47re I have since traded for an 03 HO 48RE

 

[Elite1]

Originally posted by MattSt

Check your air filter also. I'm not sure how it happened or what it was, but after 2500 miles my filter was FILLED with dirt and caused a bad stumble and power loss.



Since the filter minder is always sucked to the dead zone it wasn't exactly helping me any!

I just checked my air filter at 9000 miles (the filter minder looked fine) I couldn't believe how dirty and gummed up it was! Changed filters and noticed a big difference in performance, quicker acceleration and the turbo spools faster. My 96' could go 20,000 easy between filter changes. I don't understand the engineers thinking when they desiged the new air filter box. They put a smaller box & filter on an engine with more HP which sucks more air. Doesn't makes sense... . BTW: the local Cummins dealership only had 1 oil filter for my 03', no air filters and no fuel filters... . had to get the air and fuel at Napa. The fuel filter sure was easy to change in comparison to the 96' I used to have!

 

[nkiewel]

I can reproduce this problem every time and I posted about it a while ago. From a stop, stomp on the throttle and let off right away. The RPMs go up to 1500, and then drop to 500, and then drop again (sometimes enough to stall). No check engine light comes on, so I doubt the dealer will find a code. I have to go to the dealer on Wednesday to pick up some parts, so I may have them check for codes anyways. I will at least show them what is happening.

 

[JWTX]

Let us know what the dealer says. I won't have time to take it in for a while. Still trying to find time to change that fuel filter.

 

[Elite1]

Originally posted by JWTX

Let us know what the dealer says. I won't have time to take it in for a while. Still trying to find time to change that fuel filter.

JW, It's only a 2 minute job!... they made it real easy on us, unscrew the canister, remove the old filter, pop in the new one, screw back in. Much much easier than the PITA fuel filter change on my old 96'. At least the engineers got this one right!

 

[JWTX]

If you have a filter on hand. I have been working late hours and the parts stores are closed when I get off. I'll have to try and stop by a store at lunch, if I get to leave my desk today.

 

[JWTX]

Changed the filter last night with a flashlight and pair of channel locks. The filter is very easy to change. I hope this fixed the problem. With only 4500 miles on the truck the filter was black! Guess I picked up a bad batch or two of fuel.



Next question: How can you tell if it is dirt or dead bacteria that clogged the filter?

 

[nkiewel]

Dealer doesn't have a clue

Well, I went to the dealer to ask them about this problem. They checked the codes and couldn't find anything. I talked the service manager into going for a ride and got the engine to do it about 6 times going around the block. He says "That's not right. " We go back to the service bay and put in the latest software. Take it around the block, still does it and now it feels like I have less power. Great fix. They are sending the case to the Cummins guys in Detroit and to the Star whoever they are support people. Maybe they can fix it, maybe they can't. It is just a little annoying and not a major issue in my opinion.



Nate

 

[JWTX]

That is the same result that I got. The Service Manager finally sent it to STAR to get help after I told him it was too dangerous. At times it will stall out to 600 rpm and then surge to 1100 rpm. At that time you better be on the brake or you will be causing a wreck. My truck almost jumped out into traffic as I was leaving the parking lot. Of course No Codes where set. After I got it back from the dealer it has somewhat straighen'd up. It hasn't done the stall/dieing thing yet. But you have to remember mine is still very intermitant. Also it stopped after I gave it a hard pull of the 5th wheel.



On a second note it is having the hard start after it is hot problem. When you do get it to start it will blow a puff of black smoke. About 30% of the time it will have a real rough idle. Hard enough to shake the entire truck.



I am waiting on word back from the dealer. Last thing I heard was to bring it back next time it does it. Let me know if you find out anything.

 

[nkiewel]

More information

After many weeks of calls to the dealer, two more stalls, and a call to DC myself, they think that they have found my stalling problem. At just under 15,000 miles, It looks as though there may be something wrong with my fuel pump. It definately seems like a fueling problem. The dealer has ordered a new fuel pump and will be replacing it next week. Maybe this is just throwing parts at the problem or maybe they are onto something, it's hard to say. They did use a mobile diagnostic tool to monitor the engine while they were recreating the problem on the road. I will post more information when I know more. An interesting note, I can now reproduce the problem at any speed when the torque converter is not locked up.



Nate

 

[catoiler]

Nate, Mine has just started doing this same thing,In the last 3 days it has died 5 times. Once it the drive through at a fast food place,then about a mile away,then no problem then here we go again!today it died and took about 15 minutes befor it would restart. Almost wished I'd kept my 02 with the vp44 at least you knew what you had!

 

[TBrennan]

Sounds like an excellent reason to have a FP gauge. That's the first thing you could look at in a no start situation.