Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) truck shuts off while driving

[VolsFan]

I hope this isn't something that will cost me a ton of money. It started happening to me at the beginning of last week, I will be driving down the road and the truck will miss for no ryhme or reason, then lose all power and shut down. It throws no codes, I try to fire it back up, after letting it sit for about a minute it finally starts. This has happened to me about 6 times, 2 times last night. The only thing I have done recently was put on the vulcan big line kit, I ran a tank of fuel through it and was fine, but when i filled up last time at a different location, it started to do this. Thats what is leading me to believe it may be bad fuel, I changed my fuel filter right after new years day, dont know if i should change it again. Also at startup I am seeing more white smoke, maybe injector problem? If I cant figure this out I think Im gonna haul her in to get atleast RV275's on and valves adjusted, trucks got 153,000 on it, I got it at 114,000.

 

[johncameron]

I hope this isn't something that will cost me a ton of money. Also at startup I am seeing more white smoke, maybe injector problem?

White smoke at startup is a timing problem... ... ... ... VP44?????#@$%!#@$%!

 

[VolsFan]

Just had a thought earlier this morning. The only tuner I am running on th truck right now is Superchips, it came with the truck when I bought it, dont like it. I had it set to towing about two weeks ago when I was pullign my cattle trailer, then a few days later, I changed it back to performance. That was the same night it began to just shut down for no reason. I leave in about 5 min, will set it to stock, am getting 275's so I can hook my quadzilla back up

 

[Mundgyver]

Check the wiring in your steering column. Look at and in particular the wiring comming into the ignition module. This will be a large connector for the key switch. You are looking to see if any of the wires, particularly the big red one is cracked or almost broken through at the back of the connector plug.



This will cause what you have described. Been there and fixed that



Takes about 5 minutes to look at. If you have a tilt steering wheel that you regularly move up and down getting in and out, then there is a very high probablilty that this is where your problem will be.



Good luck.

 

[VolsFan]

Thanks Mundgyver, I looked at that and all appears to be well, will keep that in mind in the future. I think that I figured this out. I put a thread up here a little while back about a humming noise coming from my fuel tank. I was told it is the rollover valve on top of my fuel tank. The truck shut off on me this evening coming home again. I think what is happening is it is getting airlocked. I will have to change that valve out or clean it. In the meantime til my tank gets down, Im just gonna leave the fuel cap cracked a little bit. I imagine I will have to drop the tank to get to it, does anybody have experience with this?

 

[VolsFan]

Im going to recheck all the wires real well, but my truck shut off about three times when I was leaving the parking lot today. I have a remote start on it (on when I got the truck) I hit it and let it idle, as I was about to get in it shut off. I fired it right back up, ran for about 10 seconds then shut off again. Same thing, I turned it right back on, left parking lot and it got me home. I have the fuel cap cracked too to let air get in, going to drill the inside as Jag1 suggested, and probably drop tank just to be safe, just wondering what else could be causing this, if its electrical or just airlocked

 

[ToolManTimTaylor]

https://www.turbodieselregister.com...ion-1998-5-2002/80778-update-truck-dying.html

 

[FLynes]

It's because your truck is a BAMA fan!



I can't see it being an electrical problem... my electrical problems have always been persistent, not intermittent..... except for the starter contacts crapping out on me.



What you're describing sounds like a fuel problem to me... almost like the Vulcan is sucking some crap up, it's choking your system out, truck dies, crap falls back into tank. The only reason I say this is because when I was in high school there was this guy with a 70 SS Chevelle who was a total jackhole. My friends and I put a couple pingpong balls in his gas tank. He would be driving for a little while and the car would just die. He'd be able to start it back up and go again for a while till it'd die again. He never figured it out and sold the car... my buddy bought it for $1500 and still has it to this day.



The suction created by the pump would suck the pingpong ball down and clog up the line, then float back up... . I know, it's mean, yada yada yada, but this guy deserved it.



I'd say drop your tank and see how intact your float is... . maybe you got some crap in there.

 

[VolsFan]

I just got in from messing with it this morning as my classes at college are cancelled. I cleaned out the rollover valve, but didnt drop the tank, I may have to do that if the problem persists as Flynes suggests to check things out. Anyways, I changed the FRAM fuel filter, (POS), had less than 5,000 miles on it, and noticed in the canister a few black oily spots and some clung to the filter. I cleaned the canister out, put on a fresh premium fleetguard filter, and let the truck idle until it got up to operating temperature. It never missed, idled smooth. I agree that the vulcan was probably sucking up some crap into the system. I think im going to get a filter to go before the l/p also, where can I get one?

 

[FLynes]

Not sure 100% on what type of pre-filter to get (do a search, I know there are threads on the subject), but I do know that you don't want it to be too restrictive. I've learned that Fleetguard is the way to go for filters, be it oil or fuel... they've got their stuff together.

 

[VolsFan]

well, gonna drop the tank tomorrow, i guess I'll just siphon whats left out and clean out whatever junk is in there. I went out shortly after I got the truck running and picked up a load of hay, truck shut down about 10 times, each time I put it in park and it fired right back up. I let it sit and idle after I got in from pulling a load, and it missed a few times there. Geez, hope nobody put pingpong balls in mine, gonna find out tomorrow, as for the truck being a bama fan, thems fightin words

 

[VolsFan]

i didnt drop the tank, discovered a small leak where I hooked up the 3/8" line on the inlet side of the pump to the stock hard line, Im assuming there was enough air able to get in making the truck miss and shut off. Now my pump has died on me this morning. It was putting out great fuel pressure, I ran it around, the had it idle in the driveway, and it started to miss again then shut down. I tried restarting it but the pump would not cycle. Do you think this is because of air getting into the system? I just ordered a new one ,Carter 4601 black pump from Summit, $130 with shipping. I shouldve got a FASS or something instead of an ATS exhuast manifold the other week, lol