Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Truck started then died in 26 degree weather??

[Jrork]

Truck started then died. Momentarily no fuel pressure??

Hi guys. I experienced something I never had this last weekend and seek your advice.



We loaded our camper up and went to the Cascade mountains. No problems whatsoever till the morning we went to leave.



The temp was only about 26 degrees. I hopped into the truck and turned the key to wait for the air grids to heat up (wait to start light).

When I did that, I heard my lift pump labor (remote mount using Vulcan kit) and noticed the fuel pressure was only about 8 lbs.



The truck fired right off but within 30 seconds died and no amount of turning over would it start. The fuel pressure was now about 5 lbs and not changing.



This lift pump is approximately 8000 miles old.



I let it sit for maybe 5 minutes while I was scratching my head wondering why I was struggling like this since it’s never been a problem before (it gets colder at home in the winter time).



I turned the key on again and still the lift pump was laboring for a bit and then slowly it started speeding up and building up pressure. Let it build the pressure to about 12 lbs and then turned the truck over. Took a bit (acted like it does when I change the fuel filter) and eventually started.



I ran it around town slowly to build up some heat and never had a bit of trouble again.



I don’t use anti-gell as I never have had a problem with these moderate temps in the past and as I said, it’s been much colder before.



Once the lift pump started building pressure there were zero issues. Could the heater in the fuel filter have failed and cause this?



I’m all ears.



1998. 5 24 valve with approx 125K miles. Remote fuel lift pump replaced 8k ago. Always have 12lbs of fuel pressure normally.



Thanks a bunch……. . john

 

[HBarlow]

What was the overnight low temp?

It could have been water freezing in the system or fuel gelling.

 

[GaryOwen]

Diesel usually doesn't gel up above about 15F. If you have any biodiesel in the tank then the number will be considerably higher. Weak batteries may also contribute to the starting problem.

 

[Jrork]

That temp of 26 was at 8am. Not sure what the overnight low was but since it was a wooded area without any sun, I wouldnt expect it to have gotten terribly colder overnight.



The batteries are about 3 years old and turned over the truck effortlessly trying to get it to start.



No bio-diesel in my tank.



I'll drain the trap and see if maybe I had some water in there.



Thanks for the replies and help..... john

 

[Jrork]

Correction, I'm still having the problem

Went to move it in the driveway to take the camper off tonight and it fired and then died.

Yep, no fuel pressure and no noise from the lift pump.



Turned the motor over and I could hear just a slight 1 second noise from the pump but no fuel pressure.



Let is sit for a minute or so again and then turned the key and the lift pump started running.



Let it build pressure and after a second of turning over, it started right up with 12 lbs.



Poor connection at the pump? Ignition switch? Bad lift pump?

 

[MChrist]

I would be checking all your electrical connections and ground. Many times, you will have corrosion at the splices that will allow 12 volts to make it through, but not the amperage necessary to do the deed. I only use connectors that are made to be heated and shrink onto the wires being spliced. Only a few cents more than those "blue plastic" butt connectors, but save a lot of time and aggravation. (For some applications, we even use the same type of connector that has solder built into the connector, so when you heat the connector, you can see the solder melt into the wire being spliced). We get our connectors from Terminal Supply Co.

 

[Jrork]

Thanks so much for the reply. I was beginning to wonder if it might be an electrical issue as well since it's so intermittent. I did try to pull codes off the computer but there were none which is a nice sign.

I'll start with the little things this weekend like electrical and work my way up to the more spendy things.

I would think that if the lift pump was going out already, it wouldnt act like this but who knows. Just glad it finally died in my driveway and not on the road somewhere

 

[Chief USA]

In the off chance the electrical issue does not pan out, you may have water in the fuel tank. If the water froze and possibly may have blocked the fuel line/fuel tank pickup straw.

 

[Jrork]

Thanks Chief. I'll keep that in mind as well though last night when it died it was pretty warm out and for sure not freezing. Not saying that water may not be an issue though

 

[Jrork]

Since the issue is not associated with cold temps anymore, I'm going to shut this thread down and start a new more general one.