Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Truck stumbled and died twice-W.I.F?

[LoneRam]

I've delt with this a couple of months ago but thought I had it down to a loose pump wire, T-lock. Well, tonight it's back. It starts missing a couple of cyls and then either clears up or just dies. After it dies, I cycle the key and wait then crank for about 5 seconds. I repeat this and on the second attemp it fires after 2 seconds. Once running it comes back in less than a minute.

What I thought was electrical is starting to sound like water in the fuel. Can anyone agree with this? I will take a sample in the morning from the filter. No light on the dash but that doesn't supprise me. Thanks.

 

[Mundgyver]

Based on personal experience here. Pull your covers off the steering column up at the wheel. Do yourself a favor and just check out the ignition switch wiring. What you are looking for, are any wires that have sheared from the back of the connectors. This is what happened to me, the truck would stumble and had a start problem. I found the wiring to the ignition switch (Big Red One) right at the back of the plug was my problem. The dealer wound up replacing the whole dash harness on warranty, and this was after I had done 2 repairs to the harness. The root cause for me was the tilt wheel. The harness was not long enough to allow for the flex. The dealer told me that the harness had been through two complete revisions since I had bought my truck. They replace the harness at about 97,000 if I remember correctly. Good luck.

 

[LoneRam]

Thanks. I'll check that now. I took a sample from the filter and no sign of water. I never would have looked at the switch.

 

[LoneRam]

Nope. The red wire was starting to back out of the connector, but wasn't the problem. It's really starting to look like a clogged filter. I guess this would be the time to have a FP gauge. I will change it tomorrow. Are there any screens in the fuel system that I should check for blockage? Thanks

 

[Mundgyver]

There is no screen that I know of in the system. Just the filter. Your Lift Pump Pressure is key here. If you can, check it before you do the filter change, then again after the filter change. Might prove interesting.

 

[LoneRam]

Getting close

Soooo... . I am in the process of putting the new fuel filter in and go to prime it. I leave the lid loose since I am alone and bump the key... again... . again... . and again!!! Nothing. So I pull the lid and filter out, note the level and bump the key, almost no level change. I'm talking almost 10 seconds or so and only maybe 1/16" raise?!? I have a Carter pusher pump from Enterprise in addition to my lift BTW. And yes, there is over half a tank. So I start at the easiest place to check which is a hose clamp on the discharge side of the carter. I loosen it up and rotate it a little to ensure the rubber hose to metal tube seal is broken and I figure if the blockage is downstream it will build up pressure and leak, if not it will be dry and I can look else where. So I bump the key and I see nothing... . from the hose but now there is a shower from the engine!!!! It's pumping like a champ now. I did nothing but solved something. Man I hate not finding anything. Any ideas? I checked the inside of the hose to see if I cut it on initial install of the metal tubing. Thanks.

 

[Mundgyver]

Tuffy for an answer. Maybe your truck just wants to hang out at the beach and look at all the heavenly bodies on North Shore



How are your electical connection to the pumps?

 

[LoneRam]

My pump always cycles. When the level wasn't coming up, the pump was running. I actually put my hand on the pump to make sure. If I had another set of hands, some daylight and a bucket I would just start at the fuel tank and work my way forward. If I make it to work tomorrow that's what I'll do.

 

[LoneRam]

Found it!!! The dang T-Tap had cut my lift pump wire and was not really making a good connection. Soldered them together and whola!!!