Archived Truck won't accelerate, engine surges, need help please!

[LBTRS]

Hello Guys,



I went to drive to work this morning and got about two blocks from the house and my truck started surging. I would push on the accelerator and nothing would happen then the truck would surge a couple times and then drop back to an idle (gages all looked normal). I turned around and bucked my way back home. Just as I was pulling up to the house the check gages light came on and I looked down and the temp gage was maxed out. Turned it off and now wondering what to do next.



It never died, but when I hit the throttle nothing happens for 30 seconds then it will surge for 5 seconds and drop back to idle. I just went out and started it again and without pushing the accelerator it surges while trying to idle. The engine does run but the truck won't move.



I was thinking it was a lift pump or vp44 but the overheating has me stumped. In never boiled over but the gage was maxed out at 240+ degrees. Any help will be appreciated.



It's stock with the exception of a 4" exhaust, afe pro guard air filter and a pack brake. Only has 18,000 miles.



Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.



Thanks a million,

 

[Timbeaux38]

have you checked the coolant level? is there water in it?

 

[LBTRS]

Yes, coolant is completely full... that was the first thing I checked after posting this. I appreciate your response. I'm stumped.



Thank you,

 

[LBTRS]

To add isult to injury... . my neighbor, who owns a 99 ford powerstroke, is laughin' his ass off. Now it's a pride thing.

 

[24V-DSL]

Have you checked for codes?

Cycle the ignition key from off to on three times... third time leave it on, and look at the odometer. Write anything down and post results.

 

[LBTRS]

I didn't know I could get codes like that and I just got back from having it towed to the dealer. I hope ol' lee dinges takes care her. I'll let you know what I find out.



Thanks,

 

[fj40dave]

I've had the lift pump fail and the Cam Position Sensor fail on my '01..... sounds like it could be either to me... . wish ya woulda captured those codes to post 'em.



Was your motor truely hot - did you feel the radiator and check the temp of the coolant in the reservoir? Any fluid on the ground?



Dave

 

[LBTRS]

Just talked to the dealer and it wasn't very positive... . "we think it is a ground problem as it's throwing all kinds of voltages that it shouldn't be, it's definately a computer problem but we have not been able to find the problem yet"



I wasn't expecting these kinds of problems at only 18,000 miles.

 

[rkressg]

I had a similar problem with respect to the temp gauge. The sensor was reading extremely high temps, but the actual temp was normal. It turned out being the sensor lead that plugs into the sensor by the thermostat.

If the computer is seeing extreme temps, it could possibly cause the emc to adjust engine peformance, causing the degredation in peformance.

Just my $0. 02

-Rich

 

[Missouri Mule]

On my 82 Buick the wires going into the temp/sensor unit some how became bare and shorted with each other.

The symptoms you mentioned sound just like the Buick, Temp reading high engine problems (mine would run then die out, then was hard to start).

Towed it home with my van looked at the wires finally realized it was color coded stripes on the wires, taped them up.

Talked to mechanic he told me when the wires touched the computer thought that engine was over heating and told the carb to dump more fuel into cylinders causing an overflooded condition

causing it to stall.

My taping the wires solved the problem.

 

[LBTRS]

Dealer still doesn't know what's wrong but has an ECM ordered and will install and try that. Suppose to know something back tomorrow. Sure glad this all happend before the warranty ran out in August. Is the ECM covered on the 5 year/100,000 mile drivetrain warranty or the 3/36,000?



Thanks,

 

[Missouri Mule]

I believe the ecm is covered under Polution (epa) like turbo.

Check your warranty book (it came with the truck).

 

[LBTRS]

Thanks Missouri Mule for the information. I can't check the owners manual because it's in the truck at the dealers.



Got the call from the dealer today to inform me that the new ECM won't take the flash and they have to order a new one. Tells me I should have the truck back Tuesday or Wednesday of next week. A truck with only 18,000 miles out of commison at the dealers for two weeks is wearing on my patience.



I have a 13 hour trip scheduled to Salt Lake City in my truck and this is making me nervous. I won't have any time to run it before the trip to make sure the problem is really fixed.



My father in-law keeps saying "I told you to get a chevy".

 

[MidwestMotorman]

Don't get a chevy... you would just end up trading it off for a Ford. Go ahead and let your neighbor laugh because you will soon be blowing his doors off with your cummins.



Too bad you didn't get those codes because we would have been able to help you. Usually when something like this perplexes the dealer, they swap the computer or other major part from a truck on the sales lot. Ordering tons of new parts on warranty is not good for D-C or the dealership.

By chance, have you noticed any corrosion on the battery cables or terminals? I first thought it was the throttle position sensor until I read that the temp gauge was pegged. Did you recently have a rainstorm or high humidity? I know you are from arid Idaho.



With only 18k on the clock, you really haven't begun to break it in and work out any bugs.

 

[LBTRS]

MidwestMotorman,



No rainstorm or humidity here. No corrosion at all, engine compartment almost looks brand new.



Dealer called again today to tell me the second ECM they got won't take a flash either and they are sending another one. I'm now seriously questioning their abilities at this dealership. I wish I would have had a choice where to take it but when you live in Idaho you have to take what you can get. I'll let you know what they find out, if they ever find anything out.



Thanks,

 

[LBTRS]

I have the truck back, seems the ECM was bad. The dealer could not flash the replacement ECM so they had to send it to Cummins Northwest in Spokane and they flashed it and sent it back. Installed it and it seemed to run fine coming back from the dealers. They said the old ECM had a full register of fault codes for every part of the engine. I wish I would have been able to see them before I sent it away. Anyway, I hope it's fixed for good now.



To make matters worse... I got the call from the dealer to come pick it up and had the wife drive me down to get it. While at the dealers she backed her Ford Explorer into a pole and destroyed the rear end. My truck is now out of the shop and hers gets to go in. It's always something.



Thanks to all those that helped.