Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Update on the truck Dying.

[ToolManTimTaylor]

Well here we are two weeks later and for more reference check out this bizare thread https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=80111



So we performed the APPS test and found Voltage to be correct and with NO dropouts.

So on saturday Me and TorqueThis swapped out the APPS bodys on our trucks and took her for a ride. Bad Same ol same Engine cuts off nomatter where the pedal position is. If anything it is worse on the highway especially! So we get back and I park it now thinking I need an Injection pump as this seems to be status Quoe with those whos truck surges and cuts out and do not throw codes.



Last night I wheel up (Limp) to marks shop where we try one last ditch effort to see whats wrong. Scott up at Massdiesel suggested we check all grounds as there are what 15 billion solonoids , sensors , relays and whatnot onvolved. We pull the Main chassis / engine ground and grind on new surfaces and make connections. We clean up the battery posts and leaders and check the main harness for the PDC under the hood. All is tight and in working order. We jiggle arround the main harness in front of the engine and button her up. (Oh and checked the VSS sensor in the rear diff)



So last night was the first time I have been able to go more than 5 miles without any problems. In fact the rig runs great! Today no problems the whole drive to work (22 miles).





Hmmm we will wait and see. God do I trust her? Everything we dissassembled was mint and clean. I am a firm believer in PHYSICAL issues not Maybee its this or that. But this has me puzzled.

 

[ToolManTimTaylor]

Well futzed arround on the way home box on , box on in drag mode , box off , every electrical accessory on I could think of (Hazards and cig lighter and glove box light taboot) and she acted normal as can be. Burned rubber , yelled at it while driving and she is great. Huh I may have Excersized the demon?

 

[jrobinson2]

Did you shed blood while working on the truck? Usually a demon requires a blood sacrifice.

Since you are married I suppose sacrificing a virgin in the back seat would be to risky

Jared

 

[Steve Campbell]

TTTT....

I was chasing something like this about 8 months ago, and the ground also cured that problem.

 

[ToolManTimTaylor]

Hmmm so the engine ground is a common culprit then?

 

[LSMITH]

Originally posted by jrobinson2



Since you are married I suppose sacrificing a virgin in the back seat would be to risky

Jared

Sure would be more fun though... ... .....

 

[ToolManTimTaylor]

Someone had the Shaking of chicken bones in a ritual type fashon that seemd to do the trick as well.

 

[Forrest]

ToolManTimTaylor ... do you wash the engine compartment?

 

[fj40charles]

Are we talking about the engine ground only?

 

[TPCDrafting]

Aahhh, the ol' jiggle the wires trick saves the day again!

Glad you got 'er on the road again Tim.

 

[ToolManTimTaylor]

Originally posted by fj40charles

Are we talking about the engine ground only?

Well yes. I also made sure the PDC under the hood was good and in place. The engine ground (Under the oil filter) even on a stock truck new could use a freshen up as the washer seems to be zinc coated? We ground a orbital surface and hit the block with sand paper and VIOLA!





I have noticed my egt guage (Digital on the Blue chip FMS) reads crystal clear with no skips! Hmmmm Cool! Another oddity is the truck seems to idle quieter ... . allmost has that smooth 12V sound. Today She ran STRONG so we played the whole way home on backroads and well lets just say it wasn't good on the tyres behalf!

 

[ToolManTimTaylor]

It's started it again! :{



Tonite I will just focus on the main harness that runs across the front of the motor.

 

[ToolManTimTaylor]

The ride home just plain sucked. I find this one odd as how can the rig run fantastic for over a week and then fall right back into the same ol rut. Thursday I am gonna take that harness apart not tonite. I am in no way bringin' this to a dealer as I chose to Bomb the rig so it's not their fault (Altho I was thinkin bout it) and am not mad at doing so in any way. I am just puzzled at the seemingly bizzare turn of events as of late.

 

[Ron Bissett]

You can try this with the motor running and head lights on low beam at idle for a few min have a good clean wire 8or better have some one put one end to the motor and other to neg post of the battry watch the light see if it brightens or use a volt /anp meeter . That should show if ground is the problem . second ground should be to a clean area . Reason to try this is to see if the cable you have is doing the job ,did you try a oms test of the complete cable? Could be gremlins? Best of luck keep looking . Ron in Metro Louisville KY

'

 

[Steve Campbell]

As a bit of preventive maintenance.....

last winter I took every electrical connection under the hood I could get my hands on and unplugged them, cleaned them out, re-lubed with di-electreic grease, and plugged them back together. I was not having any problem..... just trying to prevent something like you are going through.



I really like Ron's idea.

 

[ToolManTimTaylor]

Yep Ron, We did that (Except Megged the wire) and all is good on that front. I am however going to add a seccond ground.





Steve, A few weeks back we unplugged and checked every connector we could get to.

 

[Agades]

Ive been fighting a similar demon for close to a year now



Ive replaced everything but the ECM and VVS ($$$$$$$$$$$$)



Ive tried the blood sacrifice, cat sacrifice, praying, cussing, dancing, lighting candles, even covering pickup with blankets at night



Ive cleaned all connections I can find, even soldered the power and ground wires for my PM 3



demon comes and goes just like you explain and isnt always the same conditions



every time I unhook batteries it dissapears then suddenly comes back for no apparent reason



talked to Kwikurt tonight and he told me to take the 4 wires going to APPS out of the loom and separate them

possibly could be some cross mojination



I would also like to try a different ECM, however I seem to be having a tough time finding a used one (any help in this dept. would be appreciated)

 

[ToolManTimTaylor]

Wholly uncommon crap batman! Thats it! Every time I discon the batts she seems to be good. Tell ya what I will test a theory tomorrow nite before mark's place.

 

[Agades]

this is more common than some people know



people who never pull or haul anything with a stock 24 valve most likely will never know they have this problem



mine is hardly noticeable when all my welding junk is out of my truck



my brothers 01. 5 does the same thing



my old 99 never did it and still doesnt do it

(I should have kept it)

 

[ToolManTimTaylor]

Sorry I meant Common.

Anyways I could not hold myself. I went out and discon the batts in complete darkness and have found something. When they are reconnected I get a heavy spark ... . allmost as if there is a decent load ... . like lights... . on it. the key is out , all lights off (Incl hood) all accy's off and I even pulled the fuse for the Blue Chip as well and well the spark is there. Just how much voltage does the cummins 'pewter system need for Backup voltage and isn't there a watch style battery in there to keep info fresh anyway? So I have a draw (No idea how much as my meeter is at work). I thought that may be of interest to you. May mean nothing but I just may take the truck to work being I undid the batteries.