firstturn

1998 CTD 12V 4x4 5spd Quadcab.

Got in my truck last night at work to go home, started it up, got out to double check the connections to the trailer. While doing so, it stalled.

A couple things about the truck. Whenever the fuel gauge gets to about 1/2 a tank most of the times it will go all the way to "E." Normally I fill up after about 300 to 340 miles on the tripmeter, this was at 253 miles, but I was towing my 26-foot toyhauler the entire tank. When I left the house (22 miles away) the gauge was still registering at just about 1/4 tank. When I bought the truck I noticed that the bottom of the fuel tank is sucked in somewhat and when I unscrew the fuel cap there is a fair amount of pressure that is released, not sure if there is a venting problem or if it is normal. In the 4500 miles that I have owned the truck (it now has 116,000) I have not changed the fuel filter.

When it stalled I tried cranking it again, figuring it may have just been cold, but it sounded as if it was not getting fuel. I went to the gas station and got 5.5 gallons of diesel and poured it in the tank. The fuel gauge now registered at 3/8ths. I cranked it over, after a moment it started but ran rough for a bit then stalled out again. Primed the system with the fuel pump lifter as per the manual, same result.

I am thinking I got some bad fuel at the station I stopped at in Indio over the weekend or the tank had less fuel than I thought and it ran out or sucked up some crap at the bottom of the tank. I should also mention that about a month before I was pulling out of the parking lot and it stalled but restarted (running rough for just a moment) then was fine and ran with incident up until last night.

Anyone have a similar experience or able to provide me with some trouble shooting tips. I purchased a new fuel filter and planned to change it out, but I have never attempted this before not sure if there is anything I should be sure to do when changing it. I bought a couple gallons of diesel to fill the canister with once I make the change.

Any assistance appreciated.

ckt_santiago

well judging by the fact that the tank sucks in and releases pressure (vacuum?) when you remove the cap I would have to point at a vent issue. The problem would come from vacuum being present in the tank which would not allow the lift pump to pull fuel up to the engine. I would say that whatever the clog is must be getting gradually worse which is why it has progressed as such. Could be as simple as a bad fill cap.....

firstturn

FIXED!

I got under the truck by the fuel tank to see if the red cap was left on the vent, sure enough right there in plain view. So I pulled it off and attempted to start the truck. Still the same starts then stalls out after a few seconds.

Then I removed the fuel filter canister and pulled out the old fuel filter which was black. Put the new filter in and filled the canister with fresh diesel. Put the canister back in place, primed it with the fuel pump lifter and tried to start it again. A couple cranks and she came to life, smooth idle; left it running for about 10 minutes, sounded perfect.

I don't know if the removing the red cap had anything to do with it, but the fuel gauge was working even though the fule level was just above a 1/4 tank. Time will tell if this is a fix or a new sending unit will be required.