Sunday I drove the diesel from Raleigh to Statesville and back, about 300 miles. Before I left town, I filled up and checked everything. AOK.

Made it to Statesville okay, but on the way back, at about 75mph with a little more than 1/2 tank full, it suddenly lost power, then gained it back, lost it again, then gained it back.

I pulled over and checked everything, which seemed okay. Back on the road, it happened again, so I pulled off at the next exit, checked the tranny fluid, which was a little low. This had no effect.

I called a buddy who had two Ford diesels and he suggested that it might be the fuel pump and that I should fill the tank up again. I did and everything was fine for about 85 miles, when it suddenly lost power, gained it back, lost it, gained it back.

I had an idea, so I backed off the 70-75mph and held it at 55-65 and it didn't happen again.

The "Water in Fuel" light never came on, it happened each time between 70-75mph, didn't do it when the tank was full.

Do these trucks have one or two fuel pumps, electric or mechanical?

Ideas? Thanks!

 

First thing I'd check is the fuel filter.

You might have got some gunk from that fillup.

Always start with the simplest, easiest and cheapest first.

When was the last time the filter was changed?

Could also be the "sock" filter in the tank.
Not simple, easy, or cheap to check though.

As far as the fuel pumps go, I think there is only the mechanical "lift" pump and the injection pump.
No pump in the tank.


phox

 

Denis,

I'll give you the benifit of my limited knowledge.If I've forgotton something somebody else will fill you in...

Our Trucks have two fuel pumps. The injection pump(high pressure) and the transfer pump(low pressure).
The mechanical transfer pump pulls fuel from the tank up to the injection pump,and you know what the injection pump does.

The transfer pumps runs around 7 PSI pressure,and looks like an old style fuel pump...it's located on the driver's side-rear of the engine.
From what I understand,they run $50-70 to replace.

Hope that helps,
Vinny

 

Good advice above. Also, check the connection on the shutoff solenoid. Loose wire there can cause all sorts of headaches.

 

Sound advice, all! Thank you!

1) Where is the shutoff solenoid located, wannadiesel?

2) Vinny, got it - I've seen that one now! That may be a preventative replacement to take care of this weekend! Would the injection pump cause this?

3) Phox, I've put about 1000 miles on the truck, so based on what the previous owner told me, it now has 2000 miles on the last oil change. He did tell me that 1) he changed the fuel filter every OTHER oil change, and 2) I should put in a new fuel filter as soon as I get a chance and gave me a new one when I bought the truck. This leads me to believe, now that I think about it, that he did NOT do that the last oil change.

 

my 95 did the same thing i found the shut off slolinoid was bad,,its right under the injector pump ,the wires tend to loosen as was said above.

 

There is a priming lever on LP pump that should be in up position or it can cause these symptoms.

 

Denis,

From what I gather,a fading injection pump usually causes different symptoms...

When you change your fuel filter,fill it with clean fuel or fuel treatment...I've been told it helps keep the prime in the fuel system,so you don't have to bleed the injectors.

Vinny

 

Denis;
1) Where is the shutoff solenoid located, wannadiesel?
The fuel shutoff solenoid is located on the back top side of injector pump, it has 2 spade conections on it. If either are loose replace the connector and be sure to insulate it with elect. tape or heat shrink.
The local Cummins people told me that 80-90% of the time that a pluged up fuel filter is why they get towed in. They advised me to change the ff ever time you do an oil change.
I've done that and I've seen exactly what they'er talking about big black flakes on the top of the filter w/ only 5000mi. on a filter.

Carry an extra filter w/ you at all times might save a person both money and time.

ramguy

 

I had a similar experience with my fuel solenoid but it after it cut out a few times it never came back on. I was outta home state when it happened so I just pulled out the plunger in the solenoid and kept driving. I had to tie a rope around the manual cutoff lever and route it out the grille to shut er' down.

Dodge wanted $250 for a solenoid while cummins was $150, I bought one from my local VW parts house for about $30.

I think Monty posted the part no and contact info here in the site under the replacment parts page.

Matt

 

Excellent! I love cheap fixes! Thanks everyone. Today or tomorrow I'll investigate!