Any and all.

Truck is Dodge Ram 2500 with 24V 235 hp engine and automatic transmission .

Engine will stop for no apparent reason.

Trouble shooting reveals no problem with lift pump pressure - 10 to 13 lbs.. No problem with fuel filter - new filter no significant dirt or contamination.
power to fuse and fuel control relay is OK.

Stoppage is sporadic and unpredictable. Generally the engine is running at low rpm - idle or very low throttle pressure.

The engine will always start up again after this has happened.

Analyzer results on engine show nothing out of the ordinary.

All of this suggests a loss of electrical power to the fuel injection pump.

Has anyone else experienced this?

Big thanks in advance for any help.

Jim

 

More information. Have you pulled codes? What are those codes? When is this problem most common? In gear, out of gear, driving, stopping, etc.....

 

What year truck is it?

 

ECM?

Check batteries and cables....

Older diesels stop running when the fuel stops. The 24V can have electrical issues. That is where I would start......

 

Have heard reports lately of injection pump control relays causing intermittent problems. You didn't mention if you verified the relay's output voltage, or just the voltage to it. Might be worth throwing a new one in to see what happens.

 

I agree with torquefan replace injection pump relay first. I had same issue recently intermittent relay can drive you. Replace it or swap it with horn relay first. Just mark it so you know which one it was.

 

Thanks to all for your interest in this.

What I do know :
1. Lift pump pressure is OK - 10 - 13 psi even when engine stops.
2. Fuel filter replaced - old filter did not have evidence of fouling.
3. Fuse for injection pump circuit is OK, replaced anyway.
4. Relay to injection pump circuit is OK, replaced anyway.
5. Voltage is present in circuits for both fuse and relay.
6. Fuel injectors are fairly new.
7 Injection pump has around 70K miles. Truck has 189K Miles.
Observations:
1. The stoppages are random and infrequent.
2. Stoppages occur at an idle and at higher rpm.
3. Stoppages will occur in neutral / park and when the vehicle is in gear
and in motion.
4. Sometimes the stoppage ends up with the engine stopping completely. When the vehicle is in motion at any sort of speed, the engine will
restart itself.

 

What about the amount of fuel in the tank? This could be a fuel pickup issue; does this happen more when it's under half a tank?



-Kris

 

don't think that is it. I had a fuel pressure gauge hooked up and had the engine die... there was plenty of fuel pressure.

It has to be something electrical in the circuitry to the injection pump. There is a computer iin the iinjecton pump and there is also a engine control module. or it may be an intermittent open in the power to the injector pump. I'd replaced the relay to the injector pump and the problem diminished considerably so it may be something with the connection slots to the relay. It is very sporadic, The truck can operate for hours without a hiccup and then I'll get two or three in half an hour and then none for a few days.

 

so I didn't see you post this but again did you pull codes? also what year is your truck.

do you know how to pull codes with the ignition key. this will not work on all
2nd gens.

 

http://www.bluechipdiesel.com/vp44diagnostichelp.html

Check out: No Start - Test # 2

 

Thanks, all. As soon as I can get a chance to focus on the issue get a diagnostics analyzer in the truck again. Did it once - at an idle the only message was Idle Switch # 1 - which I understand is normal.

The truck is a 2002 236 hp version with an automatic transmission. It will always start. If the engine dies, it will start right up again. If the truck in in gear and in motion at any speed at all, it will start itself - basically giving a very abrupt hiccup.

Very best to all.

Jim

 

I would check the plugs at the ECm and at the computer block on the firewall behind the airfilter ....

 

All,

I did the ignition switch procedure to display codes. The code displayed is 'P PCU' . I don't see this one on the list of codes.

any thoughts?

 

here are the codes
P PCU
1388 code unknown at this point.

0500 Vehicle Speed Sensor 1 Circuit, or No Vehicle Speed Reference Signal 1P0514 Battery Temperature Sensor Performance / Rationality

1693

P ECU
0370 Reference High Resolution Signal "A"

1689 No Communication Between ECM & Injection Pump Module

1693