The truck was running fine at idle in the McDonalds drive through with normal fuel pressure (14psi) when it died. I mean it just died..... It did not throw any codes and it sounds like it has no fuel. The engine turns over freely without a hint of starting. I looked at my fuel pressure gauge and it was reading zero. The gauge is post filter in the banjo fitting. What are the chances that the lift pump and VP44 dropped at the exact same time? Any ideas?

 

Tough one...........Start with the basics......codes,fuel filter, fuel pump. Check all of the electrical connection on the fuel pump and VP44. Crack injectors 1 and 3 and see if anything is coming out when the engine is turning over. If it's not a fuel problem, it might be the ECM.

I'm sure there will be more replies as information comes in. Good Luck.

 

You should be able to read the codes by turning the key on/off three times without starting the engine. Leave it on the last time and any codes should come up on the odometer, and end with a "P DONE".

 

Yep, what Charlie said.
To check the codes, do this:
key on
key off
key on
key off
key on and leave on

The odometer will read out whatever codes are stored. Post them here.

(At first, I thought 2001 people died at McD's from the title of your thread )

~Rob

 

Before doing anything else cycle your lift pump just like you would with a filter change, and if it still reads zero at the post filter banjo you likely have a failed lift pump. If it does read zero, crack the fitting and see if it drools fuel while running, but does not build pressure. The lift pump can still run and suddenly fail and drop your fuel pressure all at once. Its internal bypass sticks open and lets the fuel circulate instead of building pressure.

 

Codes were the first thing I looked for but it was clean (no codes by cycling the key))

I did pull the lid on the fuel filter and turned the key to start the lift pump. It made noise but did not pump ANY fuel into the canister. It should fill the filter canister...right?

So I am thinking the LP died but would that cause the engine to die without any warning? Can the VP lose prime like that?

 

you may have fell victim to the faulty fuel level sending unit crawl under and hit the tank see if it sounds hollow

 

Be sure you have fuel first. THEN, Don't rag me on this one, But I seen this for myself or I would not beleave it ether. My buddy's did the same thing and he was on level ground and he wanted me to give him a push to roll start it, and I laughed at him. I checked his codes with my smarty and no codes, it would turn over like you say but not start. he insisted I push him, ( he said it does it all the time ), SO I pushed him and low and behold it started right up. You could shut it off and it would start with the key just fine. It's worth a shot. IF YOU HAVE A AUTOMATIC, DISREGARD THIS POST

 

Checking right now!

 

If the pump was working, you would have gotton a diesel bath! The VP44 is suppose to run without a pump.....I don't know for how long, but it's suppose to run. I hope you didn't loose both.

 

Ummmm....it sounds empty. Like a hollow plasic box! Gauge reads 3/8 tank. OK...off to get some fuel.

 

I never thought about out of fuel. I hope it's that easy.

 

Dont forget to crack the injector lines to bleed the system,

 

man you hit the nail square on the head on that one. Good call.

 

You can sleep good tonight! You saved me a ton of $$$ and hair pulling. I put 5 gals in, primmed it and she fired right up. Stumbled a few times and it was like new. Fuel psi is right back to 14 at idle and the fuel level gauge is showing 1/2 tank with only 5 gallons in it. And just to double check I am going to go top it off and see how many it takes to fill.

THANKS!