Help, my truck just died.

Symptoms, driving home today after work. Really near my house, idle got very bad. Truck felt like it was going to shake to death a few seconds, then idle would be good, then bad, etc.

Got to the next stop sign, pulled out in 2nd., truck almost died.

(I recently (1 month ago) installed Jammer 3 nozzles and a Diablo Powerpuck 65hp "chip". The truck has idled slightly worse since the injector install, but not too bad at all.)

Got into my driveway, set the parking brake, and let it idle. Idle again, very bad.

I shut the engine off. Immediate try to restart engine, no luck....shes dead.

LP Fuel pressure is good (guage).

I disconected Power Puck completely. Still no start.

Cracked 1/3/4 injector nuts @ head. Cranked engine. Engine SOAKED with diesel fuel from cranking. No start.

It sounds just like a Cummins that wont start before needing bled.

It is a 98.5 so right now I cant read any codes, I don't own a code reader.

I need help, It's my daily driver.

Thanks!!!!!!

 

Update, I took the return line check-valve banjo off the VP44 and blew into it with my mouth. It does pass air slightly but it definately does not "unseat" the ball and spring with mouth-air pressure. Is it supposed to pass a bit of air with just low air pressure?

Thanks.

 

Is the check engine light on?

 

Were do you live??? There seems to be alot of ULSD gelling as of late, from what I've heard.

 

I live in Las Vegas, NV. It was 72 degrees here today.

When I drove home I also thought the truck poured smoke (looking in mirror) a bit more than ever, but I attributed it to one of the first warm days here since the Jammer 3 / Powerpuck install.

Check engine light is NOT on.

After I removed the VP44 check-valve banjo, I re-installed it and went in the house. When I came back out, I tried again to start it, this time it "kicked" for just a second like it caught fire, but only for a secon, now it is still dead.

I got it on a battery charger right now.

I don't know how I'm going to get to work tomorrow. edited by admin this sucks.

 

Had the same thing happen to my 98.5 here in Vegas. long story shortened I now have a 2006 CTD. Dealer could not figure it out. liked the new trucks and bought new. But I did run in to the person that bought it he said that the vp44 was bad. It happened about 2 months after i put a chip on the truck They also had to put a better lift pump on it

GOOD LUCK!!

 

A diesel is very simple if it has fuel and compression it runs. You need to find why it doesn't have fuel. Bad lift pump bad? injection pump?

Easy check is to crack open fuel line into injection pump to check for fuel, if there crack a couple injector lines to see if there.
No fuel to injection pump is bad lift pump and no fuel to injectors is bad VP44.
good luck

 

I have checked the fuel into the inlet of the VP44. I have AN fittings, so I cracked the inlet line and ran the lift pump and lost about 1/2 gallon just running the lift pump, and my FP guage shows 15psi, so I think my LP is okay.

I cracked 3 injector lines and cranked and it seems Cyl #4 gets the most fuel out, in fact it runs down the engine over the bellhousing and makes a huge stream under the truck.

I don't get it, it seems like it's getting fuel.

Checked ECM / powertrain fuses, all seem good.

 

my 03 did the same thing, it was my alternator

 

Possibly crank position sensor or cam position sensor. Would be a cheap fix compared to the worst case.

 

I ahev been searching threads all evening. Many posts on "Not Starting".

I am hoping that it is either:

1) fuel return check valve

2) Crank position sensor

3) Cam position sensor

4) Alternator (I've never heard of this before???)

I don't have the cash for a VP44 right now. I am praying it is not the VP.

Thank you all for the repiles. Please keep them coming,. I need all the help I can get.

 

If you have an Auto Zone nearby you make be able to rent one of their scanners. They do rent tools. scanner is not hard to use. You will have to get codes or you will just be going on an expensive "fishing trip" with many 'must be this' or must be that' that don't solve anything.

I would certainly do the check valve first.

It's possible that the crank position sensor is gone but I'd almost bet lunch on the VP-44.

I'm more convinced that the crank position sensor is a result of VP failure than a cause.

You may not get any codes.

There is a way to check the communication between the ECM and the pump module by going after the 28 pin (??) connector by the fuses. I even got the wiring diagram by a very roundhouse search. My son did the test but I already knew the pump was gone. Unfortunately the sheet went with a guy that came over to watch us. Somebody may be able come up with the diagram again.

The alternator can do some strange things as the regulation is in the ECM so it's possible. Take the alternator over to the auto parts store and have it tested first.

Another thing that comes to mind is the batteries. They may be very marginal. How old are they.

 

Lama, I keep looking at your posts to see if you are getting geysers from cracking your injectors or is the fuel just pouring out?
If geysers, then your VP is probably putting out pressure; flowing out without any pressure behind it makes the VP suspect.

dumptruck200

 

Thanks bentwings.

The batteries are optima red tops, 3yrs old, and they have always (even now) been strong. I'm just charging them as a precaution due to all the cranking I did this evening.

I am PRAYING it is not the VP44, but after reading one thread, a member stated that if when cracking injector lines @ the head, if only ONE line produces the majority of fuel, that the VP44 is bad. I think my truck is doing that.

I have also read that the 98.5 and 99 trucks don't lend well to using a cheap scantool, and that the dodge scanner is the only one that works. edited by admin

This really, really sucks.

 

Man, I have bled this truck tons of times by myself, but only by myself. Crack lines, get in truck, crank, get it running, get out and close lines.

I am doing the same right now, except the engine is not starting.

When I jump back out and look at the engine, there is fuel pouring out of #4, running down back of engine, ALOT of fuel.

As my memory serves, this is the same thing that happens when did injector swap, the first few bleeds before the engine started.

I don't know. I will attack it in the morning seeing as how I am calling in sick anyway, no ride.