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General Information => Troubleshooting => Topic started by: drshoebocks on August 05, 2008, 06:52:04 am

Title: Running fine, then died, now won't turn over
Post by: drshoebocks on August 05, 2008, 06:52:04 am

Here is the story
Caddy was running great, then out of no where it suddenly died coming up to a stop sign.  My immediate fear was timing belt so I pushed it to the side, ran home (which was close) grabbed some tools and took the timing belt cover off to inspect.  The belt looked fine.  Pushed the car home with a neighbor and checked obvious things like making sure it didn't run out of diesel or oil.  Had my girlfriend crank it while I cracked the injectors and diesel is coming out fine and the line from filter to IP has diesel coming through.  Here is the strange part it will crank and start to turn over then die.  If my GF holds the key in the all way to start it will crank over and limp but die as soon as she lets it go.  

Oh boy, what should I check next?  Curious about the fuel shutoff solenoid, but I don't know how to inspect.  I assume the IP is fine as fuel is getting to the injectors.  Could it be the injectors them selves?  Could timing have skipped and I just don't know it.  

Any and all suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Title: Running fine, then died, now won't turn over
Post by: jtanguay on August 05, 2008, 08:54:15 am

maybe the IP sucked up a large amount of air?  any bubbles going to the pump?

diesel coming out of each injection line (at the injector-it should be squirting out)

Title: Running fine, then died, now won't turn over
Post by: jimfoo on August 05, 2008, 09:15:42 am

Try running power straight to the solenoid.

Title: Running fine, then died, now won't turn over
Post by: drshoebocks on August 05, 2008, 09:33:37 am

This is probably elementary, but how do I go about running power directly to the solenoid.  

-At the injectors it is splashing out, I wouldn't say it is squirting out.

Title: Running fine, then died, now won't turn over
Post by: burn_your_money on August 05, 2008, 10:02:29 am

Quote from: "jimfoo"

Try running power straight to the solenoid.

Exactly. Sounds like a bad ingintion switch.

Take an aligator clip or similar and put on end on the solenoid and one end on the + battery terminal.

Title: Running fine, then died, now won't turn over
Post by: drshoebocks on August 05, 2008, 11:05:43 am

When you are talking about the solenoid, is this the starter solenoid or the fuel shutoff solenoid?

Title: Running fine, then died, now won't turn over
Post by: jtanguay on August 05, 2008, 11:25:38 am

Quote from: "drshoebocks"

When you are talking about the solenoid, is this the starter solenoid or the fuel shutoff solenoid?

fuel shut off solenoid.  1 wire going to it and on drivers side of the pump.  there have been cases of the solenoid not getting enough juice, so it opens just enough to give a little fuel, but not enough to keep the motor running...

Title: Running fine, then died, now won't turn over
Post by: burn_your_money on August 05, 2008, 03:11:07 pm

It could also be that the solenoid crapped out. You should be able to hear a faint click with your ear close to it and cycling power to it on and off

Title: Running fine, then died, now won't turn over
Post by: gigaz2 on August 06, 2008, 04:48:44 am

wrenchhead solution: take selenoid out, remove piston and spring, bolt again.

I wouldn't do it unless on an emergency, you won't have any (civilized) way to shut down the engine.

could also be the timing on the pump, somehow jumped a tooth or something, can you check timing?

or, as said before, air in the pump.

Title: Running fine, then died, now won't turn over
Post by: Smokey Eddy on August 22, 2008, 07:13:36 pm

could the solenoid previously mentioned not getting enough juice cause hard starting? OR is it sort of a yes or no deal? (yes being runing no being not at all)

Title: Finally got around to messing with the truck today
Post by: drshoebocks on October 13, 2008, 02:19:19 pm

I attached a wire directly from the battery to the fuel solenoid.  I heard a faint click when I attached power to it.  When I did this the glow plugs wouldn't cycle and the red led on the dash was on even if the key wasn't turned.  
Regardless with the battery attached to the solenoid directly I still couldn't get it running.  It fires right up and then dies immediately.  If I continue to crank it sort of runs, but as soon as I let go of the key it dies.  I assume this is the starter making it run.  Fuel looks good going from the filter to the pump, it has oil, and I'm not sure what to try next.  I assume I should start going through the timing procedure, which I have never done.  Any advice?

Title: Running fine, then died, now won't turn over
Post by: zukgod1 on October 13, 2008, 02:35:53 pm

How long are you cranking it?
If you sucked air in the pump OR if the filter got some air in it some how you have to crank the livin piss out of it to get the air out.

It's not easy but crank crank crank.....

Title: Running fine, then died, now won't turn over
Post by: drshoebocks on October 13, 2008, 02:47:02 pm

Checked for air leaks both at the filter and at the pump.

Title: Running fine, then died, now won't turn over
Post by: dillenger1 on October 13, 2008, 03:26:52 pm

what about the ignition?If the spring isnt returning to the run position it would kill power.It would also cause the sarter to run the motor.The bendix mat not be returning.

Title: Running fine, then died, now won't turn over
Post by: zukgod1 on October 13, 2008, 03:30:53 pm

If not for the fact he's already tried it by running power directly to the fuel cut off solenoid.
So he's already by passed the ignition.

Title: Running fine, then died, now won't turn over
Post by: dillenger1 on October 13, 2008, 03:39:31 pm

sorry :oops:

Title: Running fine, then died, now won't turn over
Post by: burn_your_money on October 13, 2008, 04:15:42 pm

Try disconnecting the feed and return line from the fuel filter/pump and stick them both into a jerry can. If it works, hook one back up and repeat. If it doesn't work, your fuel system is fine

Title: Running fine, then died, now won't turn over
Post by: drshoebocks on October 13, 2008, 06:08:34 pm

Interesting
But this wouldn't rule out bad timing, correct?

Title: Running fine, then died, now won't turn over
Post by: Turbinepowered on October 13, 2008, 06:34:37 pm

Quote from: "drshoebocks"

Interesting
But this wouldn't rule out bad timing, correct?

Tyler's suggestion will help you weed out whether it's your fuel system or something pump/engine related.

If your problem is just bubbles in your fuel system, then the engine will start and run just fine with both hoses in a can of diesel.

If the problem is not in your fuel supply system, then the engine will do its normal problem while the fuel lines are sitting poked in a can of diesel.

Title: Running fine, then died, now won't turn over
Post by: burn_your_money on October 13, 2008, 07:02:33 pm

It doesn't sound like a timing issue to me. You probably would have heard some really bad sounds as the vavles smoked the pistons, or if the pump was loose it would slowly run worse and worse as it rotated out of time. Or it would surge really bad.

Title: Running fine, then died, now won't turn over
Post by: drshoebocks on October 14, 2008, 06:45:06 am

I'll do the fuel check today and report back.