Engine died driving down the road won't start.

[Cummins_Crazy]

I was driving to work this morning and the truck just shut off and will crank but not start. Fuel pressure is reading 15-17psi on gauge. Any help would be appreciated. I changed the VP 44 probably 50k ago.

[dripley]

Check for trouble codes is a good start.

[Cummins_Crazy]

Haven't got a scanner yet, but no codes with key turn. 

[dripley]

The key trick only reads the PCM on a 2000. You still may have some.

Could be many things with nothing else to go on.

[Cummins_Crazy]

Yea getting it towed home after work today and gonna scan it and see if there are any. No check engine light either. 

[dripley]

Loosen a couple injector lines and see if you coming out of them while cranking. Some codes wont light the cel.

[Evan]

I 2nd checking for fuel at injectors lines.

 

Pump can go with no codes mine did

[Cummins_Crazy]

Ok I'll try that tonight see if I get any fuel. 

Fuel pressure right before the VP is 16 she is trying to start but won't fire off. 

Can you starve the VP with big injectors if you let off the throttle to fast? 

[dripley]

I have read about that many years back but have no experience with it. 

[Cummins_Crazy]

Cracked the injectors got a bunch of fuel out of 3 and 4 started cranking tried to start did bless it again tighten them up and it started. Turned it off started it again fired right up. Any thoughts? 

[Dieselfuture]

On 2/20/2020 at 2:07 PM, Cummins_Crazy said:

Can you starve the VP with big injectors if you let off the throttle to fast? 

Yes, that's why you see big guys keep reving it up few times after a race. Mine came close a few times, like it wanted to die but didn't. I have a mild set up and still i could tell it didn't like it. Could be a weak vp, who knows. I was about to change mine when I first got the truck thinking it was going out and it been 10 years since lol. 

Edited February 24, 2020 by JAG1

[Cummins_Crazy]

Well I'm hoping that's all it was it starts now I haven't driven it I'm a little worried, don't want to break down somewhere again. It's got fuel pressure and fuel at the injectors and it starts so I'm stumped. 

[dripley]

Just remember if you get on it hard dont get off of it hard. 

[Cummins_Crazy]

Will do thanks for the help! If anything changes or happens I'll make sure I update. 

[JAG1]

Go for a short run and shut it down open the fuel cap slowly and listen for an air hissing sound. Could have clogged tank vent that starves the vp after enough suction builds in the tank. Also did you remove the screens in the tank? Mine were 1/3 clogged at 190,000. Cut those out and add a prefilter before the lift pump. Also on your Lift pump some had a small mesh screen inserted into the inlet side. Get needle nose and pull that out and throw away see if it is dirty.

 

 

[Cummins_Crazy]

Those vent lines still there with the airdog draw straw? 

[dripley]

The vent is the gray thing on the top left. It has no lines to it. Mine is the in tank pump basket. The OE looks a good bit different but I believe the vent is the same. 

[Cummins_Crazy]

I'll check that out and see if it has any crud on it. 

[Haggar]

Crazy,

 

Just keep a couple wrenches under the seat.  You can bleed it on the side of the road if you have to.  completely beats any of the alternatives.   The big thing is if you are on it hard, don't come off of it hard. 

Keep looking, there was another discussion on here about this same subject.  I think the consensus was that the dynamic compression ratio of the cylinder was enough to push compressed air backwards into the injectors.   I am not sure if I agree, but I have not run the numbers to get an idea.

 

GL

Hag