NO START...HELP!

[dick6jane]

6.2 No Start: Glow plug circuit okay; 12v to shut-off solenoid okay; new solenoid; new filter; lift pressure good; no air coming from tank; good fuel flow returning to solenoid housing; all 8 injector lines weeping; fires easily on same fuel squirted into manifold ports; will not fire when injector lines are tightened; fuel from tank looks uncontaminated. History: Water In Fuel light began to come on periodically; continued using the truck without investigating - totalling 100-miles +/-; stopping/re-starting often eliminated warning; performance gradually worsened. :( , :mad: & :confused:

[ 05-25-2004, 12:16 PM: Message edited by: More Power ]

[dick6jane]

CORRECTION: I meant to say "Good flow FROM the solenoid housing out of the single rubber line that I presume may be the one that lubricates the distribution part of the pump. Or it may be the primary feed for all I know. (But I WILL stick with it rather than admit to the old lady that I'm ready to back to gas!)

[gmctd]

As you did not say what year - pre-88 trucks Water-in-Fuel indicator was also vacuum alarm, where greater than 12" vacuum could cause 'no fuel' symptom.

Remove inlet fuel line at lift pump, blow-thru from tank - should show pressurized flow easily.

Do same from lift pump out line to filter.

[dick6jane]

WOOPS! 1988; 6.2; high mileage. Today I learned that water is abrasive at 1500psi and can damage the pump and the injectors. Although unable to achieve rpms greater than the equivalent of 30-40mph, the truck came into the driveway under its own power. It doesn't seem reasonable to me that the injectors are now damaged enough to result in a no start. How does one loosen the supply line at the pump? I visualize a very unique wrench with "Smokey Stover" on the handle.

[gmctd]

Inj pump inlet is back in center of injector pipe nest, under intake manifold.
Line at top front of ip is excess return line to tank, joins injector line returns at tubing manifold across top of timing cover, then to tank return line on frame.

If it was water in fuel, should have been some evidence of it out drain in bottom of filter.

I was refering to inlet line to lift pump as starting point to check for blackage.
System can show pressure, but not enough volume to run.

[NH2112]

You said "Although unable to achieve rpms greater than the equivalent of 30-40mph, the truck came into the driveway under its own power" and "performance gradually worsened" - these are the exact same symptoms I saw when my IP crapped out on me. Over a period of about a week it was taking more and more foot-feed to reach the same speed on my way to work, and finally about 3 miles from work she died going up a hill. I loosened the lines to check for fuel at the injectors and got none. Any idea how long it's been in the truck?

[dick6jane]

Oooh...injector pump. I do have weepage at the injector fittings. The two forward injectors (1L & 1R) are sopping wet. The next two are moderately wet. The next pair are somewhat wet and the last two are slightly wet. It took a lot of cranking to get them wet. I just read the article that recommends putting 5% to 10% motor oil in the fuel to raise the viscosity of the fuel and thereby verify that it is the pump. This is my fourth experience with what I presumed was a severe airlock. The first time it happened I installed an electric pump which I use only during a problem like this. If I disconnect the line at the top-front of the shut-off solenoid housing at the top of the motor, and run a second line into an 8-ounce bottle. It'll fill the bottle with 20-seconds of cranking time.
I also read repeatedly that I am supposed to have two drains on my fuel filter housing...the air bleed at the top-driver-side, and another water drain at bottom-passenger-side. I cannot find the latter.

[garysleeman]

Don't forget to check the hamonic balancer. I had the similar symtoms, rebuilt the IP and fuel injectors, nearly died when it ran no better. Found the balancer had broken the key off. Good luck.

[gmctd]

'82 and up trucks had Type 80 filter on firewall - water drain was on bottom.

'88 or so up trucks have filter on back of intake manifold, between heads - water drain is on coolant crossover in front.
Filter also has air bleed on top.

[catmandoo]

gmctd the filters on the 82 and 83 were the spin on type behind the intake,they didn't start the rectangular one on the firewall til 84.

[gmctd]

Good info - further explains the differing opinions on where the drains are located.

[dick6jane]

I haven't had a chance to work on it again and might not have any time until next week. I appreciate the readers who have posted here. At this point I hesitate to blame the IP because my first experience was a doozie and I had supposed diesel professionals insisting the IP was at fault. That was four years ago and the problem turned out to be a pinhole in the supply line 1/4-in. out of the tank. It was so tiny that it didn't bleed fuel but it did suck air. Whereas this was a high-mileage commercial vehicle it is now driven only 1000-miles per year.

[NH2112]

I wouldn't point a finger at the IP either, not till all other avenues were exhausted. doing the IP can be a pretty expensive mistake if it still doesn't work afterward!

[More Power]

Cranking speed?

Has cranking speed slowed over this same time period? Faster cranking speed improves cylinder pressure and injector pop pressure (better atomization).

MP