diesel run away tonight while going down the road

[warhog]

Well apparently the alternator seized up on them while in their possesion. I brought it to them friday to change the alt, and fix the other issues. But I brought it to them with the alt only squeeling and grinding...still charging and and spinning fine. So the guy tells me over the phone I also needed two new belts because they were dry rotted. I asked him how that happens so quickly, he said it doesn't, just time. I had enough of his bananas and got the owner on the phone, she looked over the work order, apologized up and down, and only had me pay for the alternator (at shop cost). Got a week free rental car too It started like a champ when I hopped in, and everything seems kosher. I bet you all were right, the fuel leak was causing the starting issues. Thanks again guys!

Can't wait to get my tires mounted this weekend!

 

[79jasper]

Good deal man. Did you have to sweet talk her? Lol

 

[warhog]

haha, nah, she knew i was quite upset. I asked her why she okayed installing any parts before calling me, maybe i wanted a better alternator than they picked out, maybe i wanted one I found at the dump, who knows, but she coulda asked. Her and the co owner know enough to take care of me, a lot of money goes through my hands to them and we've helped eachother out quite a bit over time. It's some of the tech's there that need to not half ass their jobs.

 

[GOOSE]

When it's fairly warm out (40 degrees plus) even if it's been sitting, i turn the key and it cranks for MAYBE a full second and it's running. I mean, quicker than any car i've driven. You might as well push a button it's that fast.

That's a fresh pump and injectors. Isn't it great?

 

[79jasper]

Well that's good. I'm sure you love the truck now. You hadn't really driven it before the "new" engine did you?

 

[warhog]

Nope, very little. It's great now. Once I get the tires on and an alignment i'll be able to decide how far to tear into the steering next. That's really my last major gripe with it. I'll have to post up a picture of a bushing I found in the glove box when I got the truck. It's brand new, so something obvious tells me someone said to replace it, and he bought the bushing and never put it on. I'll end up running through them all eventually, but want to tackle the main things first!

edit: and figure out why it runs out of fuel so quick. Both tanks go empty and yet (i forget exact numbers) but like 12gal in front and 9 in the rear no matter how buried the fuel needle is.

 

[79jasper]

Just like Johnny Cash sang, "one piece at a time."

 

[ZWilson07]

Nope, very little. It's great now. Once I get the tires on and an alignment i'll be able to decide how far to tear into the steering next. That's really my last major gripe with it. I'll have to post up a picture of a bushing I found in the glove box when I got the truck. It's brand new, so something obvious tells me someone said to replace it, and he bought the bushing and never put it on. I'll end up running through them all eventually, but want to tackle the main things first!

edit: and figure out why it runs out of fuel so quick. Both tanks go empty and yet (i forget exact numbers) but like 12gal in front and 9 in the rear no matter how buried the fuel needle is.

why on earth are the 2 tanks that small?

Was that something that was installed by the shop or a previous owner? Stock is def not that size and even if a tank needed to be replaced, I dont know why anyone would do that; even if they were trying to just save money on 2 smaller tanks. That does not even come close to seeming reasonable in the slightest!

 

[SyicoIDI]

First off glad to see everything worked out for you Warhog. Now you do indeed have a good story to tell. Aside from stuffing a shirt down the air intake I have also heard of smothering the engine with a C02 fire extinguisher. Has anyone else heard of this method and know if it works without any ill effects on the engine?

 

[79jasper]

I've heard of that. Actually it was for a sled pulling truck. I'm not sure that it'd go without harm though.

 

[warhog]

why on earth are the 2 tanks that small?

Was that something that was installed by the shop or a previous owner? Stock is def not that size and even if a tank needed to be replaced, I dont know why anyone would do that; even if they were trying to just save money on 2 smaller tanks. That does not even come close to seeming reasonable in the slightest!

I don't think actually ARE that small. What vehicle would even have a 9 gallon tank? Last night, dead empty both tanks...took 8.9 gallons and 5 gallons and gauge was pinned full.


Also, trucks going back to the shop again. Still won't start when cold and they ran my neg battery cable THROUGH my belts, and my power steering chewed it to hell.

I imagine they checked the fuel pressure but who knows...could my strange tank issues be related?

 

[icanfixall]

Ran the negative battery cable thru the belts.. Wow... Seems to continue no mattr what you do or say. Thats not a shop your taking it to for the work thats not being done. Thats a thief robbing you of precious time... You will never get back all the wasted time they keep spending you thru. Money can't buy back time on your lifeline. Sadly I have no words that can explain how upsetting this shop has made me feel for all your heartaches they have put you thru... And to read the tire shop is now screwing with you.. Thats get a rope time or take no prisioners because you have to feed them. This has become one of those accidents that you can't look away from. I will continue to attempt to help but gess man... When will it end for you. Deep breath.. No postal thoughts... Maybe a nice walk in the sunny west coast weather will help...

 

[warhog]

haha, luckaly it takes a lot for me to get angry. Frusterated sure, but it's just a truck, there's worse problems in the world than mine.

Dropped it off at the shop tonight for the hard starting in colder weather. Mech told me "Mine wont start either when its cold out" is yours a $7000 fresh reman? "no. but thats just the way it is, its a ford thing." not quite. don't touch my truck please.

The mech whos actually going to look at it says he'll start from checking the whole glow plug relay and work his way around from there. we'll see what happens.

 

[GOOSE]

haha, luckaly it takes a lot for me to get angry. Frusterated sure, but it's just a truck, there's worse problems in the world than mine.

Dropped it off at the shop tonight for the hard starting in colder weather. Mech told me "Mine wont start either when its cold out" is yours a $7000 fresh reman? "no. but thats just the way it is, its a ford thing." not quite. don't touch my truck please.

The mech whos actually going to look at it says he'll start from checking the whole glow plug relay and work his way around from there. we'll see what happens.

How cold? My truck will start in one revolution of the flywheel, one cycle of the glowplugs, down to 13*F, at least that's the coldest i have been able to test it here in South Jersey. I say there is something overlooked, good luck man.

 

[warhog]

Thanks! A properly running diesel should have NO problem starting in the cold without a block heater. Mine won't start below 45 degrees F! That's unacceptable. It'll crank and crank and crank. Might take me 4 tries sometimes then it just coughs up grey smoke like a chimney and I have to keep tapping the throttle pedal for a few seconds to keep it alive.