Driving down the intestate and she just died.

tompands

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I took my great running 1989 f350 Tow truck out for a tow job yesterday. Towed the vehicle to it's destination and was on my way home. I stopped for fuel and continued on. Got back on the interstate and in about 3 miles, the old girl acted like she ran out of fuel. Tried to crank her back but wouldn't hit a lick. Then I noticed my WTS light wasn't lighting up. Must have something to do with it. I'm thinking it might be that cheap Borg Warner glow plug controller. And right before it died, I noticed my oil pressure gauge was very low, I read on here if you have low oil pressure they will not run-is that true ? I was registering on the low side of the good pressure side of the gauge. It was right there on the line. I was thinking about changing the oil today but never made it home.
The funniest part of this breakdown was I called a good friend of mine to come help me get it off the interstate. He shows up and he's 3 sheets to the wind. We hook his Explorer to the f350 with a strap from dollar general. Now I'm praying. I said just go up the shoulder, easy, until we get to the next exit and pull off. We didn't even know if the explorer would pull this beast. He starts pulling me, realizes it will pull it and get out in the slow traffic lane. Takes me up to 70mph and pulls me 10 miles , like that, all the way to my house. It was scary and funny , all at the same time. I was white knuckling it all the way home. I havent done anything like that in 30 years.
Any taker on my what my problem could be ?
 

franklin2

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Since you have the piece that is melted in the other post, I suspect you do not have any power to the IP. I can't find that relay in the diagrams, but on these engines they have one circuit that runs most everything on top of the engine, including the glowplug controller. If this circuit is dead, you will not have any power to the fuel shut off inside the IP.
 

Cubey

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It wouldn't need glow plugs to restart if its warmed up so we can rule that out unless it damaged the wiring or blew fuses without being used (ie, driving down the road)

I say turn the key on and try disconnecting and reconnecting the fuel shut off valve wire. It should make a loud click. That's the only thing that actually stops these engines from running like you describe.

Well, actually it could also be the fuel pump. Check the oil for being overfilled and having a diesel smell if you have the mechanical fuel pump still.
 

franklin2

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Here is a diagram of the circuit to the IP

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1988 diesel engine wiring
 

The_Josh_Bear

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Here is a diagram of the circuit to the IP

You must be registered for see images attach
1988 diesel engine wiring
See that cube thing OP pictured in his other post seems like a relay but I dont see it on the diagram. Maybe it's just a junction? Either way pull that thing out of the clip and check it out.

Anyway the above posters have you all set. Glad it didnt break down during the tow! I always get a chuckle when a tow truck needs a tow.

Your buddy has a couple problems too, though-- he may have burnt up the slushbox on the explorer towing like that and of course the part where he's driving drunk is not good.
 

Thewespaul

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Its just a dummy plug, they are usually melted like that but dont seem to cause issues.
 

Golden Helmet

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And right before it died, I noticed my oil pressure gauge was very low, I read on here if you have low oil pressure they will not run-is that true ? I was registering on the low side of the good pressure side of the gauge. It was right there on the line. I was thinking about changing the oil today but never made it home.
That's a Powerstroke thing, they use high pressure engine oil to pop the injectors. As far as the gauge reading low, don't trust the stock oil pressure gauges, they're just glorified dummy lights. You can put a real gauge on it if you're concerned about oil pressure, but that wouldn't be why it died (unless you hear a rod leave the engine, then oil might be your problem LOL )
 

tompands

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That's a Powerstroke thing, they use high pressure engine oil to pop the injectors. As far as the gauge reading low, don't trust the stock oil pressure gauges, they're just glorified dummy lights. You can put a real gauge on it if you're concerned about oil pressure, but that wouldn't be why it died (unless you hear a rod leave the engine, then oil might be your problem LOL )
I think I have that issue corrected. I change my oil and filter, removed the old sender , put a Tee in and installed a new sender AND a manual gauge. showing 50lbs now.
 

tompands

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It wouldn't need glow plugs to restart if its warmed up so we can rule that out unless it damaged the wiring or blew fuses without being used (ie, driving down the road)

I say turn the key on and try disconnecting and reconnecting the fuel shut off valve wire. It should make a loud click. That's the only thing that actually stops these engines from running like you describe.

Well, actually it could also be the fuel pump. Check the oil for being overfilled and having a diesel smell if you have the mechanical fuel pump still.
I did a oil change and started to check around the FSS. Found the connectors were not very tight. I decided to open up the FSS and found the FSS was working BUT has 3 cracks in it. Diesel has to be going thru those cracks and into the insides of the solenoid. What it does then, I have no idea. I plugged the solenoid in when it was removed and it works but bolted on and full of diesel-I don't know-has to be shorting out somehow. I ordered a new one. See what happens. You say it should make a LOUD click. When it was still on I checked it and it was only making a very low click.
 

Shadetreemechanic

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check behind the battery on the passenger side. There are a series of fusible links there coming off the solonoid. They tend to fry slowly and cause that side of road issue in these trucks. I had one in my 85 that would leave us stranded every couple weeks, but you could grab the wire bundle behind battery and shake it and it would come back to life. Finally found it and no problem since.
 

Cubey

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I did a oil change and started to check around the FSS. Found the connectors were not very tight. I decided to open up the FSS and found the FSS was working BUT has 3 cracks in it. Diesel has to be going thru those cracks and into the insides of the solenoid. What it does then, I have no idea. I plugged the solenoid in when it was removed and it works but bolted on and full of diesel-I don't know-has to be shorting out somehow. I ordered a new one. See what happens. You say it should make a LOUD click. When it was still on I checked it and it was only making a very low click.

Loud in the sense that you don't have to put your ear to it. You might see and hear arcing as the connection is close but not quite touching. Mine is fairly loud.
 

tompands

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Well ok, I installed my new fuel shut off solenoid today and it was a good one, not Chinese junk, and still no start. It has power to the solenoid, so thats not the problem. I am now leaning towards fuel pump....what else could it be. This happened right after I got fuel, hope the fuel wasn't tainted. I don't smell any gas in the tank.
 

franklin2

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If you think it's bad fuel, pull the fuel filter, dump it out, and put some good fuel in it and screw it back on. If when you pulled the filter off it was half full, then you might have a fuel pump problem. If it was full, maybe you do have a fuel quality problem, putting good fuel in the filter should make it do something eventually, even if it just coughs.
 

tompands

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If you think it's bad fuel, pull the fuel filter, dump it out, and put some good fuel in it and screw it back on. If when you pulled the filter off it was half full, then you might have a fuel pump problem. If it was full, maybe you do have a fuel quality problem, putting good fuel in the filter should make it do something eventually, even if it just coughs.
I just changed the oil and all filters. Fuel filter was full. refilled with clean diesel and it still is starting hard. It starts and runs about a minute and dies. Then wont restart unless I crank hell out of it. I hate to change the fuel pump without knowing if it's bad or not, looks like a pain in the a$$ job. Some people say to put an electric pump on it. I read one post where the guy said to replace the manual pump AND put an electric pump inline. who should I believe. any advise would be appreciated.
 

DrCharles

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Do not put an electric pump inline. If it's before the mechanical, and if (when) the mechanical pump's diaphragm cracks, the electric will fill your crankcase with diesel...
And if you put it after, the mechanical when defective will be an unnecessary restriction at best, or an air intrusion at worst.
 

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