Idi Died out of no where

[IDIBOBS]

So yesterday we load up the 1990 7.3 CCLB 4x4 auto for a dump run. We have no trash service so dump runs happen every 2-3 weeks. Everything goes fine. Great cold start and all. We park at the dump unload and start up again and off to the hay supplier. Load her up with 30 bales, pay the guy and start the truck. Go about 100 ft and the truck dies. Starts right back up and goes another 100 ft and dies. The truck started right back up again and was great the reset of the day, even took it to dinner in town with the wife. Zero issues. Starts up fine this morning and idles just fine, drove it around the yard and everything is cool. Dont know if the lift pump is going out or maybe the IP solenoid wire was loose. Maybe something in the ignition switch? I checked everything out and all seams fine. It was very strange. We live on very rough dirt roads so it gets knocked around pretty hard every day, but when it died i was a very flat soft dirt yard. Every fuel line cap and o ring is less then 3 months old. The lift pump is less then 3 years old and most of the wiring is less then a year old.

 

[Clb]

If it didn't smoke weirdly on restart, I'd be thinking fuel shutoff solenoid loosing power.
Once it's running the only thing that kills it is a no fuel / air situation to my knowledge ...

 

[IDIBOBS]

If it didn't smoke weirdly on restart, I'd be thinking fuel shutoff solenoid loosing power.
Once it's running the only thing that kills it is a no fuel / air situation to my knowledge ...

Agreed. That’s why I’m leaning towards is an electrical issue to the fuel shut off. Drove it again this morning into town for a few things and drives fine. So I guess I’m on the not worrying about it. Just drive it u till it stops running.

 

[The_Josh_Bear]

How did it die? Slowly over time or /done/? If it shut down fast I'd agree with the ignition switch or loose/broken wire to FSS. Could also be the FSS itself, been hearing about them failing lately on the forums.

 

[IDIBOBS]

How did it die? Slowly over time or /done/? If it shut down fast I'd agree with the ignition switch or loose/broken wire to FSS. Could also be the FSS itself, been hearing about them failing lately on the forums.

Yea I was high idling away from the hay stack with 3300lbs on the bed and it just shut off. Restarted fine and did it again about 100ft away. Then everything has been fine. I’m also figuring fss or wiring to the fss. I poked around some. But I’ll mess with it some more to see if I can replicate the problem.

 

[IDIBRONCO]

Run a temporary hot wire directly to the terminal for the FSS. That will help to determine if it's a wiring issue.

 

[KansasIDI]

Could it be something with the transmission?

 

[IDIBOBS]

Could it be something with the transmission?

No I do t think so. Trans is very new and built by a reputable builder I e used for years. I think the fss wire may have been loose or the fss is going out. Either way it’s been running great so im just gonna drive untill it stops running. Then I’ll find the problem.

 

[THSIM9]

Give her the ole wiggle and tap test. I’ve found electrical issues this way. Just wiggle the wiring harness feeding the FSS and the ignition switch wires under the dash, to see if you can replicate the issue and then repair/replace what is necessary.

As mentioned above I would carry a small premade wire that can run 12v direct to the FSS in case it dies and doesn’t want to restart next time.

 

[IDIBOBS]

Thanks all. So I figured it out. It did it again yesterday after pulling out of my parking spot at home. It started right back up so I wiggled the key and sure enough it died. Guess it’s time for a new ignition switch under the dash. Atleast now I know what the issue is.

 

[THSIM9]

If you can find motorcraft for the ignition switch I would recommend it. I tried a few cheaper replacements and they were never quite right. They worked but the key was always junk, and they didn't last long.

I customized a painless universal harness with a simple ignition switch and it fixed all my electrical demons, but it’s expensive and time consuming.

 

[Rdnck84_03]

@IDIBOBS the switch may just need adjusted, there is a good amount of adjustment.

James

 

[IDIBOBS]

@IDIBOBS the switch may just need adjusted, there is a good amount of adjustment.

James

Thanks I’ll look at it latter this afternoon.