The truck runs fine normally, other than some stiction symptoms. Two days ago, I tried to start it and it wouldn't start, and sounded like a fuel issue in my limited experience. Pulled the fuel filter (engine one, not lower one) and replaced it (it was brown, but a nice even brown, so I don't know if it was really that dirty, or just brown colored filter media). Anyway, truck sputtered and tried harder to start, blowing gray/white smoke. Eventually, it started and sputtered black smoke, surged up and down like I was bouncing on the gas pedal, and ran really ragged. After 15 minutes or so, it smoothed out. We drove it for 30 minutes or an hour, even getting on the highway and flooring it from stopped to 80, and it seemed fine. We stopped to do some work on someone else's house for an hour or so, and it started and ran fine afterwards, and we went home. Yesterday morning, it wouldn't start, and tried less than the day before. Turns over fine, but very seldom gets a kick like it has any fuel. Called Southern Diesel and they were going to send someone, but didn't know when, and suggested I change the o-ring on the fuel filter housing. I did that, killed the battery trying to start it, got the batteries charged and tried some more. Still didn't work, but Southern got their wires crossed somewhere. After sitting all day waiting for them to show and calling late in the evening, they told me they thought it was fixed and it was too late to send someone out.

Finally got hold of DT Mobile Mechanic Service, and he came out and says its the fuel pump. He sprayed a little ether in the breather and it tried to run on that, so nothing wrong with the injectors or engine. He gave me a part number this morning for the primary fuel pump, and I've changed that with no joy. Fuel flows into the secondary filter housing (seemingly without a problem to me).

I have a sending unit on order to pick up tomorrow. I'll drain and drop the tank and install that tomorrow unless someone tells me not to.

I'm currently squatting on someone else's property (technically, friend of a friend's vacant house that is under contract, so available for parking) in a 5th wheel RV. My fuel pressure gauge (that I've never even used for fuel pressure), air compressor, etc. are all packed up in a storage container in east texas with the rest of my house contents, so I'm limited to my bag of hand tools. We're supposed to leave for Georgia tomorrow, and were supposed to be taking the dogs and a last load of belongings to a friends house Thursday when the truck didn't start. My only internet is my company cell phone tethered to the laptop, so I can't even check the forum reliably. If you can offer any help to get me running tomorrow, call me. 817 601 5902. I need a good shop open tomorrow, or a good mobile mechanic, or just someone with tools, the knowledge to get it fixed, and more speed than me.

I can do all my own work, but diagnoses is VERY slow, and doing the actual work isn't much faster. So I'm fine when I'm not in the middle of trying to leave, but not so good in emergency repairs. If I can't get something done by tomorrow, I'm going to have to take it to a dealership and bend over. If they are even open; I know parts is open tomorrow until 4, but I don't know about service. Even if I can't get help to fix it tomorrow, I'd rather have another reputable shop to take it to than the dealership, but it can't be a busy shop with a 2 week backlog. The Georgia thing is sorta a vacation, but also has an absolute requirement component, so if the truck doesn't get fixed in time, I'll end up paying for a couple of plane tickets out there on top of paying to get the truck fixed.

So, sob story out of the way, all pertinent information out of the way, engine has EGR delete, and is stock otherwise, as far as I know (I bought it used). Only used when the family goes somewhere, only 85k or so on it, not raced or even any heavy hauling (haven't had the RV that long, and haven't hauled it anywhere except from purchase in austin 3 months ago, and then down the street to our current location 2 weeks ago).

Now, for other question: DT is telling me that he kept telling me it's the fuel pump and it's in the tank. As far as I can find in any diagram anywhere, there isn't a fuel pump in the tank. There is a level sending unit and a pickup, but no pump as far as I can tell. He's slightly peeved at me right now because I didn't get the in-tank pump, but I used the part number he gave me (e2340) which is the primary fuel pump, and I just figured he was mistaken about where the pump was. I know that the pickup could still be clogged or broken, but am I wrong and there's also a pump in there? Regardless, it sounds like he won't be able to come back out until monday or tuesday, so he can't do anymore of the work anyway.


Again, any help, suggestions, shop recommendations, please call 817 601 5902, as I can't reliably check this or get emails at the moment.

 

All fixed. I called IronHorse diesel, and they diagnosed it down to the FICM. What really sucks is that my iTSX tuner never did me much good as a tuner, but it would have pulled up the FICM voltage if it wasn't stored in a box in a storage container. The AutoZone code reader didn't show any codes, and didn't show the FICM voltage as an available pid, although I suppose I may have looked in the wrong spot.

Anyway, they diagnosed it, and were going to take it in to work on it, but wouldn't have had it ready until tuesday or so (because of labor day). I found a dealership close by that had a preprogrammed FICM in stock, managed to get there before they closed, and stuck that in. The truck started right up.

 

Glad you figured it out!
6.0 diag is very easy with a good scan tool. But very hard with no computer.

Btw. What southern diesel are you referring too?

 

Southern Diesel Repair in DFW.