Hello all, This is my first post as a new member. I am new to the diesel scene but I am not new to fixing things myself. I have purchased a USPS 1988 Chevy P30 Stepvan with a 6.2L diesel for a song in non running condition. I figured I should be able to fix it as I can fix almost anything. Boy how I was wrong. Here's what I have done:

When I bought the van, it had been sitting for about 7 years, so I checked the transmission fluid, it was fine, I checked the radiator fluid, also looked great. I changed the oil and filter, also the fuel filter. I added 10 gals of fresh diesel to the tank along with diesel stabilizer. The glowplugs were smoked so I changed those, and also the glowplug controller. The terminals to the glowplugs were falling apart so I replaced those as well. At that point I figured I would have a running system. So I hooked up some jumpers to my explorer and attempted to start, I opened the air bleed and fuel was comming out when I turned it over, I took a sample and it looked ok to me. I then contunued to turn it over to no avail and started to melt my jumpers so I stopped for the night. At this point I decided to buy a few books, to takle any electrical problems. It seems someone knew just enough to be dangerous with clipped wires and flag jumpers and garbage crimp connections. I checked all the fuses and all were ok. I used a test light on the fuel shut off, it's getting power, I checked the glow plug connectors and power, checked all the glow plugs and they read about 1 ohm. The glow plug light does not come on the dash when I turn the key so i thought, maybe the glow plug controller was bad, so I got some better cable and jumped the controller like a manual glowplug switch. They heat up so they must be working. Tried to start, no go. Moved onto a fuel problem, cranked with injector lines disconnected, barely a drop out of them... I thought these were high pressure lines!?! I then took off the fuel filter assembly and cranked the engine, fuel out of the outlet, so i figured I was ok, put the filter assembly back on, got a leak out of the sensor, so I bypassed the whole filter assembly with a line and inline filter just to check it. Still had fuel, and then all of the sudden, no fuel from lift pump. Must be an empty tank so I disconnect the inlet to the lift pump and the return to the tank and attached some new hose to the lift pump and return and put them in a can with a new batch of diesel. The lift pump would not pull up fuel, so it must be a worn lift pump. Got a new lift pump, installed it, put lines back into the gas can of diesel, still will not pull up fuel! Now I am baffled. So, I take some line and hook it up to the injector pump line, with an inline filter, fill up the line with diesel, stick it in a small jug of diesel, run the return line into said jug, bypassing the lift pump. Still wont pull fuel. What the hell am I missing? Im pretty good with gas engines... Do I need new injectors and an IP??

I thank you in advance for your guidance. Perhaps I would be better off selling this thing for scrap

 

maybe your return line is clogged

 

I am typing this in part to help you and in part to get you more help. the mechanical pump on your 6.2 my not be able to pull fuel. I am not sure someone else mat be able to answer that. What i do know is my pump in down hill from my fuel tank. Try setting your fuel can above the lift pump see if that does anything. If not sorry I wasn't more help.

 

yes try taking lines off mechincal pump on pass. side of motor and stick one hose in fuel and have some one crank engine and see if pulling fuel. it works just like a gas engine. if no fuel change $15.00 mechincal pump. if you have fuel hook back up and remove fuel line to injector pump and crank engine if no fuel u have plugged fuel line replace it if u have fuel you will need a injection pump.

 

Gibson did you get you diesel going?

 

I guess he either got it running or scrapped it out LOL.

 

Hello all, I did not get an email saying I had responses. I have yet to get this going, I have come down to the IP. I have a rather lengthy thread going here :

Question: 1988 Chevy 6.2L help - Diesel Place : Chevrolet and GMC Diesel Truck Forums

I have a new IP on the way, let me know what you guys think about the whole novel that went on in this thread and if you have any insight

Thanks!!