Just got home.. Had to watch my truck leave on the back of a tow truck!


My fuel was getting low but the light hadn't come on yet and the DIC said I was good for 45 miles. I've found the gauge pretty accurate so far. Accellerating to 50mph the truck bogged while going through 4th gear, then about 10 seconds later died. I coasted it in neutral to a side road, I figured my fuel gauge was screwed and I ran out of fuel. I turned the engine over to be sure and it fired up, then stalled a couple seconds later. Tried it again and it wouldn't fire.


My buddy came by and we went and got 2 gallons of diesel at the gas station, came back and dumped it in.. Still no go on the starting. I backed out the bleeder screw and got sprayed with diesel.. Hmm.. pumped the primer a few times, got diesel everywhere, screwed the bleeder back in and tried again. Still no go, it didn't even sputter, just turned over and over and over with no luck.


I know I didn't run out of fuel now. The gas light didn't come on, even after turning the ignition on after it stalled. Adding two gallons brought it half way up to the 1/4 mark. I can hear the fuel pump working under the hood when they key is turned on.


Any ideas?http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Dead.gif

FYI - I had that issue with aux tank, it was picking up air from the tank. I pumped WITHOUT opening the bleeder screw and it started right back up. Unforunately it happen several times before I changed the tank setup.

I don't know what you heard under the hood when you turned on the key, but it shouldn't have been a fuel pump.


Loss of prime maybe?

I couldn't hear any fuel pump noise by the fuel tank when the ignition would get turned on, but heard a similar sound under the hood.


I primed the system following the manual's instructions and it didn't help one bit.http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Disapprove.gif

There is no pump in the tank....

I wasn't sure where the fuel pump was, which is why I was listening around for it. Thought I heard it near the engine..

The only fuel pumps on a Dmax that I know of are mechanical, They don't do anything unless the engine is turning over. So there shouldn't be any electrical pump noise unless you added one, some people are.

Got a call from the dealer this morning, it had indeed run out of fuel. I am baffled by this, as my fuel gauge was still above the empty line when this occurred, the light had not come on, and the DIC said I was good for 45 miles. I've driven it well into the fuel light zone before and never run out of fuel.


Apparently you have to pump the primer ~100 times to refill the system. Too bad the manual doesn't say this or I could have avoided the tow. I only pumped it half a dozen times or so.


They're putting a new sensor on for the fuel gauge.. I can't imagine why mine did this though. I don't fill to the cap, I only fill it until it clicks off. I try to never let it run down to the fuel light. I thought doing these practices might keep the fuel gauges more accurate?


The only variable I can think of is I had the 90hp Juice hooked up for a day on this tank.. Can't imagine how that would cause a problem with the fuel gauge sensor though.http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Ermm.gif

Juice likely did it. The juice makes the truck think it is getting better fuel milage then it really is. This will throw the milage to empty off and perhaps even the low fuel light. I have seem my truck say that I can go another 60 miles left then put it more fuel then the capacity which means it is really empty. I have never run out though http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gif





You have to pump the primer as many times as necessary until fuel flows out the bleader.Edited by: Max Power

I lways fill about a gallon after it clicks off.... My guage always reads just a little over full... i have never run it out but my DIC has said 27 miles on it before with no low fuel light... filled it up with 23.5 gallons..... Weird....


Maybe your guage stuck.... either the sender or the guage.....

Camstyn


My truck is at the dealer now with 3500 miles it started then stalled and would not start after that. I have the juice as well my fuel gauge showed fuel DIC said 40 miles to go still no start. I talked to the techs working on it they said they would try putting fuel in it have not heard from them yet I feel your pain. This was 3 days ago I am having Dmax withdrawals I need my truck man.


Shaydog

Max Power, the strange thing is, I didn't even have to pump it for fuel to come out the bleeder. As soon as I loosened it half a turn fuel squirted out, I pumped it a few times for good measure and fuel was coming out.

Shaydog, what's taking your dealer so long? Mine got towed in late late last night, and got the call that it was finished at 9 this morning.http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Ermm.gif

I wish I knew I talked to them today still no word I am getting mad http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Angry.gif but what the F can I do I think I will be talking to the service manager today if I dont here any thing.


Shaydog

Its just as easy to drive on the top half of the tank as the bottom half. Then I got married http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Ermm.gif


Now she drives her car on the top half and I drive on the bottom half http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Disapprove.gifEdited by: ShumDit

<font size="2">


Camstyn


My truck is at the dealer now with 3500 miles it started then stalled and would not start after that. I have the juice as well my fuel gauge showed fuel DIC said 40 miles to go still no start. I talked to the techs working on it they said they would try putting fuel in it have not heard from them yet I feel your pain. This was 3 days ago I am having Dmax withdrawals I need my truck man.


Shaydog</font>

Try six weeks http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Cry.gif

Talked to the Dmax tech again today I was pissed off because my truck has been just sitting there. They have looked at it but there is only one Dmax tech and there were 2 cars before me so I have to wait. He says it will go in tomorrow he is going to take the valve covers off to check the injectors its loosing fuel pressure and that's what they think is causing it. The bad news is injectors are on national backorder they are being built to order it will take weeks to get them in http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Cry.gifthis sucks.


Shaydog

I just had my truck towed to another dealer 15 miles down the road these jerks at my local dealership have let my truck sit for 4 days now http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Angry.gif I have had enough. I went over there and said I was going to have it towed to another dealship and they said OK they did not even care screw them from now on it goes to the other dealship.


Shaydog

That sucks man, I hope the other dealer cares more about their customers!

Since you were towing....never mind, MI is a long ways.


Erichttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Cool.gif

Hi Guys,

This is my first post. Thanks to Hoot for turning me on to this page. Shydog 24 cross your fingers you have the same problem I had. I was 400 miles from home and my truck just shut off. To make it worse it was 4 am in the morning. After a 2 hour wait for the tow truck, a 5 minute ride to the nearest dealer, and 2 hours of waiting for them to open they found a realy simple cause. The drain screw on the bottom of the fuel filter came loose just enought to suck air but not enought to leak fuel. 20 minutes after they opened I was back on the road for home.

Poolrebel

Welcome Jay (Poolrebel),

Good to see you posting. You were fortunate the dealer was able to diagnose that so quickly. Was that the original filter?

hoot

poolrebel


Thanks for the input I will mention that but they think it is the injectors since I had blown some white smoke before the problem is actually getting someone to work on it long enough to figure it out hopefully this dealership will take care of it I know some people there that might help I will find out Monday. If go down there and my truck is still sitting in the same place I think I might Tow it to Eric in MI.http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gif.


Thanks


Shaydog

Well this other dealer did not mess around I towed it there on Friday the started on it Saturday. They called me Monday morning to tell me they were working on it then the tech called me around noon to tell me they think it ran out of gas. They could not get it to start at first they hooked up some machine to check the injectors and when they turned it over it started and it has run fine ever since. I cant believe it I guess the juice might have had something to do with it (I did not tell them that) because the computer said 40 miles until empty and they gauge showed a little les then a quarter tank. Anyway all I know is this dealership rocks they did what the said and kept me informed on what was going on and it seems like they really care about getting me back on the road. The tech &amp; the manager want to put some miles on it to be sure but I think I will get my baby back tomorowhttp://dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Clap.gif.








Shaydog

the tech called me around noon to tell me they think it ran out of gas. ... I cant believe it I guess the juice might have had something to do with it .


Shaydog





Sounds good Dog http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Clap.gifbut must point out that I have run my Juice unit for well over 30,000 miles and can assure you it doesn't work well when it comes to pepping up a D'max in a truck that is out of fuel!! http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Evil Smile.gif http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Confused.gif http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Evil Smile.gif


Jim

I'm late replying on this, partly because I only just registered. My own experience may shed some light, if not - well, just ignore this reply.

My chassis/cab was delivered with an average fuel economy reading of 11.2 MPG. No huge surprise, it had been loaded and unloaded a couple of times, moved around the dealer's lot, my short test drive, into and out of the shop and prep area, etc. When I took delivery I got TWO full tanks of fuel (~50 US gallons) and the "range" indicated about 560 miles available. I didn't log the details, but on my first long'ish trip (about 150 miles) the range increased to 651 at one point as the average fuel economy rose to 15.1
Explanation: Clearly it wasn't "making fuel" as I was driving - I just WISH ! I was "babying" it and getting good mileage, it was making adjustments to the range estimate "in real time", i.e. the estimate was getting more accurate based on the average of the delivery mileage and my driving. I think I had about 300 miles on it before the range started to drop back. I'm sure if I plotted the data (that I don't have) a couple of curves would cross there. I still think the range as displayed in my truck is pessimistic and will continue to be if I continue driving "conservatively", though the effect of those early delivery miles will be diluted as my total mileage increases.

Camstyn appears to have had an experience that is almost opposite to mine, i.e. went from (relatively) economic to somewhat more errrr, shall we say "sporty" ? Causing the range estimate to be optimistic based on the pre-juice driving style. e.g. 45 miles based on long term average (total to date).

Opinion, just mine. Share if you wish, or discard (-:

\ArrBee

<font size="2"> </font>Well this other dealer did not mess around I towed it there on Friday the started on it Saturday. They called me Monday morning to tell me they were working on it then the tech called me around noon to tell me they think it ran out of gas. They could not get it to start at first they hooked up some machine to check the injectors and when they turned it over it started and it has run fine ever since. I cant believe it I guess the juice might have had something to do with it (I did not tell them that) because the computer said 40 miles until empty and they gauge showed a little les then a quarter tank. Anyway all I know is this dealership rocks they did what the said and kept me informed on what was going on and it seems like they really care about getting me back on the road. The tech & the manager want to put some miles on it to be sure but I think I will get my baby back tomorow&lt;IMG id=chkImg1 onmouseover="this.style.cursor='hand'" onmouseout="this.style.cursor=''" alt="Click on image to open in new window" src="http://dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Clap.gif" border=0 name=chkImg2&gt;.








Shaydog&lt;!-- Signature --&gt;

Great news....

They do go empty when on E..... The gauge sucks. I know when I'm on E she takes like 25 gallons in a 26 gallon tank. Take no chances. 3/4 of the fuel is from the half mark..up

I find this topic interesting. Me pappy taught me that it does not cost any more to use the top half of tank than the bottom. You do not run out that way. I do not know how low my unit will get as I have never seen the DIC indicate less that 150 miles to go.


I sure luv this truck

Since were talking about the DIC estimate on range I would like to share an experience or two with you. When my truck was still on its first tank the DIC was still learning. I was watching the miles till empty and determined that it was changing based on my current speed. If I was coasting allot and my miles till empty would go up unless I was going very slowly. When I was sitting still for a few minuets the miles to empty would decrease to almost nothing. I was patiently waiting for the light to come on when it got down to 30 miles till empty I got a warning message and it no longer displayed how many miles till empty. It took almost 26 gallons to fill it up. (that was close). Since then it seems to have become more accurate.


This past weekend I managed to run out my first tank while towing. I was pretty close to empty when I shut the truck off that afternoon but it did say that I could go another 50 miles. The next morning when I fired it up the warning light was lit and again DIC stated to get fuel. I wonder why it didn't complain till after it sat overnight.


It seems that the miles till empty is only accurate if your driving pattern is consistent. All I know is if it says 1/4 of a tank I am looking for a gas station.

Cruz-man,
I think we agree. The RANGE estimate is just that, an estimate. From our experiences it it obvious (to me) that the estimate is based on "lifetime average" consumption. It would probably be worse and lead to other (worse ?) problems if it figured it any other way. I s'pose an algorithm that figures it based on the last n (user selectable) miles could work, but that wouldn't address the question of changing from heavy trailer on/off, changing mountainous to flat country or similar transitions. Around here (New England) a hundred miles can include VERY varied driving. In any case we need to be aware of the fuel guage, how we're driving and the likely distance to the next truck stop. As a previous poster said, there's nothing wrong with driving on the top half of the tank(s).

\ArrBee

I don't think it's based on lifetime average.. Reason I say so is because I can watch it start dropping if I drive it hard, even with 10k miles on the truck. About the same as it did when it was new.. Not sure how it reads it but I don't care, I'm not trusting it anymore!http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Dead.gif

Hmmm, You may be right http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Embarrased.gif
Can you get it (range) to increase if you baby it ?
Now I'm starting to think it might be based on most recent n gallons/hours/miles, perhaps user setable with a menu item. Either way, it isn't to be trusted to within 100 miles of filling up. I keep a paper log and often pass the time figuring the number of miles since the last fill, the approx economy (based on rough fractions of the fuel guage) and when I'd better find another pump. Too many years with old bikes that didn't have ANY reliability in their fuel guages I guess - but at least there was a 1/2 gallon reserve with those and if you were quick enough the bike barely sputtered (-:

ArrBee

I have been noticing a similar problem with the DIC "range" but also with the fuel gauge. I've noticed over the last 3 months, the fuel gauge reads full way too long. It reads full after i've used 7-8 gallons then starts to drops. At 1/2 full reading - i've used 20 gallons. Now I don't rely on the fuel gauge anymore. Range on the DIC is also off. The only readings that appear to be accurate is the 1) fuel usage - because when I refuel I'm almost right on compared with the fuel used; 2) Personal miles because when I calculate mileage using fuel usage and "personal miles" I come out to what mpg I've been getting 17-18 mpg.


I've got 30K on the truck now and its never had to visit the dealer yet - would you take the truck in for this problem? Almost hate to take it in for fear that they may create a problem down the road.

Go for it, they'll just put a new sensor in the tank. I've been told that you can lessen this problem by only pumping until it clicks off on its own, and not trying to top it off.

Gm Gas gage should read like this;


Full mark=you just drove 60 miles


3/4 mark=you just drove an additional 40 miles


1/2 mark=you just drove an additional 100 miles


1/4 mark= you just drove an additional 50 miles and if you can't see a gas/diesel station your in trouble.


'89 R2500 454 and a 35 gal tank.