I pick up the truck for evaluation later this morning. Planning to take it to a local mechanic I trust who does lots of restorations. He's not a diesel guy, though. He'll mostly be looking at suspension, corrosion, etc. If he's happy, I have a diesel guy I trust who will look at the engine for me. I'm reading through the diagnostics section now.

The truck was owned by the Charlestown Mass Water Resources Authority. Charlestown is on the ocean, so sea air corrosion is a concern, particularly with the electronics (PMD?). It has a utility body and PTO that drove a compressor, maybe for a jackhammer? It has a hi/off/low idle control switch for the PTO. It has 87,000 miles on it, and looks like it was garaged. No rot. A few small rust spots inside the door jamb at the bottom corners.

The truck sat for the last 18 months. The owner had lost the title, so he couldn't register it. He has a replacement title now, but no longer needs the truck. Battery seems plenty strong when starting. I'm aware that stuff probably grew in the fuel during this time.

The truck had a check engine light, so the owner had a mechanic pull the code. It said it needed a crankshaft sensor. He's putting that in now. The owner also replaced a corroded brake line. The mechanic is also bleeding the brakes this morning.

I drove it around a gravel lot. I had to crank it a while to get it to start, maybe 4 seconds. battery seemed plenty strong. Yes, I waited for the glow plugs. 4wd, tranny and steering seem OK, at least in that limited test.

Today I put plates on it and test it on the road. I'll have a motorcycle in the back, so I won't be stranded if bad things happen. Then I take it to my guys for evaluation.

I'm working through the evaluation/diagnostics section, printing out stuff to check. I'd appreciate any words of wisdom from those who have trodden this path before me.

Thanks!
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Sounds like you have everything under control....let us now if the mechanic finds anything.

The owner's mechanic finished up around 10 this morning, and the truck was "starting right up"m. I arrived at noon to flat batteries. Jumping gets starter cranking, but the engine won't catch. I wasn't planning on this, and have only my cell.

Can someone tell me where the fuel filter is on a 98 crew cab sierra diesel? I'd look it up myself if I could from here.

Thanks,
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I spent some more quality time with the owner's mechanic. He pulled the codes and it says the glow plug module failed. He's off to the parts store. So the truck will have a new PMD, injector pump, camshaft sensor, filters, and glow plug module.

He said the camshaft sensor, glow plug module, and PMD work together, and a failure in either will cause failure to start.

So I'm thinking I need a way to pull codes. I'll dig through the archives for recommendations on devices for this.

Will try again once the new module is in place.

How did everything go for ya.

Waiting for parts. I'll post when we get the new glow plug module in.