Rookie Mistake
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 152
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From: State College, PA
Rookie Mistake
So I've been wondering for a while if my low fuel light works, turns out it doesnt. My fuel gauge randomly stopped working the other day so I planned to keep track of my miles and figure out about how far I could go. I was just about to fuel up when I ran out of diesel. I've read about how to restart a diesel after running out of fuel, but I was just wondering if anyone had any more tips. I put in about 4 gallons of diesel and some additive. Checked the fuel filter and there's plenty of fuel in it. I killed my batteries cranking when I first ran out of fuel. I hooked it up to jump start it, but didnt let the other vehicle run long enough to full charge my batteries (about to the "N" of normal on the battery gauge. It was close to turning over earlier, but wouldnt quite turn over. I've been priming it a handful of times before trying to start it each time, maybe like 6 or 7 times. What else can I do? I'm hoping with a few more gallons of fuel and fully charged batteries that I can get it started, but I was wondering if anyone else has any tips. I will not be letting this happen again, this has been a complete PITA.
Hotshot
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 10,410
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From: Plankinton, SD
You need to get a charger on the batteries if you haven't yet, that will help to get it to turn over faster so it will fire. Otherwise, make sure the bowl stays full and crank it in 20 second spurts or so, not constant so your starter takes a beating.
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2010
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From: State College, PA
I had it hooked up to my battery charger this morning, but I live in an apartment complex and the maintenance people unplugged it because it was plugged in inside a hallway. I could pull the batteries out and charge them inside, but that seems like more work than trying to jump it. I suppose I could plug in the battery charger at night and hope they dont notice.
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 152
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From: State College, PA
Did they not have low fuel lights? I wasn't sure because my 4x4 light and low range lights arent working so I wasnt sure if the light was just out or if it didnt have one. Now I know.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 475
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From: Pugetopolis
No low fuel light on mine. Didn't know there was one.
I've run out on the freekway a couple of times trying to stretch a tank and see where that "point" is, and when I hit it I pop the switch to the other tank and keep the thing rolling in gear and it catches the new fuel within 10 seconds or so.
I've run out on the freekway a couple of times trying to stretch a tank and see where that "point" is, and when I hit it I pop the switch to the other tank and keep the thing rolling in gear and it catches the new fuel within 10 seconds or so.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Elkhorn, WI
Most likely your transfer case sensor is bad. My lights didn't work either and I replaced the sensor in the tcase and it solved the problem. It also changes the shifting in 4low
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2009
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From: Western NC
You might want to check fuse #22 in the under the hood fuse box.
If you can't get a charger on the truck with the batteries in it, then pull the batteries out, they need to be fully charged. A jump start probably won't get ya going. You will need to have the batteries up to get the engine spinning fast enough to build up compression to fire. Then figure ya got to get the injectors to purge the air out before it will fire. Make sure you fully charge up BOTH batteries.
Also it is VERY hard on the starter to turn over the engine with low voltage to it.
Don't cut corners, you will pay for it later.
If you can't get a charger on the truck with the batteries in it, then pull the batteries out, they need to be fully charged. A jump start probably won't get ya going. You will need to have the batteries up to get the engine spinning fast enough to build up compression to fire. Then figure ya got to get the injectors to purge the air out before it will fire. Make sure you fully charge up BOTH batteries.
Also it is VERY hard on the starter to turn over the engine with low voltage to it.
Don't cut corners, you will pay for it later.
Tuned
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 462
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From: Lovettsville, VA
You can jump start a 250, but you need something fairly heavy. I've successfully jumped mine off my 07 Ranger before. But after running around town for over an hour, the batteries had not charged enough to start it again (it was so dead the glow plugs wouldn't even come on and I lost the radio pre-sets). I ended up buying charger and letting it sit all night.
I've run my dry before (fuel pump was intermittent for a while) and it wasn't that hard to restart. After I replaced the fuel pump, it only took about 10 seconds of cranking to start. Given the amount of diesel fuel on my garage floor, I couldn't have had much more than the fuel in the lines, and lots of air to be sure. It ran really rough for about 60 seconds or so until it settled out.
I've run my dry before (fuel pump was intermittent for a while) and it wasn't that hard to restart. After I replaced the fuel pump, it only took about 10 seconds of cranking to start. Given the amount of diesel fuel on my garage floor, I couldn't have had much more than the fuel in the lines, and lots of air to be sure. It ran really rough for about 60 seconds or so until it settled out.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Elkhorn, WI
Im wondering if maybe the cps or something went out and it just so happened to be when you were low on fuel. The reason I say that is you said your fuel bowl was full. Have you checked pressure at the schrader valve while cranking?
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2007
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From: Johnson City, TN.
When you said you prime it a few times, what do you mean?
Do not use starting fluid or ether! The glow plugs will ignite it and boom.
Just get a good charge on them then turn it over for a while. It will start soon enough.
Also I know you said your fuel bowl is full. But if it is full then you are about to get it started unless you have other issues.
Do not use starting fluid or ether! The glow plugs will ignite it and boom.
Just get a good charge on them then turn it over for a while. It will start soon enough.
Also I know you said your fuel bowl is full. But if it is full then you are about to get it started unless you have other issues.