Last night I was driving slowly around our neighborhood looking for our dog, who had run off. Truck was at normal temp from driving home from work, during which it ran great. Low fuel light had just come on, but was still well within reserve. I was idling along, window down, when the truck started shaking and clattering, would make no power, and would not accelerate. No smoke, though. I limped home at idle, the truck sounding worse all along, and it actually died in my driveway. I left it sit for a bit, while I checked fluids, which were normal. After a bit, but while still warm, the truck cranked right back up, clattered and shook again for a minute, then smoothed out and ran fine. Runs fine now. Filled up with gas and added the usual Diesel Kleen. Scheduled to take this truck on a road trip over Easter and was planning on oil and fuel filter changes prior. Wondering if anyone has ideas if this is a one-time occurrence, like bad fuel, or maybe something else? It acted like it was out of fuel, and the low fuel light was on, but it had JUST come on, and I operate in that condition every so often, so I know I had 20 miles or so (my cushion). The needle was still above E. The only thing I can come up with, is that I had replaced my batteries last weekend, and perhaps the fuel gauge was somehow affected while the batts were unplugged and not reading right? Any help or ideas would be appreciated. Sorry for the long read. Truck is 2003, 7.3 auto, 200k miles, bone stock. Thanks, Tim.

 

The a more than a few possibilities here Tim. One big possible culprit is the UNder Valve Cover Harness (UVCH) could be working itself loose. I have seen other posters with this problem at the beginning will have intermittent issues like you describe. Another possible cause could always be a CPS going bad. You could have picked up a partial obstruction in the tank supplying the fuel lines. In stock truck there is a sock like filter (I believe), that can become partially clogged when running low on fuel. I am sure there are others that will chime in with better guesses than I am putting forth.

 

with it being that low on fuel, you may have a issue with the pick-up in the tank (sucking air)..with fuel in the tank, drive it and see if it reinacts the issue with more than 1/4th tank of fuel..

 

I would have to side with Joey on this one.
Do a search for HUTCH mod, or HARPOON mod....
This will give you an idea of what your truck was prolly doing. Basically sucking air and causing a disrupted fuel flow.

 

Fuel light on? For sure sucking air in without a Hutch mod. More intense "cackle" should have been associated with it. UVCH can give same symptoms from description alone, but it's more of a bucking and kicking.

 

Thanks for the fast replies, guys. "Cackle" is exactly the term to describe it...just a loud clattering accompanied by that loss of power. No real bucking or kicking, but the engine was shaking pretty good when I got home and popped the hood, just before it died. I have been reading about the Hutch & Harpoon mod. Makes sense to me, given the 200k + plus miles on the truck. Plan now is to run with the tank "fuller" and monitor for a bit while I plan out the mods mentioned above. Thanks again, Tim.

 

Just for that reason is why I never let mine get below 1/4 tank. I haven't gotten around to doing the hutch mod and prolly wont till summer.

 

What is that? never seen one on old green, lol.


seriously, though, sounds like some air managed to get sucked in.

 

For your road trip. would keep it above 1/4 tank and before you leave pop the VC's and make sure those UVCH's are plugged in all the way. Might as well have a couple quarters on hand while you're in there, too.

 

I vote fuel too. When my fuel light comes on, I've got about 10 miles left (confirmed in Ted's front yard). Now that I've got a fuel pressure gauge, I can see when it begins drawing air at just below a quarter.