I came out of harbor freight yesterday, and got in the truck to go home. Turned the key, fired right up, then promptly died. As in everything in front of the firewall died. No injector buzz, no numerous misc engine sounds I hear, but inside was just fine. I turned it to start and it wouldn't even engage the starter. I turned everything off for a few seconds, key out. Put key in and turned to run until the glow plug light went out, then to start. Started, but immediately died in the same fashion. No starter, no engine sounds. But interior was all fine. Getting worried, I pulled the key again, waited a few seconds, then put the key in and started it. This time it fired up like normal and didn't die. Waited a couple minutes, ran fine. Couple circles around the parking lot to make sure, no problems. So I went home. Hasn't happened since, but I've never seen an issue like that before.

 

 

There were no new codes, only ones that i've been dealing with, and that should be unrelated. Terminals are tight, batteries are a month old. When I got it running, i drove 10 miles home, then went out a couple times after that, and it hasn't happened again. I'm a bit worried that if it can die like that, it can die while driving down the road.

Also, I misremembered. The starter motor would spin but the solenoid wouldn't engage when I tried to start, but no other noise from the engine.

 

Happened again this evening. Turned the key 10 times but nothing. Glow plugs wouldn't go out, starter wouldn't engage. Nothing. Radio/fans/lights/etc came on just fine. 11th try, I heard injector buzz. Glow plug light went out after a couple seconds, turned to start and it fired right up. I don't think it's weak batteries, or FICM issues. It's a really strange problem.

 

 

I would suspect the shifter as well. Next time it happens, put the truck in nuetral to see if it starts then.

 

That's a good thought. Also may be related, on occasion I can't get it out of park. I have to press the pedal 4-5 times to get it to trigger. To the point where I periodically turn the key to lock, then shift to neutral, then start it.