Intermittent Die/No Start
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Tuned
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 319
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From: Verona NY
Intermittent Die/No Start
So The other day I was backing my trailer off the road into the driveway and it died. I thought I had somehow managed to stall it (manual transmission), but it wouldn't restart. I was able to coast it down off the road, and still no start. I looked for tach movement and wait to start light, neither one. I unhooked the trailer so my son could pull my truck out from under it and park the trailer with his 7.3 :-). Just for fun, he turned the key and said, "I thought you had no wait to start light." He then turned the key to start and it fired right up. We let it run a while, and it seemed fine, but before I could move it, it died again. We checked fuse 22 and it was fine. It started again, but as it was running it would occasionally miss like it was going to die but catch and run fine. We tried wiggling the harness to the PCM, tuner, and harness over the valve cover, nothing seemed to make a difference. When it isn't going to start, there is no WTSL, but there is power to my tuner. I have a spare CPS, but I don't think that is the problem, and I disconnected the fuel bowl heater years ago. I really don't know how to diagnose this intermittent problem, any help greatly appreciated.
Hotshot
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 10,750
Likes: 1,065
From: Douglassville, PA
Start by taking the tuner out of the equation but intermittent issues like that are usually electrical connections. The ignition switch under the steering column could be failing. That's all I have at the moment.
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,129
Likes: 1,919
From: Ponca City, OK
May check that the contacts in the fuse slots for pcm power and related all still fit snug. I actually had the pcm diode get loose on my truck. If I hit a bump just right it would kill the engine. I bent the contacts a little to tighten everything back up and been fine since.
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Tuned
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 319
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From: Verona NY
Well I have checked fuse slots, wiggled everything I can think of, steering wheel, wiring connector to PCM, wiring under the dash and in the engine compartment, but I can not locate anything that seems to replicate the problem. It's just random. Any other ideas anyone? I'm really stumped and need some help. Thanks in advance.
Got Data?
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 4,260
Likes: 1,390
From: Lake Stevens, WA
Do you want to try swapping an ignition switch in there?
How about reading codes with FORScan Lite and see what you find?
How about reading codes with FORScan Lite and see what you find?
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Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2005
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From: Ponca City, OK
If I'm remembering correctly, when the ignition is turned to run it triggers the coil for the PCM and IDM relays which then triggers the fuel pump relay. So when the issue presents have you checked for power at the PCM relay coil? If you have power to the coil then likely the relay or the wiring from it to the PCM. If no power then ignition or wiring is suspect.
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Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 319
Likes: 0
From: Verona NY
If I'm remembering correctly, when the ignition is turned to run it triggers the coil for the PCM and IDM relays which then triggers the fuel pump relay. So when the issue presents have you checked for power at the PCM relay coil? If you have power to the coil then likely the relay or the wiring from it to the PCM. If no power then ignition or wiring is suspect.
Thanks for the help.
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,129
Likes: 1,919
From: Ponca City, OK
The PCM relay is in the fuse box under the hood. If the image loads you it'll show which relay is which. Not sure if the engine wiring diagram is going to load up either, but you can find a copy of that in the sticky section listed 1st in the wiring diagrams section. If you zoom in to the upper left corner you'll see the pin map of the relays.
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