Lost power while climbing a hill today

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Nov 16, 2004 | 06:02 PM

bodabdan

Thread Starter

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: Feb 2004

Posts: 1,816

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From: River Valley AR

Lost power while climbing a hill today

While on the way home this evening, I stopped at a red light at the bottom of a 1/4 mile hill. I always get up to speed quickly on this hill because the 4-bangers will get in the way and block everyone else if you don't. I pretty much had it to the floor and when I felt the first shift it felt like it was gutless. It felt normal through 1st gear. It stayed in second up to about 40 and then began to slow down despite being floored. All gauges were normal. I lifted the accelerator pedal to about half and I could really tell that the engine was running roughly, like it wasn't running on all 8 cylinders. I eventually came to a stop and the truck sounded BAD. I got out and checked all the fluids and turbo plumbing, and some other obvious stuff. I tried to restart it and it fired up like nothing had happened. I drove the rest of the way home without a problem.
I am suspicious of the fuel filter and I will replace it tomorrow. Any other ideas?

Nov 16, 2004 | 07:41 PM

cookie88

FTE Leadership Emeritus

Joined: May 2001

Posts: 13,653

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From: Cabot, Arkansas

Sounds like you might have a short in a valve cover wiring harness, or maybe a loose connector.

You can also never completely discount a cam sensor, they have all kinds of quirks when they start to go.

Nov 17, 2004 | 12:39 PM

Bruce1026

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Joined: Apr 2003

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From: Huntsville, AL

This does not sound just like what happened to me but I was towing on a hill in heavy traffic this summer and pulled out to pass a truck and pressed down on the accelerator and got no acceleration or increase in rpms; at the same time the check engine light came on. This same thing happened another couple of times and found that my moving the shift lever to neutral it would clear the problem. I took it in since it was still under warrenty and they found that the gas foot feed was shorting out and replaced it. Have not had a bit of trouble since but once was enough when you are 1200 miles from home.

Nov 17, 2004 | 10:38 PM

Kwikkordead

Fleet Owner

Joined: Jun 2004

Posts: 25,090

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From: Rio Rico, AZ.

Other than a clogged fuel filter, I have read a few stories about the mechanical fuel pump going out. At full load they would not be able to keep up with demand and the fuel pressure would go to zero, resulting in the symptoms you are describing. Replacing the pump was the cure.

Nov 18, 2004 | 08:40 AM

Craze

Senior User

Joined: Apr 2004

Posts: 241

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From: Seattle

What about the EBP sensor? Sometimes the tube from the exhaust manifold clogs up with carbon and causes the problem you are describing. What does your boost do as you pull the hill then lose power?

Nov 18, 2004 | 05:20 PM

bodabdan

Thread Starter

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: Feb 2004

Posts: 1,816

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From: River Valley AR

I tried to duplicate the problem before I changed the fuel filter but it wouldn't do it. Changed the filter anyway and it didn't look bad to the eye.
My CPS was changed about two months ago, so hopefully it hasn't gone bad already but I will get another one next payday. The one I'm running now was my spare.
I can't say what the boost is doing now because the truck has no gauges yet. I will pull and inspect the EBP tube tomorow.
Kwikk I think it was starving for fuel but I'm not sure. I'm assuming that I need to check the fuel pressure at the filter housing schrader valve. Do I need to read fuel pressure under a load or just at high RPM? Cookie mentioned the wiring harness, and as I recall the incident, the problem started when the shift happened so maybe something loose did get moved around a little. I'll have to check that out this weekend.
Thanks for the replies.

Nov 18, 2004 | 06:11 PM

jr63

New User

Joined: Jun 2004

Posts: 19

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My truck did the same thing this summer up a steep grade. 60 mph and it lost power and the fuel filter light came on. I had just replaced the filter before the trip. After I backed of the throttle down to 50mph, I could go upto 60mph again for a short time then the same thing would happen. As Kwik said it might be the mechanical pump. I haven't replaced mine yet with 190,000mi on it.