diesel problems

having some trouble with my 1997 c/k 2500 diesel 4x4, it cranks up but then goes dead as if you just shut the ignition off? turn it off then try it again, same thing happens. i just changed the fuel filter, checked the fuel pump relay, checked the glow plugs opened the water bleed off valve. checked all the fuses, still nothing. sometimes it will run for a minute sometimes for 5 minutes, and sometimes for 20 minutes before shutting down, doesn't matter if its under throttle or just idle. all the warning lights on the dash act normal(wait to start, water in fuel, service the throttle). anyone out there a diesel mechanic that could help me locate the problem(s). HELP!!!!!!

thanks, racerkvn

This post is old, and you may not see it. Most likely, you have solved your problem. So this is for anyone with a diesel that is experiencing odd engine behavior.
Bypass the fuel system as much as possible. Get a bucket with some fresh fuel...use a good electric fuel pump....and splice in right before the injector pump. This will introduce air to the line. You can either use just a bit of wd40 as starter fluid, or you can do the old crack and weep method to purge air.
If it gets running and stays running, work you way backwards. If your fuel lift is more than 10 years old, even if it tests fine...replace it. It has been known to suck air into the line.
Good luck

I found racerkvn cry for help while doing a search for my problem, so here I am.

I have a 96 k2500 diesel and have been experiencing a similiar problem that racerkvn wrote about except mine is very intermittent. Sometimes the problem would occur as infrequently as one missed heartbeat in 300 miles of driving. Most of the time I could shift to neutral and restart the engine befor losing speed however several times in city traffic I was not able to do this. I put on hazzard lights then restarted (recently had difficulty restarting) The truck is now at the dealers. They have had the truck several times can't permently solve the problem (no codes show up and the engine runs fine when they have it). Several years ago the
dealer replaced the "Lift Pump". After that the problem seemed to be mostly gone however the engine continued to loose heartbeats where the engine would momentarily quit and restart in a heartbeat.

Do I need to trade this truck in for a Dodge Ram or Ford? or can anyone help me help the dealer fix the problem?

As Racerkvn wrote; "it doesn't matter what speed the engine is running problem will occur at freeway speed or at idle. ... anyone out there a diesel mechanic that could help me locate the problem(s). HELP!!!!!! "

I'll now add my pleading cry for HELLLLLLLLLLLLLP !!!!!!!! to his

I think I know the problem now. I found the following info on another thread. 94 6.5L Diesel-Engine Stall


It could be the PMD, its the little black box on the drivers side of your injection pump. Its the driver for the pump, they are bad about going out on the stanadyne pumps on these trucks. They range in symptoms from stall, miss, no start, hesitation, prob more.. You might want to check the warranty on the truck, diesel injection pumps are covered for 10 years or 120,000 miles. hope this helps!!
Its hard to diagnose the PMD unless you catch it in the act with a scan tool, I still don't know if it will show anything or not. If it ever stalls(like you shut the key off) or misses while driving down the road its almost always the PMD. I'm thinking the cost for the PMD is between $250 to $300. If you do replace it be sure to swap the resistor from the old PMD to the new PMD, its in the connector cavity. Hope this helps!


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