My 6.2 just died, won’t start again!

[vaporlock]

Hoping I can get some help from someone who knows diesels, I’m a bit desperate!

My K5 started fine, idled for a like 5 minutes while I was loading stuff, I drove it for maybe 10-15 minutes then while going uphill on a very bumpy gravel road it just died, no warning, nothing!
Now it won’t start, it has power, I see fuel in the filter before the silverbox (name?), it cranks but won’t start!
No leaks other than a few drops of coolant. The low coolant light flashed a few times when I started it but didn’t come back on again.

It’s a 1982 stock 6.2L.

 

[Fastereddie]

@campfire maybe, I know there’s a few experts on this engine here. Can’t remember who else besides @AgDieseler but he’s on a road trip

 

[Fastereddie]

Being that it dies on a bumpy road, I wonder if a wire popped off. I think these engines have a fuel shutdown solenoid on the injection pump. If that loses power it will die.

 

[Fastereddie]

@tRustyK5 @2INSANE @Big Ray maybe?

Dumb question I know but, enough fuel in the tank?

 

[vaporlock]

Being that it dies on a bumpy road, I wonder if a wire popped off. I think these engines have a fuel shutdown solenoid on the injection pump. If that loses power it will die.

Thanks, I hope you’re right! I don’t know what the injector pump looks like or where it’s at, I googled it but don’t recognize it from my engine..? Where would it be located?

 

[vaporlock]

@tRustyK5 @2INSANE @Big Ray maybe?

Dumb question I know but, enough fuel in the tank?

I don’t have a working gauge but I’ve only driven maybe 100-120 miles on a full tank… I hope I get better mileage than that… I let it roll down to a flat surface thinking it didn’t get any fuel but no difference.

 

[Fastereddie]

I don’t have a working gauge but I’ve only driven maybe 100-120 miles on a full tank… I hope I get better mileage than that… I let it roll down to a flat surface thinking it didn’t get any fuel but no difference.

Maybe someone siphoned your fuel?
I know it happens here often. Especially with our b.s. prices lately. You should be able to bang on the side of the tank, see if it sounds empty maybe

 

[Big Ray]

1. Check fuel level, along with o & coolant level.

2 when is the last time the fuel filter was changed?

Fwiw, a 1982 block is suppose to be one of the "strong ones", relatively speaking

First thing I would check is make sure fuel is getting their. My 90 needed a new mechanical fuel pump once. Ran like a champ for a while.

 

[Big Ray]

get a locking fuel cap.

Thus is a military engine. So don't worry about I t the pulleys and what not.

This is the fuel pump, circled in yellow.



This is the i.p. location. Circled in yellow. That's the front of the engine.



Here's what the injection pump looks like. The metal hard lines running over the valve covers connect where the red caps are.



Do you have a the square box fuel filter?

 

[vaporlock]

I knocked on the gas tank and it sounds a bit hallow…

@Big Ray I don’t have a fuel pump like that, there is a block off plate there and this is what I have:
Yellow is incoming fuel (to electronic fuelpump?)
Red goes to the silver box (yes, I have the square fuel filter)
Blue goes in under the intake


I have to loose wire hanging by the injector pump but they are connected to each other. Should they be connecter to the tab to the right next to the green wires?

 

[vaporlock]

Oil is between the marks, coolant is hard to tell… the plastic container is about 4/5 full and looking down the radiator the coolant is about 2-3” from the top. Engine is still warm but not hot.

 

[TJ1978]

Not a diesel but my fuel gauge is off.

I rock the truck side to side by the tank and listen for some sloshing.... maybe try that that. it can be faint when the fuel is low, at least in my case.

 

[Chickntrk]

If you don’t have a fuel pump on the engine I assume someone added an inline pump down the line somewhere….maybe that quit? I’m not seeing a tab next to the green wire? Maybe I just can’t see it

 

[vaporlock]

If you don’t have a fuel pump on the engine I assume someone added an inline pump down the line somewhere….maybe that quit? I’m not seeing a tan next to the green wire? Maybe I just can’t see it

I have brasscolored “thing” mounted on the frame, circled in my previous post, I think that’s an electronic fuel pump, it has incoming and outgoing fuel lines plus a wire to a relay then to battery, turning the ignition on I hear it running.
I think that’s the wire I mentioned, it’s some kind of pink or tan. There is a tab on the drivers side of the green wires that don’t have a wire connected to it and the pink/tan wire I’m holding would fit there.

 

[vaporlock]

Not a diesel but my fuel gauge is off.

I rock the truck side to side by the tank and listen for some sloshing.... maybe try that that. it can be faint when the fuel is low, at least in my case.

I tried that, I standing under a freeway underpass so it’s a bit noisy but I think I heard a faint slosh

 

[TJ1978]

I tried that, I standing under a freeway underpass so it’s a bit noisy but I think I heard a faint slosh

Yeah, I usually have my son shake it while I listen. But yes, even with no noise, if it's low the slosh is faint

 

[Chickntrk]

Yes those wires should go to injection pump. Green should be cold start advance, pink should be fuel shutoff.

 

[joshuak]

Is this truck used some what often or driven once in a blue moon?

I’d expect to see fuel in your filter if your pump is working, the one circled in yellow. can you have a helper verify flow?



Also the OEM filter bases like you have in back are known for plastic fitting becoming brittle and allowing air into the system.

 

[vaporlock]

IT’S ALIVE! Thank y’all so, so much!! Y’all saved my butt!

It was the stupid wire! This isthe second time PO pos wiring has given me trouble.

@joshuak I’ve only had it for a little over a month but I drive it maybe once a week, week and a half.
There is more fuel in the little filter now, I turned the ignition on after I took the photo and then it’ll be filed between 1/2 and 2/3.
Didn’t know that, thanks for the info. What is a better to use?

 

[Chickntrk]

Glad you are back up and running!