du hell is wrong with my truck?!?

Ak907Girl · Dec 29, 2011

Hi, Im a new member. I've had lilly since january 2011. Shes a green 2.3l 2wd manual.
I've had few issues with her so far but this one is confusing.
Last night I was driving home from work, truck had been running and driving for a good
30 minutes when suddenly at about 40-45mph 4th gear the idle dropped. (I dont have a tackomoter so i have no idea what it was at) but it dropped from normal idle to almost dead. Shut it down, i started it up a minute later and it fired right up but the idle instantly dropped and it died (in N). I got a family member to tow me home and almost all the in the drive way i started it and it ran fine. Not sure if its a plugged cat or what? Help.

173dave · Dec 29, 2011

could be a fuel filter problem...

daniel3507 · Dec 29, 2011

Start checking basics I guess. Spark, fuel, etc.

getrdone52 · Dec 29, 2011

+1 on the basics, don't replace anything major and waste your money. There's a lot of stories like that.

adsm08 · Dec 29, 2011

You don't "idle" in gear with a manual trans. Your engine speed dropped off. I'd check fuel pressure first, especially if giving it more gas didn't help or made the problem worse.

BTW, what is left in your tank? A dying fuel pump is more likely to act up as the fuel gets low since the fuel helps to keep the pump cool.

doorgunner · Dec 29, 2011

yep....replace all the inexpensive stuff first!!!

Buy or borrow a fuel pressure gauge to make sure that's not the problem/change the fuel filter/check the fuel for moisture-water-trash-etc....

check for a weak spark when the engine starts running badly.....etc

Mark_88 · Dec 29, 2011

Welcome to TRS~

Does sound like the in-tank fuel pump...my Tempo died like that on a few trips...but in it's dying throws it would bunny-hop a bit...could also be a wonky kill switch if your truck has one...the one that shuts off the fuel pump in an accident...can't remember what they're called though...

adsm08 · Dec 29, 2011

Mark_88 said:
Welcome to TRS~
...could also be a wonky kill switch if your truck has one...the one that shuts off the fuel pump in an accident...can't remember what they're called though...

The inertia switch? Maybe, they all have them.

Mark_88 · Dec 30, 2011

adsm08 said:
The inertia switch? Maybe, they all have them.

That's it...but now that I think about it...the inertia switch would also cause no start...but the one in my Tempo was fried (literally melted) so maybe not...OP might want to give a bit more feedback on symptoms...I like the diagnostic of whether giving gas improves or degrades the situation...makes sense!

509lifted · Dec 30, 2011

my buddy had to get his reset cause of where it is located my other buddy kicked cuz it is under the passenger side his kept dying and then finally just stopped running so i dont think its the switch but hell what do i know im just a kid hahaha

hockeyryan · Dec 30, 2011

my old ranger did that to me to a year ago. id say that your fuel pump has gone. if it is i found it easier to take off the bed to get to it instead of dropping the tank.

LIMA BEAN · Dec 30, 2011

Yea taking the bed off is way less painless. Normally the fuse, relay and inertia switch are go or no go... they either work or they dont. Your fuel pump is a combo deal where the pump, sender and regulator are all one unit in the tank. Can you hear the pump run at key on it should cycle then quit, check that and if you have trouble hearing it get a piece of hose and stick it in the filler a foot or two and hold the hose to your ear while someone turns the key to ON not start. Your fuel pressure should be about 35-45 psi @ key on, engine off and 25-35 @ idle. Pump aint cheap even my price in town is 81 bucks for the pump or 109 for the whole assembly but rock auto is cheaper still.

http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/raframecatalog.php

Let us know what you find.

Ak907Girl · Dec 30, 2011

Well I had 3 quaters of a tank left. My dad said it might be that my fuel injector is all junked up. It did it again today when I was leaving the store, I put it in reverse and pulled back into a parking spot and let it sit for a second and then started it and it ran home.

Checked my oil, it's just fine. I put a little bit of Marvel Mystery in it just to be safe. Put some ISO Heet in my tank just to be safe. Still can't figure it out.

LIMA BEAN · Dec 30, 2011

How are your battery connections? a bad ground will make your electronics go wacko too.

Rose2300 · Dec 30, 2011

vacumm leak maybe? the vac line to my brake booster came off and it sputtered and whatnot. but hell I don't know much about diagnosing engine problems haha

du hell is wrong with my truck?!?

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