2.4L turns over fine, then dies

Thanks...

Any idea how difficult it is to replace?

 

Should I check anything else before getting too far ahead of myself?

For instance, could the Fuel Pressure Regulator be bad?

 

What would you recommend, remove the tank or remove the bed?

For one, I have at least 9 gallons in the tank right now. I also have the OEM plastic bedliner...not a big deal to remove, I suppose.

 

i would check for voltage at the pump first,could be a main relay

 

You're talking about EFI correct?

 

I showed my dad what was happening by pinching the return hose to get it started. I gave it some RPM's and it stayed running for about 5 minutes. Under power it sounded and felt pretty normal, but after I took my foot off the gas, the idle was rough and irregular, even though it stayed running.

In the side mirror, I got a glimpse (and my dad verified) that when I rev the RPM's, there is blueish-white smoke coming from the tailpipe. Not a lot, but it's there. The check engine light is still lit too. All of this is with the fuel return hose pinched.

Should I be worried?

 

Head gasket? White smoke is burning coolant and blue is burning oil. Are you sure it wasn't condensation?

 

Removed the bed, hooked a meter to the fuel pump -- while still installed to the tank -- and got these results:



My father has a fuel pressure gauge from his old Chevy truck. He doesn't have the adapters to connect it as the service manual describes. However, he hand held the gauge to the fuel line return on the regulator. With power to the fuel pump, the gauge was showing approx 70 PSI. Today there was lots more fuel spillage than I remember from yesterday. We tried this test a second time...70 PSI.



If I understood the post from yesterday, this should be 38-44 PSI.

Our reasoning is that the gauge, being handheld, is reading less pressure because it's not securely fastened. Therefore, the PSI might be significantly higher when everything is connected.

Do you think this is sufficient evidence to show that the Fuel Pressure Regulator is bad?

 

OK, with the pressure gauge in the proper position:

-Turning the key to the "ON" position without starting the truck: 0 PSI
-After pinching the return line to get the truck to start, at idle: 46 PSI
-Reving engine up after idling for a little bit: 46-48 PSI
-After shutting engine off: fairly rapid decrease to 0 PSI

What do you think, still a bad fuel pump?

 

For this pressure test, the fuel pump was installed, connected, and powered the usual way.

Over the weekend, when we put a meter across it, we used a battery.

For the record, I've yet to pull the fuel pump out of the tank. All testing has been done from the outside.

Hope this helps.

 

You can have good pressure but have a low volume of gas flowing. Disconnect the fuel line at some point and stick it in a large jar or glass bottle and see what kind of continuous flow you get. If it starts out strong and begins to peter out there may be a restriction in the line of filter. Did you happen to run very low or out of gas lately?

 

OK guys, I've been dragging my feet getting the truck fixed.

I did the test you suggested powering the fuel pump with a 12V battery and turning the ignition to ON. Result = 46 PSI.

Then I pinched the return hose and repeated the test. Result = 72 PSI.

 

I put a jar underneath the return line and watched the flow. To the eye at least, it looks good. Nothing out of the ordinary.

No, I haven't run low on gas recently. The failure took place with more than 3/4 of a tank.

 

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