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88gmctruck's 1999 K2500 L65 cranks but doesn't start.

83GMCK2500

Active Member
Messages
2,258
Reaction score
20
Location
Beaverton, OR
Problem: Cranks, coughs (half-sorta fire), puffs a little exhaust, does not start.

Demographics:
- Year: 1999
- Truck model and class: K2500, 8,600 GVWR
- Automatic or Standard: NV-4500
- Mileage: ~146,2## miles
- Replaced parts and mods (IP, PMD, chip/PCM, TM, injectors etc): PMD replaced with #9 resistor on 04/12/2009 @ 13#,912 miles. (# = can't read scanned invoice) PMD is bolted to a 1/4" aluminum plate that is in turn bolted to the front two bolts that hold the Turbo Power cover on. The PMD is resting approximately 4" in front of the glow plug relay.
- Model: Turbo-charged L65 "F"
- Ambient outside temp: 34F
- What fuel are you using? #2 Diesel, no additives, preservatives, or spices
- What fuel additives are you using? ;) (see above)
- Where are you located?: Pullman, WA

General Maintenance:

- Air filter: Napa Gold filter changed on 03/03/2009 @ 13#,723 miles
- Fuel filter: Brand unknown changed on 03/03/2009 @ 13#,723 miles
- CDR Valve?: Looks OEM
- Coolant – last flushed/replaced at: Unknown, cooling system pressure tested and topped off though on 08/24/2007, checked more recently.
- Oil – synthetic/regular, changed at: Unknown oil, Delco filter, changed within a month at 146,### miles.
- Batteries – state of charge, (matched set) replaced at: Charged, matched Les Schwab 1,000/800 CA/CCA
- Battery cables and grounds (removed, cleaned and tightened): Unknown
- Glow Plugs - how many miles on them?: Unknown What type? Unknown
- Injectors - last changed at: Unknown

History:
- What were you doing when it happened?: Watching the Super Bowl.
- How was the truck running fine before this problem appeared?: Truck was pressure washed on Friday, driven that night for 15 minutes. Saturday the truck was driven to town ~15 miles. Sunday the truck was started and let idle 7-8 minutes to warm, driven to town, stopped at Starbuck's, shutoff for maybe 10 minutes, started, driven 3 blocks, parked on a slight downgrade and sat for right at 3 hours.
- Has this problem ever happened before?: No.
- Describe any related factors that might be part of the problem: It has a black fuel cap, should it be green? When the fuel cap was loosened there was a strong vacuum and pulling of air into the tank.
- Have you checked for DTC (Diagnostic Trouble Codes)?: No, the light is not on. And?:

Diagnostics:
1] Starting:
1a] Does the engine start?: No.
1b] Does the engine crank over?: Yes.
1c] Are your batteries fully charged?: Yes.
1d] Have you removed, cleaned, and tightened all battery connections?: No.
1e] Does your Wait to Start light come on for a time?: Yes. How long?: 10 seconds, normally. Right now it barely blinks.
1f] Does your glow plug light come on?: Is that different than the WTS light? For how long?:
1g] Do you see smoke from the exhaust while cranking?: Yes. What color?: Normal exhaust colored, lightly sooty, smells like burnt #2.
1h] Does the Service Engine Light Glow during Start/bulb check?: Maybe, I vaguely remember seeing it.
1i] The SECURITY light does not go out at all with the key in the Run position.

2] Fuel Issues (if not running):
2a] Can you hear your lift pump working?: Yes.
2b] Do you get a steady flow of fuel from the water drain (T-handle)?: Yes, bathed my hand with it.
2c] Loosen the inlet line from the IP – is fuel coming out (Lift Pump on)?: Have not tried.
2d] Loosen an injector line and crank the engine - does fuel come out?: Have not tried.
2e] Do you hear a vacuum (hiss) when you remove the fuel cap?: Oh yeah.

3] PMD / IP Issues
3a] Location of PMD (on pump, on intake, remote mounted): Remote mounted, mentioned earlier.
3b] Condition of Extension harness (if used) Vendor or Homemade?: Unknown.
3c] Condition of grounds / ground wires to IP / PMD. Check Harness.: They are present, condition unknown.
3d] PMD Make: Stanadyne, almost certain.
3e] PMD Age: Replaced ~14 months ago & ~10,000 miles ago.

4] Stalling Issues
4a] Do you experience stalling only when hot?: No.
4b] Does it stall under particular circumstances?: No.
4c] Does pouring cool water over the IP seem to help with restarting?:
4d] Is stalling momentary (engine recovers)?:
4e] Does SES light come on when engine hiccups?:
4f] Does cruise control quit working when engine hiccups?:
4g] Does re-starting seem to reset engine, restoring cruise and power?:
4h] Changes to dash lights or instruments during stalling events?:

5] Running Issues
5a] On cold start, does upper rad hose get hard before engine warms up?: No.
5b] Any bubbles or oil film in coolant overflow tank?: No.
5c] Any white slime on oil surfaces (dipstick, CDR, oil Fill cap)?: No.
5d] Excessive white smoke from exhaust on cold start? With two glow cycles at ~20F and not being plugged in or ran for 24 hours or more there is white smoke on startup.
5e] Excessive black smoke from exhaust under hard acceleration? No. (Owner complains of not enough black smoke when accelerator is depressed. ;))

6] Performance Issues
6a] Do you have gauges (boost, EGT)?: No.
6b] Maximum boost under load?: Unknown.
6c] Have you added a performance PCM (reflash) or Chip?: No.
6d] Have you changed exhaust / downpipe / crossover?: No.
6e] Wastegate – mechanical or vacuum (OEM)?: OEM

List and describe any other factors which are not addressed in this checklist. We can’t see, hear, smell, or touch your truck, so the more descriptive information you can give, the more likely it is that somebody can assist you.

I have filled in extra information throughout this troubleshooting guide. David (88gmctruck) and I will both be answering any additional questions as they are posted. He is working on some school work right now, but will be available.
 
Last edited:
Additional info: I arrived to help troubleshoot in a very short amount of time and I pulled my truck up and connected jumper cables to try and minimize the frying of his batteries. Left my truck running the whole time as well. I have decent sized cables too, they did not get very warm.
 
In his aquisition post, I saw you guys cleaned it up. did any water get where it wast supposed to? mainly sensor areas?

did you guys powerwash it, or just use a garden hose?
 
GM guy, pressure washed. ;) mentioned in line 2 of History. Also, it has ran some errands since then without incident.
 
That PMD location has me skert it mite be bad PMD or jumper harness for it's "remoted location", all gnds been cleaned ?, gotta check them glows also, do that & we can run down some more stuff, gotta a spare FSD/PMD handy?
 
Yup, already with the reliability issues. I'm leaning towards it being PMD or fuel cutoff solenoid switch. The PMD while remote mounted, doesn't appear to be the BEST setup to dissipate heat. There hasn't been any indication of PMD failure. I'm also wondering if the fuel cap not venting created too much pressure and airlocked the system?! I didn't even think to check the fuel cap after buying it......
 
You have been PMDed.....It was only a matter of time before it gave up the ghost.

Try to tighten the screws (if they are loose) hand tight and a 1/4 turn to snug it up.

Seems your LP is working.......WTS is working......Jeez, you only have the truck like 2 days.....

Unplug and plug in the PMD/FSD, just to make sure

But I'd bet dollar to donuts that PMD is done.......Is there an extention harness?........usually not when the Walt system is in place.

Change the PMD, call Leroy and get it out of the engine bay.

Is there an old PMD still on the IP?.........If so try plugging it in.
 
Yup, already with the reliability issues. I'm leaning towards it being PMD or fuel cutoff solenoid switch. The PMD while remote mounted, doesn't appear to be the BEST setup to dissipate heat. There hasn't been any indication of PMD failure. I'm also wondering if the fuel cap not venting created too much pressure and airlocked the system?! I didn't even think to check the fuel cap after buying it......

You have just experienced the #1 PMD fail symptom, beside sputtering & shut down letting you know a little more warning sometimes issues are coming, fuel shutoff solenoids can fail but PMDs more often the case, but before writing it off go thru gnds looking clean isn't good enough, etc. check your PM's I sent you a note in PM
 
That PMD location has me skert it mite be bad PMD or jumper harness for it's "remoted location", all gnds been cleaned ?, gotta check them glows also, do that & we can run down some more stuff, gotta a spare FSD/PMD handy?
Don't have a spare PMD, the original one is still on the pump however I know it's a PITA to get to and have no idea if it works. The current PMD is plugged in via the original harness, so there is no extension harness present. The connector on it is clean. The grounds (that I have seen thus far) have looked clean and were tight. The glows were working fine earlier, and the controller wasn't cycling them because we have cycled the keys so many times trying to start it. If it sits awhile the light stays on normal.

You have been PMDed.....It was only a matter of time before it gave up the ghost.

Try to tighten the screws (if they are loose) hand tight and a 1/4 turn to snug it up.

Seems your LP is working.......WTS is working......Jeez, you only have the truck like 2 days.....

Unplug and plug in the PMD/FSD, just to make sure

But I'd bet dollar to donuts that PMD is done.......Is there an extention harness?........usually not when the Walt system is in place.

Change the PMD, call Leroy and get it out of the engine bay.

Is there an old PMD still on the IP?.........If so try plugging it in.

PMD is tight. There is no extension harnesses. Original is in place, haven't tried it yet as I have very limited light and had to go home and finish some school.
 
you answered 1/2 my questions while i was typing.....

try leaving the fuel cap loose also.
It is.

You have just experienced the #1 PMD fail symptom, fuel shutoff solenoids can fail but PMDs more often the case, but before writing it off go thru gnds, etc. check your PM's I sent you a note in PM
Last 6.5L truck I was familiar with had a progressively failing PMD, however your probably right.

Your security light is on?
Well, it wasn't on prior to this. Now in the owners manual is says it will say on 5sec when it's in run, and blink if it's malfunctioning. It's staying on solid, however the truck isn't running. I know passlock is a PITA.
 
I'll take it off your hands for what you paid!:WTF::D


jk

Just funny how a 2 day old truck suddenly needs a PMD......Almost like someone planned it that way......HMMM
 
Honestly, I'm blaming the 88. It was parked next to the 99 all weekend. I think the 88 saw I was driving the 99, how it got washed, and cleaned, etc and probably told it to stop running so I'd have to drive the 88 again.
 
Just an FYI, y'all realize Devin and I are sitting approx 2ft away from each other on separate computers right now. It's comical the truck things that happen when we are on the forums together.
 
Honestly, I'm blaming the 88. It was parked next to the 99 all weekend. I think the 88 saw I was driving the 99, how it got washed, and cleaned, etc and probably told it to stop running so I'd have to drive the 88 again.

Yeah it kinda is Louis. As I was driving over I was wondering about that.

GMC......you better hurry and change the grill, ask the pooch, he knows the story.:hihi::hihi:
 
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