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No WTS, i am very sad.

ANPLUSHF

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Location
Mlltown, Wisconsin
I am the brother of Harqobispal, who actually shares the EXACT same problem as myself.

Here is a link to his thread.

http://dieseltowingresource.com/showthread.php?t=6738&highlight=light

I have been trying to save myself some cash by letting him do most of the part replacement. He has still not CURED his problem but he claims it doesn't do it often enough to warrant any more money.

My symptom, has unfortunately become more frequent, even after my attempts to fix it.


I performed the following tests/repairs:
-Cleaned Grounds and ran new ones to the PCM.
-Checked splices in wire harness (redid some). All had virtually no resistance to begin with
-Checked all involved fuses (ECM, ENG-1, ECM-B)
-Cleaned contacts and wiring to underhood fuse box
-Power to PCM is good at all times.
-Ground to PCM is good at all times.
-Ignition switch appears to be functioning properly (power at appropriate places at appropriate times)



My PMD is still on the pump, but looking through the GM service manual and understanding somewhat how the system works, i don't think it is PMD related.

It is like the PCM just looses power, the strange part is it does not. I have been carrying around a multimeter so i can check power to the PCM as soon as the stall happens. It has both Battery and Ignition power, but no output to fuel pump relay or glow plugs. The strange thing is if you leave the key in run position for a while the power to the fuel pump will "stutter" on. I will have to take a short video of it to explain it but if you have the meter hooked up to output on the PCM it spikes to 8 then 0 then 9.5 then 0, but at completely random time/temp, like a bad connection is making contact again.

Again like my brother's problem after some random time (10 secs to 10 mins) you cycle the key, wts light cycles pump turns on and bam starts right up.

I do have a HP4 heath PCM in mine,not sure what difference this makes, but thought i would mention it.

Also worth noting was that the other day while doing some testing just idling it in my driveway till it quit, the alternator burned up, literally. The thing was smoking like crazy when i opened the hood and you could smell the burning electronics. My worry now is that this has something to do with my problem. I am going to check for a draw on the system possibly causing all this.

One thought i had is that possibly the PCM has a fail safe that shuts it off when it has a problem (over voltage, under voltage, bad ground) and shuts down for a predetermined time?

Not sure if that is so, but i have no idea of the logic inside the computer. Also could a bad sensor cause it to do this? I tried unplugging a few after the third stall in 10 miles, on the way back home tonight after work. All they seem to do is put the tranny in limp mode.

Logic also tells me it may be heat related. Could a bad temp sensor cause shutdown with no code or SES? Fuel temp sensor? If i unplug these do they go to baseline like most sensors, so i can run it in baseline to see if it stalls still?


Any suggestions?
 
Have you checked the big connector were the ing sw and turnsignal sw connect under the dash, Any loose pins, freyed wires? Sometimes pepole use those 3M scotch lock wire taps in that area for alarms... they can weaken the wire.
I had a freyed wire on my LP fuse and it took forever to track that one down because it would read 12V when testing but I think the first bump in the road would knock it out again. As soon as you grab the wire (unknowingly) you make it have a good connection again. I only found it by acciedent. While I was checking for 12V at the pump my brother grabed the fuse and I lost voltage. Right then I knew what the problem was.
Good luck.
Leroy
 
Does the SES light work? Do you have any codes? Do you have a wire diagram for your PCM?

Are you probing the fuel inject control signal to the PMD, or the fuel inject signal that the PMD sends back to the PCM?

If you can probe the PMD, red wire at harness pin B goes to the IP fuel solenoid, when you crank there should be at least 1.2VAC there, not DC. And about 1.6VAC when idling. My remote mount is easy enough to get clip lead onto, but if its still on IP much harder.
 
No Codes, SES works intermittently, when PCM is alive, it works.

Another strange thing i noticed yesterday. When the truck quits, i loose connection from the code scanner to the PCM.

How does the alternator ground? Through the case?

This seems more and more like a heat issue, something is overheating.

I checked the hole where the wires go thru the firewall and didn't see any damaged wires. I am going to redo the grounds at the dip stick tonight.


ALso what thing with the big heat sink wrapped around it behind the dash near where the gas pedal is located? (I am curious of anything that requires a heat sink at this point) The next step is to removed the PMD from the IP, just for insurance, and so i dont have to do it later.

Thanks for all the inputs.

I am going to have my camera ready next time and take a short video of it if possible, that should help a bit.
 
The PMD isnt causing your issue, sounds like an IGN switch issue. There is a pink/black wire from the IGN switch that goes to ECM-IGN fuse that allows the PCM to wake up when you turn the key. It must be losing that power.
 
burning alt can't be good. Need to address that but sounds to me like a problem with the PCM. They have been known to fail. I had to repalce mine. Since your's is a Heath I would call Bill and tell him what's going on. He would probably swap you out another one or atleast test yours for you.
 
Pink Wires (IGN PWR) on PCM have voltage. Unless a split second loss will disable the PCM for a pre-determined time.

I will check this tomorrow, when i have a couple hours before the festivities begin.
 
The PMD isnt causing your issue, sounds like an IGN switch issue. There is a pink/black wire from the IGN switch that goes to ECM-IGN fuse that allows the PCM to wake up when you turn the key. It must be losing that power.

This sounds very logical to me. Try testing those again, but grab ahold of the bundle of wires at the big connector under the dash right above brake pedal and wiggle them to see if reading change.
 
PCM is over heating.

Blowing air In/Over the PCM seems to have cured my sickness. I am going to call heath tomorrow to see if it is still under warranty.

Anything else you guys can think that would cause this?
 
Very interesting thing... I would lean toward ignition switch issue... but the WTS should still come up. WTS fails to come up on ECM inital power up from battery. Ignition switch failure only cuts ignition signal to ECM, not all power to it (like cutting battery power)....

Very very interesting indeed.
 
I read on one of the other sites about a similar problem turned out the eprom connections were loose tweaked the legs where it plugged in and problem vanished.
 
He doesnt have an EPROM though in a 98 OBD2 PCM. Maybe you just meant PCM connections.

The IGN PWR is like the On switch for the PCM, even though its powered by B+ input direct. So no IGN power no PCM on, no WTS light. However you already checked that you have that.
 
I thought that even obd2's had eproms just not removable. Was thinking it could be a bad connection even if it's in the pcm.
 
UPDATE:

I talked with Bill Heath, he is sending me a new PCM. He said very rarely do the PCM's fail. If they do, it is usually due to a bad TRAILER connector ground.

He said the start searching for a ground and i am thinking the PCM is somehow in the circuit. The previous owner said he towed his 26' camper all over with my truck so this leads me to believe this is the case.

No WTS or SES means no PCM. Either its not getting power, ground or its fried.

I have been driving for 2 days with the PCM pulled out and taped to the blower vent to keep it cool and it has run flawlessly :smile5:

I will update again when the new PCM is in.
 
FINAL VERDICT:

Fried PCM

Bill said that trailer connectors that charge the trailer are 90% of the time what fries these. So all you towers our there be forewarned.


Been running great with the new GL4 PCM, since installed. Atleast all my grounds and stuff are cleaned up now. :smile5:
 
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