Detroit 60 series intermittent no start

Mine fires with the starter fluid, but won’t keep running

 

Mine fires with starter fluid but won’t keep running

 

If you’re CEL lights aren’t showing on the dash, with key in on position. It’s a bad ecm power wire, ground or fuse issue. Small 5 amp inline fuse from battery positive. Also a small ground from negative to frame. Often the fuse will blow, from jumping with a bad battery or connection. It’s designed to protect the ecm. Sometimes the wires Loose or broken. Usually it’s the negative wire going to the frame. Need to clean the grounds up at the frame.

 

I've got CEL (Dash Lights) and used an OBD reader for heavy duty, connected via 6 pin. Showed throttle position (changed from 0 through 100 with pedal press), air pressure, inlet temp, fuel temp, mileage (447k), cruise control, etc. Many of the features I thought would be showing are not available in the reader. The reader showed low coolant (added coolant) and oil pressure (oil pressure comes up when turning the engine over).
Need to replace the fuel line from the primary filter to the mechanical fuel pump (U shape when installed) {need a part number if anyone knows it }

 

Timing sensors maybe.

 

Wouldn't that show on the OBD if there was a problem?

 

I don’t think so. It won’t show up as a flash fault code using Ddec self diagnosing button. If it suddenly quit running, it’s the first suspect. Sometimes cleaning the plug connectors works. They usually just change both sensors. Doesn’t hurt to have an extra set, if it’s not the problem. It’s common failure, even on a newer 2-3 yr old Truck. Often Truck starts, runs a few minutes then just dies. No codes

 

That's really good to know. Yes, the engine suddenly quit running. I had taken it for a short 15 min drive and parked on a slightly downward hill. Didn't start after. I rolled it to a flat area. Still won't start. Will certainly check thought both out. Thanks!

 

Just to confirm what was said above, flaky Crankshaft Position Sensor (TRS) can be flaky and cause problems like this with zero codes.

Most sensors tend to fail catastrophically, but this is not always true of the crank position sensor.

Sometimes it will result in no start conditions or stumbling off idle and only due so intermittently.

 

I was able to use the old fuel pump to push diesel all the way to the cooler. Got 75 PSI at secondary filter when I closed off the flow to the cooler before coupler going in. Tried starting... nada. The pressure reached @175 via the new pump. Zero pressure buildup when allowing fuel to flow through to the cooler and eventually the tank. Not starting, only running a little with the starting fluid (and knocks).
I pulled the Crankshaft sensor, tested. 130 ohms. 3.8 vdc on each pin to ground. The new ones I picked up had the wrong pin connectors, but was able to test with some jumpers. The new one tested at 139 ohms... pretty much the same.
Still can't find the Camshaft sensor..... no wires, no sign of it.... Feels silly to keep looking at the same spot on the diagrams and not seeing it.

Engine specs:
Nov 1995
06B0272301
325//350HP
2100T / 2225T max
11.1L

L15319
23504221
CAN