So I am a long way from home and left the scanner on my bench. Posting from cell phone as well. If you think you can offer advice in a timely manner please feel free to just give me a call at 319-xxx-xxxx. Thanks Robert Randall.

So lastnight the truck just died without any warning or check lights on. Pulled over and everything seems to work fine and all fluids are topped off. Only thing was that earlier in the night it looked like the headlights would dim when I turned the fogs.

So my only option was to go to walmart a few miles back and buy a battery. Got back swapped the battery and it started fine and ran great. So we pushed on for about 2hr then she died again. Complete loss of power,steering, brakes. But the lights and everything else works just fine. Again it turns over and sounds like its going to start but doesn't.

so is this obviously the alternator or is there something I am not thinking of?

I have limited supplies and resources here but can have a flatbed here quickly of needed.

Please let me know if you can help before I waste two days and a bunch of money 300miles from home.

Thanks.

 

Crank position sensor?
If it starts after cooling down for some time and then dies again then most likely the ckps.
If you can get to an auto store have them check the alternator for you, that should tell you right away. If your battery still has juice then your car will still run. If the alternator gives in you will start getting M&S lights and the transmission will go into limp mode once the battery gets drained. You will also see the battery warning light on the dash.

 

check your battery conections at the starter and alternater, make sure there are no broken cables.

 

I would have to agree with Bundu...sounds like crank position sensor...

In my '01, if I have the "brights" on and then switch on the front fog lights, the "brights" would revert back to the normal beam...is that maybe what you experienced?

 

To be honest with you, I can't ever remember hearing of one of these things croaking like that with no lights, before or after, and it not being a cps. So my money is on that as well. I was told if I ever went on a Long trip to throw an extra one in my tool bag just in case.

 

Finally made it home after a long day...

It was of course the crank sensor, I had a feeling two as that's just about the only thing I haven't replaced yet.

First thing I did this morning after posting was to fire the truck up and pull the battery cables off while it was running to test the alternator. It ran fine for 20min so I knew it wasn't the alternator. Right as I was about to put the cables back on DiscoMike called me (what a guy)... After about 3min talking we came to the conclusion that it had to be the sensor. Now my issue was that it was Sunday morning and I was a long way from home. After lots of phone calls and Google searches I found one at the NAPA distribution center in Des Moines, IA (about an hour away from the truck). So we put it on a flatbed and headed that way before they closed.

It took about 30-45 total job once I had the new one in hand. Its a pretty tight spot next to the exhaust manifold. Also, the plug was really greasy and didn't want to come apart.

So after the new battery and the sensor I was at about $185 and the truck is running great, gas mileage went up 1.7mpg on the way home, and my lady/dogs/myself are all safe and sound.



Thanks again to Mike and to all of you for you quick responses. Hopefully I can be there for you someday as well.

THANKS-




P.S. - I will see if there are any codes in the morning but I doubt it because when I started it after the new sensor was put in nothing has shown up or blinked.

 

You may want to go back and edit your original post. Not a good idea to post your phone number on a public forum. Never know who might call you.....

Eric

 

Glad you made it back. CPS going bad is my "most annoying breakdown" to date. Happened first month of ownership to me, thought I was screwed for buying an LR. Luckily, thats been one of my only mechanical issues in 4 years.... Glad Mike called you to settle the issue quickly!!

 

Well about 750 miles later and she is running great. Gas mileage has actually improved as well (as previously noted).


Thanks guys-