'mates -

took the dogs to the dog park and on return the 2000 DII wouldn't start - plenty of cranking power - sounded like a fuel problem.

thought it might be a clogged fuel filter so got the manual out and saw the page on the fuel switch that turns off the fuel system in case of an accident - so there it was next to the firewall - pressed it and - presto! - fired right up.

drove home just to have the truck die in the street just in front of our driveway. pressing the magic reset switch did not do the trick this time.

so tomorrow I'll go investigate further and have been reading here tonight how my DII does *not* have a servicable fuel filter, about crank sensors and the fuel pump as possible culprits. but I have not found any posts relating to the fuel reset switch so I thought I'd ask if that detail sparks any insights with the forum.

thanks for any tips you can provide!

 

Resetting the fuel cut off switch did you no good.
That is correct that your truck does NOT have a serviceable fuel filter.
You need a new crank sensor.
When it gets hot it fails, cools off then it works again.
It will get bad enough that it will not work at all.
You can buy one from a autoparts store and replace it yourself if you are halfway mechanical.

 

thanks Spike - is there a quick diagnosis (other than the tried-and-true-but-sometimes-expensive "try the new one and see what happens") to be sure it's the crank sensor before I plunk down the cash for the new part?

 

A failing crank sensor can turn of the fuel pump signal and or the spark from the coils. There are 4 or 5 fault codes for a bad crank sensor but they rarely come on.
Some people will try starting fluid or carb spray to restart the engine, sometimes it will restart and the die, sometimes it won't restart at all.

 

A new crank sensor is about $70.
No way to test it.

 

Thanks Mike and Spike - I have a new CKP sensor - as the manual calls it. $57 at AutoZone.

Replacement looks very straightforward, but I do have a question about the last line of the re-install instructions:

"9. Reset adaptions using TestBook."

Can someone translate that into English for me? My friendly local LR mechanic has TestBook if necessary - but can this step be ignored?

Thanks!

 

Yes that step can be ignored.
Worst case your truck runs rough for a few hundred miles while your ECU re-learns everything.
99% of the people who replace them have no problems.
And the re-set using TestBook just clears your ECU's memory so that it cannot remember the old out of adjustment faulty CKS.

 

Thank you Spike. I'll pop it in tomorrow, then.

 

Well just to finish out the thread - that crankcase sensor is a bear to access. You need to go in from both above and below - above to get the connector off and from below the remove the heat shield and the sensor itself.

Reaching high up past the exhaust manifold that just barely lets your arm through gets old really fast. :-)

 

And, the end result, did that fix your problem?