1996 Powerstroke Dies Intermittently

Chris Hill · 11-12-2008, 08:45 PM

Hello,

I have a 1996 F-250 powerstroke diesel. The past couple of days, it has been running fine, then dies. It dies like the key has just been turned off. Luckily, the truck has restarted every time thus far and I have not been stranded. It will die momentary, less than a second or two. Only once did it die enough I had to restart the truck with the starter motor. The truck has missed/died 5 times the past two days. Please help me solve this issue.

Since it’s a diesel and they way it’s dying, I REALLY think I have an electrical issue that is interrupting the signal for the injectors to fire.

The battery idiot light (looks like a battery and is red) has been VERY sporadically flickering the past couple of months. Generally it will flicker on a bumpy road. Again, the voltage has been rock solid and the truck has run well until this point. I’m not sure if the idiot light flickers when the truck dies yet.

When the truck dies, the head lights and dash lights do not dim. I’ve checked the battery terminals and ground straps to the engine and they appear to be good. Also, the voltage meter on the dash does not move, it stays 14V. When the truck is running, the volt meter reads approximately 14V.

I’m thinking I have a loose ground somewhere, but have no idea where to look other than the obvious points on the battery and negative terminals on the engine. The part that puzzles me is when the truck dies, the volt meter does not change. If you have any ideas on what to check, please share.

Thank you,

Chris Hill
270-933-2054

11-12-2008, 08:45 PM	#1
Chris Hill Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 655 Likes: 8 Liked 244 Times in 26 Posts	1996 Powerstroke Dies Intermittently Hello, I have a 1996 F-250 powerstroke diesel. The past couple of days, it has been running fine, then dies. It dies like the key has just been turned off. Luckily, the truck has restarted every time thus far and I have not been stranded. It will die momentary, less than a second or two. Only once did it die enough I had to restart the truck with the starter motor. The truck has missed/died 5 times the past two days. Please help me solve this issue. Since it’s a diesel and they way it’s dying, I REALLY think I have an electrical issue that is interrupting the signal for the injectors to fire. The battery idiot light (looks like a battery and is red) has been VERY sporadically flickering the past couple of months. Generally it will flicker on a bumpy road. Again, the voltage has been rock solid and the truck has run well until this point. I’m not sure if the idiot light flickers when the truck dies yet. When the truck dies, the head lights and dash lights do not dim. I’ve checked the battery terminals and ground straps to the engine and they appear to be good. Also, the voltage meter on the dash does not move, it stays 14V. When the truck is running, the volt meter reads approximately 14V. I’m thinking I have a loose ground somewhere, but have no idea where to look other than the obvious points on the battery and negative terminals on the engine. The part that puzzles me is when the truck dies, the volt meter does not change. If you have any ideas on what to check, please share. Thank you, Chris Hill 270-933-2054 __________________ Chris Hill https://ihmusedparts.com