Truck keeps stalling

Tiny
BCMULLEN95
  • MEMBER
  • 1998 CHEVROLET S-10
  • 187,236 MILES
Replaced the fuel pump, fuel relay and repaired some ground wires by the brake lights. What else could be causing it too stall. The fuel tank has a high spot where the fuel pump sits. The truck was stalling before the fuel pump was replaced.
Monday, June 18th, 2012 AT 3:02 PM

22 Replies

Tiny
KHLOW2008
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Are you able to restart easily?

When does the stalling occurs? Only while idling or even when accelerator is partially engaged?
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Monday, June 18th, 2012 AT 3:06 PM
Tiny
BCMULLEN95
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It will do it at idle or while driving.
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+1
Monday, June 18th, 2012 AT 3:21 PM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
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Are you able to restart easily? What is the idling speed at operating temperature?
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Monday, June 18th, 2012 AT 4:12 PM
Tiny
BCMULLEN95
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Yes it does start easily, the operating temp is about 200 and the idle speed is 800-900 RPMs. The oil pump gauge reads a low reading then goes to a normal reading when I raise the idle. The check gauges light will come on usually before it stalls. There are no codes currently or stared codes currently on the truck.
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Monday, June 18th, 2012 AT 5:15 PM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
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If the CEL comes on with no trouble codes, you could have a failing engine computer or has a loose connection somewhere. Check the ECM fpr sings of contaminations due to water entry etc. Ensure all cnnectors are clean and secure. Recheck all ground circuit connections.

If all fails, you would need to plug in a scan tool and monitor the live data to check what is not functioning correctly.
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Monday, June 18th, 2012 AT 5:29 PM
Tiny
BCMULLEN95
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The CEL does not come on because it is different that the check gauges light. The one that comes on is check gauges not service engine soon or check engine light. I just checked the fuel pressure and it is testing 45-50 psi on the high point and right around 40 psi constant. Would a low psi cause the fuel pump to over work itself or could there be a different problem. Replaced the fuel pump with an aftermarket one and had to switch out the connecter to the fuel pump. Could an incorrect wiring job cause a low fuel pressure?
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Monday, June 18th, 2012 AT 6:35 PM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
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Have the ignition switch checked. Note if the ignition switch is hot to the touch when problem occurs.
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Monday, June 18th, 2012 AT 7:09 PM
Tiny
BCMULLEN95
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I will do that, I will run it for a while until it stalls then inspect the ignition switch.
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Monday, June 18th, 2012 AT 7:58 PM
Tiny
BCMULLEN95
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Was just out there running the truck while idling it would stall with the oil pressure gauge at 10 and the rpms at 850. Most of the time it would start right away, but once it took about 5 min before it would start again. I did not notice ti ignition switch to be really hot. Is there a way to test the ignition switch to see if it is the problem?
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Monday, June 18th, 2012 AT 9:54 PM
Tiny
BCMULLEN95
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Could a bad starter solenoid cause it to stall as well? It does not want to turn over the battery voltage is at 12.50 and the voltage while cranking is 10.5.
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Monday, June 18th, 2012 AT 10:04 PM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
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No, the starter is used only when cranking. The stalling could be due to a charging or electrical fault. Have the alternator tested. It could also be due to a failing battery. Get a high discharge test done on the battery.

To test the ignition switch, note if the dash indicator lights comes on when it stalled. If yes, the chances of it failing is not there as you have power to the circuits.

When it was difficult to restart, that is the time you should be checking to see what is missing, electrical or fuel fault.
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Tuesday, June 19th, 2012 AT 3:08 PM
Tiny
BCMULLEN95
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The dash indicator light does come on. The ignition module was tested and tested good. I will be checking the coil pack and also have the alternator tested. Could the crank shaft sensor cause some of these problems as well? Could a faulty ground cause this problem too?
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Tuesday, June 19th, 2012 AT 4:37 PM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
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Yes, a crank or cam sensor can cause this and at times don't throw a code. Faulty ground circuit definitely would.
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Tuesday, June 19th, 2012 AT 6:12 PM
Tiny
BCMULLEN95
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Is there a way to rule out the crank sensor or cam sensor? Like specs for the voltage reading.
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Tuesday, June 19th, 2012 AT 11:52 PM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
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A scan tool would be able to tell you if there are any problem with the sensor operations. Our database does not show any information for voltage test etc.

For the crank sensor, it could be a faulty reluctor and removing the sensor would allow you to inspect.
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Wednesday, June 20th, 2012 AT 12:29 PM
Tiny
BCMULLEN95
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Found out it was the starter solenoid, as it got hot it would not work anymore replaced and it worked like a champ again. Thanks.
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Friday, July 6th, 2012 AT 9:55 PM
Tiny
RIVERMIKERAT
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Bcmullen, I would recommend that you monitor it closely, because a starter solenoid isn't going to cause it to stall out unless it's grounding out and sending ignition voltage to ground.
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Sunday, July 29th, 2012 AT 6:06 PM
Tiny
EDDIEU
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  • 5 POSTS
With my 40+ years experience as an auto tech I thought this one was going get me. But I found it, a loose connector pin at fule pump plug. After stall and turn key to start you restart fule pump relay.
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Saturday, August 4th, 2012 AT 1:29 AM
Tiny
BCMULLEN95
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This is why I really questioned the starter. When I would go crank the truck to start it the starter would turn slow. I connected the battery in an attempt to jump start it, however it still had the same issue, it would crank slow. I finally got the truck to start and in about 10 minutes it would stall. At this point I would try to start the truck and it the starter would not engage anymore. At that point when the started stopped working like it should I replaced it. Put a new starter in and it started and ran at idle for at least 1 hour. It also drove about 50 miles and never stalled. The truck has been running fine since.
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Saturday, August 4th, 2012 AT 2:58 PM
Tiny
RIVERMIKERAT
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Great to know. Thanks for the update.
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Saturday, August 4th, 2012 AT 5:07 PM

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