Hey guys, I'm looking to try and diagnose what might be wrong with my pickup.

On my way home from work, my pickup's engine cut off. It was as if I turned it off, but my lights were still on and my radio was still playing music like it was in the accessory position, but the key was completely forward. I turned it back on luckily and drove it the rest of the way home. I asked both my father and step-father if they have any ideas and they gave me a couple of suggestions.

1. My father thinks that it could be the fuel pump just suddenly turning off and the engine just not getting any fuel.

2. On the other hand, my step-father thinks that it could have been something in the ignition system glitching out or something so that it acted as if it were in the accessory position.

If it's both, then that's fine. But I would be a bit more happy to fix it if it were just one thing. If you guys have any other ideas on what it could be, please let me know. Thank you.

 

could be the fsd/pmd

check to see if your fuel shut off solinoide is good.

 

In the Picture it shows the parts of the Top Cover of the Fuel Injection Pump and lower is the Shutoff Solenoid.
When the Engine dies turn the Key off an open the Hood. You will need a Jumper Wire connected to a + Voltage Source.

One Terminal of the Shutoff Solenoid is grounded to the and you have to look and see which is grounded. Apply the + Voltage to the other Terminal and you should here a Click indicating that the Solenoid was activated.

If you don't hear a click there is a problem with the Solenoid or the electrical Circuit.

Unfortunately when the Solenoid dies it can do so intermittantly. They work until they get hot and then will die; until they are finally compeletely dead.

An old field test for the Hot not functioning Solenoid used to be to pour Water over the top of the Fuel Injection pump Cover to Cool the Solenoid. However, that is up to you as some say it can crack a hot Fuel Injection Pump housing and of course Water can go other places where it can cause issues.

In the Pic there is a red Valve circled. If that valve gets plugged or restricted from the inside it will also shut you off.
You can remove the return Hose and see if fuel comes out or you can remove the Valve and look inside of it from the Bottom.

Anything that squeezes off the Fuel Return from the top of the Fuel Injection Pump will cause the Fuel to be cut off.

In the old days there was a Plastic Governor retainer part that would fall a part and block that Valve. But, I think by your year an Model it was eliminated. Hoever, I don't know that for sure.