No Start - Help!!

[moleary]

Arrgh!!! For the second week in a row I've experienced a no-start in the morning while 100 miles from home (I'm stuck in Live Oak FL). Last week the temperature dropped into the 50's at night and on Sunday morning the Ex wouldn't start. After trying several things (including disconnecting the ICP sensor) I ended up having to call a flatbed in to take it back to Jacksonville.

Once we got back and got it unloaded (around 2pm) I tried starting it up and it cranked right over (temperatures had risen to 80's at that point). My mechanic went through it and didn't see anything glaring, he cleaned a couple of sensors and fixed a coolant leak, that was it.

This morning I'm experiencing the same problem. Similar temperatures and once again I've got a no start.

The CTS is showing the following codes (same as last week):

P2285 - ICP sensor circuit low

P2623 - ICP regulator / open

I really don't want to have to flatbed the Ex back to Jacksonville again and then have to turn around to pick up the family. Any suggestions? Should it start when it warms up again? Thoughts on the root cause?

Thanks all.

Michael

[moleary]

Ok - ended up flatbedding it back to Jacksonville again. Like last time, once we dropped it off the bed of the flatbed it cranked back up again. I'm wondering if this a fuel issue?? There wasn't a code thrown for fuel though. After several seconds of cranking there was no diesel smell at the exhaust.

Is it possible that the fuel filter is clogged and the trip on the flatbed is breaking it loose enough to start?

This is an '05 Ex with a 115K on the clock.

Thanks again...

[dieselmatt]

In my experience, your issues are linked to a bad HPOP. However, normally when that goes bad you wouldn't be able to drive it that far. So, perhaps a bad fuel pump or a lose connector to it.

[moleary]

Ok - thanks. That's a possibility - the ICP was reading 250psi on crank. It did the same thing last weekend but the readings returned to normal after it started. Maybe a lose fitting or a clogged screen in the HPOP?

[dieselmatt]

Also, take a quick read through this thread.

[moleary]

Thank's for the link Matt - I had started off my troubleshooting by reading that thread, its very comprehensive but tough to work through when you aren't at a garage.

So here was the final outcome. I had the truck flat bedded back to Jacksonville (again) where it started right up when we unloaded it from the wrecker. We shut it right down and when we went to start it again a few minutes later the battery wasn't strong enough to turn it over.

The next day it went on a trickle charger and once it was recharged it cranked right up.

We replaced the ICP sensor (it was slugged), the fuel filters (the one next to the heat shield was BLACK!), and changed the oil. We also replaced the screen in the ICP regulator as well as the o-rings. We weren't ever able to actually replicate the problem.

The truck is running quieter but since we don't know if we actually addressed the root cause I'm still a bit nervous about it happening again. My gut tells me it was the ICP sensor and / or the fuel filter issue. Evidently a clogged fuel filter can cause the system to throw HPOP codes.

If anyone thinks I've overlooked anything please let me know!

[dannyboy950]

The pcm will never throw a fuel code or actual fuel pressure reading as there are no sensors in the fuel system. Only way to read actual fuel pressure is with a test gauge unles ya have some aftermaket fuel gauge.