For everyone’s discussion regarding my fuel pump, it sounds as if that might be it. One mile after the engine shut down I refilled my tank, it took 42 gallons, so my tank was more than half empty (the drive along I-210 and on I-5 over Tejon Pass had really taken a lot of gas, dropping my average mpg from 7.5 to 5.5mpg). I’d driven the rig in some mighty hot +100 AZ heat the day before but I never ran it below 2/3 full (cheapskate me filled up before I left AZ).
I’ll say right now, I really don’t want to replace the fuel pump. I replaced an in-tank fuel pump on a Dodge Caravan once (after a mechanic had failed twice to get it right) and it was one of the scariest jobs I’d ever undertaken. Even though I grounded everything, all I could think of was a huge fireball with me in the center!
PUCampin, I really appreciate your detailed description of your battery/starter problem, sounds very similar to the problem I’m having. The good news for me is that when I replaced my battery cable it left me with a spare cable the previous owner had moused on alongside the main battery cable. It’ll be a simple task to use it as a proper engine ground. It won’t cost me a dime and just might cure the problem!
I don’t know who did some of the mechanical work on this rig before I bought it, but if it was a professional mechanic the dumb SOB should be taken out and flogged!
Steve
