Mr Castulucci
New member
Hey Everyone,
I just wanted to share a strange experience that I had with everyone.
So I'm running errands around town on Wednesday afternoon: I got gas, went to the grocery store, and came home. That night, I was supposed to go out with my roommate, so while I was getting dressed, I auto-started my truck. After getting dressed, I went outside and saw my headlights and taillights on, but strangely the car did not seem like it started.
Oh crap, I think to myself, I must have left my friggin amp on again, and that must've drained the battery. But then I thought about it again, and I realized that I remembered turning off the amp, and even if I didn't, it wouldn't have drained the battery in only a few hours.
So, I was kind of confused. I put my key in and turn it to start -- the engine cranks, but no-go on a successful start. I kept trying it (it was obvious that my battery wasn't dead), and eventually it seemed like it wanted to start. Anyway, to make a long story short, after about 20 cranks, it finally fired up. Along with my Check Engine (Service Engine?) light and VSC OFF and VSC Trac lights. So I'm thinking, WTF, I just drove this thing earlier and it was fine!
Anyway, I popped the hood after I warmed up the truck (by holding down the gas pedal keeping the engine around 2500 RPM) -- I didn't want it to die out again! I couldn't see anything because it was too dark. I went and got my maglight, and I was kind of shocked/confused when I found one of those holiday M&M tubes lodged in there behind the throttle body. I figured it must have gotten sucked in somehow, but I am not sure.
Anyway, I took the truck for a quick spin. Running fine. Left the bar, and it started up with some slight hesitation. But, I noticed that the coolant temp gauge said that the car was warm. I was in the bar for over an hour and a half in the middle of January in Champaign, IL. No friggin way the engine was warm.
Anyway, next day, same thing. Truck wouldn't start. I was getting pretty stressed because I had to pick up the g/f that night in Bloomington from the bus stop, and I didn't want to have car trouble. Again I noticed the temp gauge saying that the engine was warm.
OK, this is getting pretty drawn-out, but I put the pieces together in my head to figure out that there must have been something wrong with the engine coolant temp sensor, and the truck was thinking that the engine was warm already, and therefore not giving it enough gas/crank/or the right gas mixture to start a cold engine. It turns out I was right! I wish I would have remembered to take a picture, but yeah somehow I guess that M&M tube must have flown up from under the engine, ripped right through both of the coolant temp sensor wires, and gotten lodged up behind the TB. I fixed the wires myself (I have the K&N and don't really want the dealership to know that...and I'm too lazy to swap it out right now) and now everything is all good, but the M&M container left a horde of M&Ms all over the nooks and crannies of my engine
I couldn't help but recal the quote from Tommy Boy: "Melted chocolate inside the dash -- that really ups the resale value!" Hehe
I just wanted to share a strange experience that I had with everyone.
So I'm running errands around town on Wednesday afternoon: I got gas, went to the grocery store, and came home. That night, I was supposed to go out with my roommate, so while I was getting dressed, I auto-started my truck. After getting dressed, I went outside and saw my headlights and taillights on, but strangely the car did not seem like it started.
Oh crap, I think to myself, I must have left my friggin amp on again, and that must've drained the battery. But then I thought about it again, and I realized that I remembered turning off the amp, and even if I didn't, it wouldn't have drained the battery in only a few hours.
So, I was kind of confused. I put my key in and turn it to start -- the engine cranks, but no-go on a successful start. I kept trying it (it was obvious that my battery wasn't dead), and eventually it seemed like it wanted to start. Anyway, to make a long story short, after about 20 cranks, it finally fired up. Along with my Check Engine (Service Engine?) light and VSC OFF and VSC Trac lights. So I'm thinking, WTF, I just drove this thing earlier and it was fine!
Anyway, I popped the hood after I warmed up the truck (by holding down the gas pedal keeping the engine around 2500 RPM) -- I didn't want it to die out again! I couldn't see anything because it was too dark. I went and got my maglight, and I was kind of shocked/confused when I found one of those holiday M&M tubes lodged in there behind the throttle body. I figured it must have gotten sucked in somehow, but I am not sure.
Anyway, I took the truck for a quick spin. Running fine. Left the bar, and it started up with some slight hesitation. But, I noticed that the coolant temp gauge said that the car was warm. I was in the bar for over an hour and a half in the middle of January in Champaign, IL. No friggin way the engine was warm.
Anyway, next day, same thing. Truck wouldn't start. I was getting pretty stressed because I had to pick up the g/f that night in Bloomington from the bus stop, and I didn't want to have car trouble. Again I noticed the temp gauge saying that the engine was warm.
OK, this is getting pretty drawn-out, but I put the pieces together in my head to figure out that there must have been something wrong with the engine coolant temp sensor, and the truck was thinking that the engine was warm already, and therefore not giving it enough gas/crank/or the right gas mixture to start a cold engine. It turns out I was right! I wish I would have remembered to take a picture, but yeah somehow I guess that M&M tube must have flown up from under the engine, ripped right through both of the coolant temp sensor wires, and gotten lodged up behind the TB. I fixed the wires myself (I have the K&N and don't really want the dealership to know that...and I'm too lazy to swap it out right now) and now everything is all good, but the M&M container left a horde of M&Ms all over the nooks and crannies of my engine
I couldn't help but recal the quote from Tommy Boy: "Melted chocolate inside the dash -- that really ups the resale value!" Hehe
And this time, both wires are broken. I'm a little concerned because it seems awfully strange that the second wire would break off. Well, looks like I'm going to have to swap out the K&N tomorrow and then schedule an appointment with the dealer, blah.
