I already posted this on "EMERGENCY", to no replies. So I'll try here. I have an '05 3500 cummins, 6 speed manual which had a severe and sudden loss of power today, just after climbing the Baker grade south of Vegas.I am towing a 25' travel trailer. I have maybe 20% power. Long story shortened, my truck is at the Chapman Dodge shop in Vegas waiting for Monday to roll around. I am thinking turbo, injectors, fuel pump, or bad fuel? I just like going into these dealership encounters slightly prepared anyway.

 

Just some suggestions:
how is the fuel filter?
do you know what the fuel psi is?
Pacbrake- try turning off the brake and take it for a spin, I have a pacbrake also and i think the pressure switch on the compressor failed. This happened to me.

Also I would recommend Dodge Cummins Diesel Forum for some guidance.

 

Do you have a plastic CAC? If so, I beat it cracked and you are not building boost. You need to get a set of gauges. A boost gauge can be invaluable in this situation.

 

did you find what was wrong?

 

thanks to those that replied to my panicky post. Start at the beginning. My pacbrake was working parttime at home in Montana. I diagnosed it using the pacbrake website info and found the air compressor to be non-functional. I replaced it with a brand new air compressor from pacbrake. The brake worked for 900+ miles of towing ending in Vegas. I left Vegas and 1 hr. south suffered a huge loss of power, like no turbo. I have no gauges. We towed back to vegas. The Dodge dealer in Vegas (Chapman) replaced the fuel filter and ran diagnostics. They said it worked fine. I took it for a drive and had no power still. They then sent a mechanic out with me using a meter to run all diagnostics again this time underway. It showed no boost, good fuel pressure and everything else normal. He then figured out that the pacbrake was stuck closed and thus shutting off all exhaust flow to and from the turbo. They stuck the brake in the open position so I could drive it and sent me down the road saying that they won't work on aftermarket equipment. I then went to Underground diesel Performance in Vegas. they are a full-service diesel pickup only shop.They will do all repairs and service and install lots of aftermarket gear. They installed the exhaust mounted parts of the pacbrake. When they took out the old stuff, it was very tough for the butterfly to move. On top of that the air valve mounted on the cylinder was leaking, and therefore not functioning. That created another issue, finding that part. They ultimately rebuilt the old one. I think that little valve was a critical part of my issues, since in my initial work on the air compressor I found that thing leaking out of it's open port, a 1/4" threaded opening. I plugged it and the thing worked, until it started blowing elsewhere out the valve. This was a long sad story and I learned through it that the pacbrake needs lubricating,at every oil change. Mine was 9+- yrs old, and I don't think that the air system is perhaps the best way to operate an exhaust brake. I like my D-celerator brake on my last truck that was all electric. This was one big honkin' expensive ordeal I hope nobody has to go through. Lube your pacbrakes!