reengineered

My 3.0 pickup has started a new problem.... when i am at highway speed (60-70mph) the engine will shut down and then restart, rebuilt the engine about 50,000 miles ago, (currently 315,000 miles) it had done it once or twice right after the rebuild but it just recently started doing it nearly every time i take it on the highway (i tend to not drive it much weekends usually as i have a 75 mile one way commute). also when it started it was almost instantaneous it would come right back and it would just jerk the truck a little, but now it will shut down long enough to make me start heading to the shoulder (i am sure the cop behind me thought i was drunk the trip this happened 3 times in about 5 miles).

i am at a loss....

i just replaced the timing belt, water pump, idlers, etc... about 8 months ago (2000 miles maybe), but the problem was there before i did that, so i am pretty sure that i didn't mess that up.

any help or insight will be greatly appreciated....

artinge3

fuel filter??

reengineered

changed the fuel filter along with the fuel pickup tube assembly about 20k miles before i did the rebuild. (one of the lines rusted through and was blowing gas everywhere.)

thook

When the truck dies, it starts back up......by itself?

Since it sounds like that's what you're saying, have you noticed whether or not the dash indicator lamps are coming on?

reengineered

yeah, engine dies, i notice the deceleration, i let off the gas and once it gets to about 50mph the engine will start back up.

the check engine light on the dash comes on, that is about it...

i have checked the usual, spark plug cables, the cable to the coil, etc....

Gonzo4Runner

Get the codes out of the ECM. That will be a good start. If you dont have teh FSM, there are some posted online that will help.

thook

Okay. The CEL, the oil pressure light, the brake light, etc all normally come on when you turn the ignition key to start the engine. Then, once the engine has started, they turn off. So, in your case, if they come back on when your engine dies and then go off again when the engine starts back up, it appears to me to be a problem in the ignition circuit. Otherwise, if they never went off......in the normal ignition/start up manner...as I explained....it would indicate something else like the fuel supply cutting out.

Do as the previous poster suggested and see if the ECU is throwing any codes. In any case, it sounds like a faulty connection in the ignition circuit. But, it's odd...because normally it require the key to be turned to restart the engine.

Anyway, see if there's a code. That may help tracking down the problem.

Team420

check the connection to your battery, this happened to me before and my bat cables were nearly falling off, put new terminals on, and voila....hasnt happened since.