wont start, also what kind of battery should i use?

[KLuckel]

My truck wants to start but wont. i've ruled out the battery and he fuel filter as being the issues. i'm buying a new battery. the parts store has always sond me batteries that are too small for the space but seem to work. the one i almost bought was small but the biggest thing they had with 770 cranking amps. someone else recommended i get a bigger one a 30h with 1025 cranking amps. another person said he would sell me a used semi battery cheap but it doesnt have posts so we would sauter new connectors. even with a battery in there though the truck tirns over but wont catch. could this be the glow plugs or the injectors? what should I consider first?

 

[Sri Ram]

First of all, welcome! Second, you won't find any glow plugs in your D250, unless they're for another vehicle. The Cummins 6BT is a true compression-ignition engine.



Have you tested your battery with a multi-meter? Any car parts store will do this for you. Do a search in the First Generation forum for 'battery' and you will learn more than you ever wanted to know. :-laf It could help you decide what size battery you really need.



Have you considered your fuel shutoff solenoid (FSS)? It's on the top rear of the injection pump. If it doesn't open, you can crank all day--or at least until your battery is dead--and your engine will never start. Again, check it with a multi-meter to see if it's getting enough juice.



Someone else will have more ideas. Good luck.

 

[paccool]

Make sure the wire going to the shut off Solenoid is making a good connection. This has been a problem with a lot of trucks. If the wire has 12 volts to it and is making good connection, the plunger inside the solenoid is probably shot. Try removing the solenoid and lifting the plunger and spring out then reinstall the body. If it starts, its the plunger. You can still shut the truck off by using the lever on the side of the pump. Then either get a new solenoid or rig up a pull wire to activate the shutoff arm from inside the truck. If the plunger has a chunk missing on one side, you might be able to grind the rubber flat down to the metal post on the bottom and try using it that way. This has worked for a number of guys.



Also, crack the fuel line by the filter that goes over to the injector pump and make sure you have fuel there when cranking. Tighten it back up if you do have fuel then break loose a line at an injector and see if there is pressure there. Be careful here cause the pressure is high. Just crack it loose and see if fuel dribbles or sprays out at the top of the injector. If there is fuel at the top of an injector, the solenoid is ok.



Hope this helps solve the problem

 

[PToombs]

I'd like to make a minor correction to Paccool's statement. If the truck won't start, it's the solenoid itself. It won't lift the plunger. If it won't shut off, it's the plunger, like he said, chipped on the side. FYI, it usually chips when you turn up the fuel screw alot

 

[Moab4x4]

I got disgusted with my old worn out battery while troubleshooting a similar issue and stole DValentine's dual Optima idea. I tweaked it a tad by using one blue top (Deep Cycle) with an isolator for charging for use with the camper or other inverter. That way I can use the deep cycle battery to exhaustion without discharging the main (red top). I have a solenoid on a switch to connect the two if the one red top isn't quite enough due to cold or discharge.

The two optimas fit side by side turned 90 degrees from how the original battery was in there.

This is a great post on this topic, worth reading.



https://www.turbodieselregister.com...3/151885-lets-talk-batteries.html#post1438758

Ken

 

[KLuckel]

thanks for the ideas and the welcome. i'll look into the solenoid and hopefully that will correct the problem. now that i have the new battery; a deep cycle 950 cc amps.

 

[dpuckett]

... . a deep cycle 950 cc amps.

Not sure if the deep cycle is good, bad, or indifferent, but the 950 CCA sounds a little low. Mine has about 1050 CCA, and 1195CA.



Daniel

 

[AlK]

I believe the battery that is recommended for the first gen trucks is a group 31.

 

[johnnyMac]

I believe the battery that is recommended for the first gen trucks is a group 31.

I use and recommend Odyssey Group 31, 2700 CCA, I've used 'em for years in everything and they do the job. IMO, YMMV

 

[KLuckel]

950 cc amps is 200 more than the last couple of batteries i had in there... . I ended up not being able to start the truck after changing out the battery and the fuel filter and so i took it to a mechanic. All they did was bleed the fuel lines and now its running... .

 

[Sri Ram]

Glad to hear ya got it going again…!