truck wont start

[COlmsted]

For about a week my brother inlaws 2003 has been starting hard. Cranks a long time and runs ruff when finally starting, then smooths out and ran good the rest of the day. Today it will not start at all. It was cold out so we checked the power to the grid heaters and there is juice at the grids when the wait to start is on. I thought the truck was not getting fuel but the filter is full. I cracked the fuel line that feeds the rail and had him crank the motor and there doesnt seem to be a lot of fuel leaking out, is that normal. Could I be looking in the wrong direction , maybe its a bad sensor at the crank or cam? This is my first common rail experience so I am lost. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Charlie.

 

[rbattelle]

Often hard starting and rough running turns out to be a bad injector (or injectors). Could also be a bad fuel control actuator, or even a bad rail pressure relief valve.

Has the truck been modified in any way?

Ryan

 

[COlmsted]

No modifications , bone stock with 106,000 miles on it. Should we have more pressure at the rail while cranking? It just doesnt seem like a lot. During the week when the truck did start it seemed to run normal all day as far as power and starting . Charlie.

 

[rbattelle]

No modifications , bone stock with 106,000 miles on it. Should we have more pressure at the rail while cranking? It just doesnt seem like a lot. During the week when the truck did start it seemed to run normal all day as far as power and starting . Charlie.

If the rail's not pressurizing, it could be the fuel control actuator (mounted on the back of the CP-3) not providing sufficient fuel to the pumping chambers.



It could also be that the relief valve is stuck open and dumping all the fuel back to the tank.



I'm not quite sure how to test which (if either) is actually bad.



Ryan

 

[COlmsted]

Thanks, I will keep you posted on progress. Charlie.

 

[ADanka513]

Our 03 did the same thing with 50k miles, it was injectors (3) of them were bad,many long cranks/no starts. Dodge fixed under waranty but with 106k that won't happen. Ours acted up in july when it was hot so I tryed a breath of starting fluid in the air tube after the air cleaner, worked every time. BE SURE ITS WARM ENOUGH OR, DISCONNECT GRID HEATERS TO TRY THIS!! good luck.

 

[COlmsted]

I will try the starting fluid trick tomorrow. ADanka, after yours started did it run OK or did it miss and run ruff. Just Curious because if this starts up and runs smooth what should I look for in the way of bad injectors. Thanks, Charlie.

 

[TCluff]

Injectors Time To Get The Ones You Want

 

[ADanka513]

Charlie, truck ran fine after it started, run it normal or put your foot in it, ran fine. Ran it one day for 6 hrs non stop, next mornin wouldn't start without fluid. With 3 bad injector's, Dodge replaced all 6 still runnin good.

 

[hsmith]

Be careful with that ether stuff. Penetrating oil is much safer and will do the same to help it start.

 

[COlmsted]

I got the truck started on WD-40 instead of ether. Truck runs fine but when you shut it down and restart after 5 or 10 minutes it cranks longer than normal. It feels like it loses prime. Could the relief valve be stuck open? The check engine light is not on so it must be something non computer related. Maybe it is injector time but why does it run smooth when running,could the injectors be leaking causing the loss of prime when shut off?

Any ideas for injectors if we have to replace them? Thanks, Charlie.

 

[ADanka513]

It doesn't lose prime, just cant build enough injector pressure while cranking, if injectors are bad and leaking down. Yop, our truck ran fine also, just needed help startin, but with new injectors its just like it should be. There was a thread not too long ago polling common rail owners, 1out of 5 had injector problems, sounds like design problem not a fuel issue?

 

[COlmsted]

I removed the fuel control actuator and cleaned the electrical connection. I also cleaned the fuel side of the valve with cleaner and blew some air through it. The truck has been starting all week and so far seems normal. I stopped at the local Dodge dealer to see what a new actuator would cost, just in case it acted up again ,and the parts guy said its a non servicable item. He said Dodge only sells it with a new pump. I told him it was held in with 3 screws and he said he could not help me unless I wanted to buy a complete pump. Has anybody replaced a fuel control actuator and where did you get it. We keep a can of WD40 in the truck just in case it fails to start, but the truck will be used daily until it acts up again. Thanks everyone I will keep you posted . Charlie

 

[01PPump]

Yes, you can buy the fuel control actuator with out buying the pump with it, I have replaced a few. Contact you local Bosch service dealer they should be able to supply you the part. If no luck pm me I will inform you with #...

 

[COlmsted]

Thanks, I will check with the nearest Bosch dealer. Charlie.

 

[rbattelle]

stopped at the local Dodge dealer to see what a new actuator would cost, just in case it acted up again ,and the parts guy said its a non servicable item.

Complete crapola. They've been available as a separate item since 2003. Look at this TSB (which also includes the part number).



Like Glover says - they are available as a separate part.



Ryan

 

[JHardwick]

I stopped at the local Dodge dealer to see what a new actuator would cost, just in case it acted up again ,and the parts guy said its a non servicable item. He said Dodge only sells it with a new pump.

Not true, I bought one after Ryan told me to, and it didn't solve my erratic idle problem ... ... ... ... I still need to bill him for that :-laf



Anyway, new injector tips finally solved that problem.

 

[rbattelle]

Not true, I bought one after Ryan told me to, and it didn't solve my erratic idle problem

#ad




I'm so sorry about that. Ever since that post, I'm very careful about telling people they should replace things.



Ryan

 

[JHardwick]

My goodness no, you had a good idea that it might fix it, and I bought one based on what I know of you, and what I know of my truck ... ... ... ... it could have worked! Heck, now I have a spare!

In the end, the only thing that worked was new injector tips, and I didn't buy them because of an idle problem! ... ... ... ... . just ribbin ya Ryan, it's all good!

 

[MMeier]

Yes, you can buy the fuel control actuator with out buying the pump with it, I have replaced a few. Contact you local Bosch service dealer they should be able to supply you the part. If no luck pm me I will inform you with #...

Just go to Cummins and get it. . $97 vs. like $400 at the you know what. In this case I say injectors, I'm finally getting my tips replaced with something bigger after 191k on the stockers.