Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) 01 Truck hard to start

[DonSimpson]

Hey guys, I drive a 2001, 2500, tdc. I love this truck, but lately after I can drive for a while (20 minutes or so, till it warms up) stop somewhere and try to restart, sometimes it will start quickly but mostly it will just turn over and over till a check gauge light comes on, ( sometimes up to 10-15 seconds) I can step one time on the accelerator and then turn the key and it will usually crank, I know this is not good for the engine with the fuel injection but it seems the only way it will crank. The dealer says it could be a number of things that is keeping it from starting. I was hoping someone might have gone thru this or at least knows something that might be helpful. Thank for any advise that might be out there!

Don Smpson, 2001 ram 2500, mostly stock except for fass system.

 

[Dieseldemon]

I had a cust that had that same problem I replaced the return check valve with a valve for a 12v and fixed the problem with his.

 

[MAYoung]

I am sure that you have already done this but make sure you have a clean fuel filter installed. I had a hard start problem and a new filter worked magic. It was not that old but time goes by quickly. Let us know how you fixed your truck.

 

[Ron Bissett]

Sounds like starter problem if only problem when warm . Ron in Louisville just a guess.

 

[DavidC]

Sounds like starter problem if only problem when warm . Ron in Louisville just a guess.

Yes it could be batteries, starter. I would have not believed until I saw it myself in Flagstaff AZ. There was a guy with an 02 and he would crank and crank till it started. He was outside one time and we started talking and I mentioned the long cranking. He mentioned it does that when the batteries are a little low and he had a charger on it that morning. He disconnected the charger and the truck started the second he turned the key. Moral of the story have your batteries load tested.



Dave

 

[Houser]

I Had a similar problem with my wifes 01. It was hard to start once warmed up. Started fine cold. My shop guy said to try unplugging the lift pump and see if it would start. If so it was the VP44.

It did start warm with the lift pump unplugged and replacing the VP44 did cure the problem. I was not getting any codes.

 

[Bob4x4]

First check for codes,if no codes and has normal cranking speed and starts normal when cool the vp44 is what you need to check out

 

[IdahoJim]

First check for codes,if no codes and has normal cranking speed and starts normal when cool the vp44 is what you need to check out

Bob, what causes this with the VP-44? Why does it start OK cold, but not when warmed-up?
Thanks,
Jim

 

[IdahoJim]

Hey guys, I drive a 2001, 2500, tdc. I love this truck, but lately after I can drive for a while (20 minutes or so, till it warms up) stop somewhere and try to restart, sometimes it will start quickly but mostly it will just turn over and over till a check gauge light comes on, ( sometimes up to 10-15 seconds) I can step one time on the accelerator and then turn the key and it will usually crank, I know this is not good for the engine with the fuel injection but it seems the only way it will crank. The dealer says it could be a number of things that is keeping it from starting. I was hoping someone might have gone thru this or at least knows something that might be helpful. Thank for any advise that might be out there!
Don Smpson, 2001 ram 2500, mostly stock except for fass system.

Don, one inexpensive thing to try is this:... The electrical plug for the injector pump gets dried out. When my truck did that 2 years ago, it would not only crank, but not start, it also occasionally bucked, or missed, while going down the road. One of the things I did was pull the injector pump plug, clean it with electrical contact cleaner, and then give it a good coat of dielectric grease. That solved my problem. I'm going to do it again, now that this new warm start problem has shown up.
Jim

 

[Dieseldemon]

I had one that done the same thing I changed the check valve cured the problem.