Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) 2001 Cummins quit goin, won't start

[Wester]

Hello everyone. Here is a plea for help, and or wisdom from some of yall seasoned CTD owners. Truck is 2001 24v, 1 ton, 5sp, 90,000 miles (well maintained)

(do not have a FP gauge) Was on the interstate moving at 75 mph. She started sputtering. Glanced in the passenger mirror and saw intermittent puffs of white smoke... by the time I hit the emer. lane, she was "deader a hammer". Would not restart. Showed 1/2 tank of fuel, but added 5 gallons just in case it was wrong. Still no crank. Turns over normal,. just will not catch up and run. Bled the fuel filter valve, only pure fuel came out. Called a wrecker. He bled the schroder valve on the VP-44 and it spewed fuel (like it should?)... Never started. Rode home on a roll-back

So, go ahead and break it to me... Which died, the Lift pump, or the VP-44 or both..... ?

I appreciate in advance any comments and or suggestions that you all can offer up. Still LOVE the CTD, but :{ right now... .

 

[Jeff Knight]

Your truck is still under warranty. If you have a good dealer in your area thats where I would take it. Sound like the VP44. Just my opinion. Jeff

 

[WadePatton]

If the LP can block the flow to the VP-44, then maybe you are lucky and it's just the LP. But with that much fuel I 'spect that the VP-44 would be able to pull enough fuel through a dead LP to run.



I'm thinking VP, but that's a real guess. Can the VP lose voltage and not function?



If you have 90k on the original LP, I'll bet that it has been dead for some time and the VP got tired of sucking.



No real help, just making noise.

 

[Idaho CTD]

You might try cracking a fuel line. If the sender in the tank went bad and you ran it out of fuel then you ought to crack a fuel line and crank it over to see if: 1 fuel squirts out of the collar. 2 the truck starts. It will run on 5 cylinders until you get the collar tight again.



Nathan

 

[Wester]

Found the problem! Back on the road!

After seeking the help of some local CTD wizards, here is how everything turned out. My fuel gauge showed 1/2 of a tank, but it was not actually in there (off by 17. 5 gallons ) I ran it out of fuel, "weaned it" as I was told by the

crowd helping me. Here is what they did: Bumped the starter so lift pump would cycle for the 25 seconds. Did this like 5 times and then wound the heck out of it for like 2 minutes. Did this 2 or 3 times with no luck. One of the older guys said to move out of the way and he would start it. He lifted the top off of the breather intake box, got somebody else to get in the cab and turn on the switch, and asked that they yell at him when the "Wait to Start" light went out. The cranker (?) said "The light went off!", and the guy at the motor shot 1 small squirt of starting fluid into the intake hose, she sputtered once, he shot one more small "snort" and she fired and cleared up. Runs like a top. I just lost the prime.

They did caution me that it clearly says on the breather box "DO

NOT USE STARTING FLUID" and that it is not something to do very often. If you spray the fluid in at the same time the grid heaters are glowing red hot, it will explode !!!

So, I am not suggesting this as a way to re-prime, I just wanted to share how they did it in my particular case. All I know is my lift pump is still kicking, and thatk goodness the VP-44 is alive and well... New lift pump and fuel pressure gauge to be installed this week ! Thanks to all for their help and suggestions. I appreciate it.

 

[LSMITH]

Glad you got it fixed.



The safe way to bleed all the air after you have bled the lines up to the injection pump with the lift pump pressure is to loosen 3 of the injection lines where they go into the head and crank until fuel is seen or it tries to start. Tighten the lines that had fuel coming out and then start. Starting fluid would scare the crap out of me as they DO come back on after the truck starts and are ONLY off for sure during cranking.



DO NOT GET CLOSE TO THE INJECTION LINES when the truck is cranking or running. It can inject you with diesel and possibly even kill you.

 

[Wester]

LS, thanks for the reply. I'm with you on the starting fluid. One goof and it's CTD pieces flying everywhere I like your method much better and will use it if I ever "try to wean it" again.

And you are right about the grid heaters, they do cycle on and off several more times after the engine starts... wouldn't want them to heat up with any of that fluid residue still hangin around !

Again, thanks for the help.

 

[HoleshotHolset]

For future reference: Use a gasoline soaked rag near the air intake (obviously away from the compressor wheel... ... ) for the same effect as ether. Works like a charm and doesn't make your engine sound like it has 50 degrees of timing.....



Matt