Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) '98 24V won't start

[John - K5AWO]

First time ever since I have owned the truck! It has failed to start!

Haven't been driving it much as I ride my Goldwing for everyday transportation.

Truck has been sitting for 3 days, temp is 55*F. Since I haven't been driving it every day for a long time, I forgot to wait for the "wait to start" light to go out. I turned the key and clicked the starter. Starter turned like always, but the Cummins didn't fire up like usual.

Normally, when I do something dumb like that, it rattles so bad I am embarassed at having forgotten and switch it off fast. Then restart it properly.

It has always held fuel pressure in between runs. Didn't look today before I tried to start it, but it had 18 psi on the guage while I was cranking.

I switched it off, waited a minute and did a proper restart. Same result.

At the moment, I have the batteries disconnected letting everything zero out. After it sits for an hour I will reconnect batteries, reset the pedal full range and switch it off. Then try again.

In the meantime, any ideas on why the no-start?

The only thing not stock is the van Aaken fueler box.


John

 

[Doug1810]

i did that once waited a little like 5 min cranked it hit the go pedal about 1/4 and it fired up not sure if this will help not evan sure that i needed to push the pedal but it worked for me

 

[John - K5AWO]

Well, I let 'er sit for an hour. Hooked the batteries back up and programmed the go pedal. Switched it off. Then I let it go thru the heater warm up cycle and hit the starter.

The starter whirling it over was the only reward I got.

Looking backwards at it... . I am wondering if somehow it "air locked" the injector pump because I didn't allow the fuel pump to run before I hit the key??

Tonight after I get back home from work I am going to crack three of the injectors open and see if I get any fuel spray.

I just can't fathom why it would be running perfectly when I drove in the drive and shut it down. Then nothing on the next startup a few days later...

 

[fox]

Bleed the injector lines at the head. Loosen 3 line and crank it to see iy you are getting fuel. Hopefully it will fire on a few cylinders.

Then if that doesn't help, get the codes read and get back to us.

 

[klaybus]

I ran into the same sort of problem kind of... . I started driving my companys van to & from work & discovered I had a fuel leak I was un-aware of. Mine would fire & then die. I think your heading in the right drection by bleeding the injector lines... . Keep us posted.



Clay

 

[John - K5AWO]

Hot dog!

Well, it is running again... ... smooth as can be.

Got home after work, cracked open #1, #3, #5 injector lines at the head.

Let it roll over for what seemed forever..... maybe 20 - 25 seconds

Then it hit on 1 cylinder, awfully ragged it was... . then a 2nd cylinder came on line and then the 3rd one. Finally it would run without the starter helping it along.

Then I tightened everything back up, took another 15 seconds or so after the last line was tight and it smoothed right out.

Now, what in the world caused it to loose prime? It obviously was airlocked, or cavitated and pulled a vacuum ??

Going to put a new fuel filter on it tomorrow. Still got the same fuel pressure as always, 15 psi at idle, 9-13 lbs running depending on how hard it is pulling.

I'm a happy camper now, but a trifle concerned about why this happened.

I'm wondering IF since it had sat for several days, if the fuel pressure was actually zero because I didn't really look at the guage before I tried to start it the first time- and with zero pressure on the VP44, did it pull a vacuum when I hit the starter without letting the fuel pump work first??

John

 

[OL RATLR]

Next time you leave it siting for day's bump the starter with out starting

and that should fill your fuel canister see if that helps.

 

[DavidC]

Sounds to me as tho you have acquired an air leak somewhere. Mine has sat for up to 3 weeks at a time with no issues. I do wait for the "wait to start light eveytime tho. Guess you will find out if it happens again.



Dave

 

[JKinney]

Didnt I read on here quite a while back that the fuel return lines on the early 2nd gens will develop holes/cracks and cause air to enter the system? The repair is to replace the hose.

 

[DavidC]

Yes, but I believe it is for 12 valvers. Haven't heard much about 24 valvers except the return T leaking at the back of the head. Could be his problem tho.



Dave

 

[Cummins724]

Didnt I read on here quite a while back that the fuel return lines on the early 2nd gens will develop holes/cracks and cause air to enter the system? The repair is to replace the hose.

Yes... I read that too, but can't seem to find it. Also the return line has a overflow valve in the injection pump. If you take the line off the pump... . you can get to the overflow valve. Sometimes they stick & let fuel bypass back to the tank..... leading to a no fuel in the pump situation & getting air in the system.

 

[turbo torque]

Right after I got my 98. 5 24v, new, there was a service bulletin and the dealer changed out the return line off the back of the head with a revised one.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

I'm a bit curious about this:

Didn't look today before I tried to start it, but it had 18 psi on the guage while I was cranking.

On my truck, the electronics will NOT let the truck start if the PSI to the VP-44 is above about 5 PSI, which is why the LP only cycles momentarily on keying the ignition, then quits until the engine is actually running...

 

[John - K5AWO]

I'm a bit curious about this:

On my truck, the electronics will NOT let the truck start if the PSI to the VP-44 is above about 5 PSI, which is why the LP only cycles momentarily on keying the ignition, then quits until the engine is actually running...

Hmmmm, the fuel pressure on mine has always been in the 13-16 range as soon as the fuel pump starts running. And, the fuel pressure stays at that level for some time after the key is switched off. There has never been a starting problem unless I have changed out the fuel filter and of course had to clear the air out of the lines.


As mentioned before, it's all stock. Original fuel pump in original location. 116,000 on the truck at the moment. I bought a Holley Blue a couple of years ago and stuck it under the back seat. I ought to get it plumbed in so if it is ever needed I won't be slogging in the rain under the truck at a bad moment.

Also have wondered about buying a new VP44 and keeping that in the truck ready for a rainy day.

 

[John - K5AWO]

Right after I got my 98. 5 24v, new, there was a service bulletin and the dealer changed out the return line off the back of the head with a revised one.

I bought my truck with 87k on the clock and 3 months out of warranty 3 years ago. I can't say what the PO had done to it, didn't get any records with the truck. It has a goose neck hitch in the bed so it would be a safe bet to say that it knew how to work before I got it.