Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Engine Problems

[Artickid]

Hello,

I am new to the Ram, Cummings community and have been very pleased with my truck until recently. The engine has been acting very strange lately. I get a ticking sound coming from the engine compartment and the engine feels like it is missing on a least 1 or 2 cylinders. This is not happening all of the time, I can be driving for about 20 miles with it running fine then it starts to act up also when it is not running properly there is a lag of about a second on acceleration and deceleration. The ticking noise seems to be coming from the upper portion of the engine, possible the fuel pump. Does anyone recognize this problem?? Any suggestions as to what may be my problem will be greatly appreciated.



Thanks

 

[PUMPERDUDE]

Sounds like your overflow valve could be giving out. . It is what regulates fuel pressure to your injector pump. . Do a search on it... About 25 bucks to replace it. Easy to do... ... Welcome to the TDR.

 

[bmoeller]

Welcome to the TDR!



If the lift pump is OK, it could be low fuel pressure caused by something else. Have you checked the pressure (Fuel Pressure: 18-24 psi at idle, 28-36 at 2000 rpm with no load. ) ? How old is the fuel filter? There is a fuel strainer that could be dirty. Could also be bad fuel line (collapsing or small holes (may not leak fuel, but air)). Bad overflow valve? Worse case, would be the fuel injection pump if everything else checks out OK.



http://dodgeram.org/tech/dsl/Facts/94specs.html



http://dodgeram.info/tsb/1996/14-07-96.htm



http://dodgeram.org/tech/dsl/filter/pre-filt_clean.htm



http://dodgeram.org/tech/dsl/troubleshooting/injector_pump.htm#Overflow

 

[Artickid]

Thanks for your input, I do not know how old the fuel filter is so I am going to change that. Seems like the easiest and probably the best place to start. I will keep you posted on my success or lack there of.



Thanks

 

[JohnE]

Going on your handle "Artic... " I assume you live in cold country.

Do you properly treat the fuel for gell? This usually means blended fuel with a good dose of aditive.



I get the tick when temps dip to -20°F and colder. Once it warms the ticking drops steadily until temps stay above 0°

 

[Jeff H]

At 68000 my injection pump failed. Very loud ticking from injection pump. Engine was missing so bad it would die. I restart it and it may run. Or would die again.

Dodge found it to have a bad barrel. Was replaced under warrenty. Gotta not so running so smooth remanned from Dodge. Runs way smoother after a 3k gsk in now.

 

[Artickid]

Do not live so much in the artic, west central WI, used to ride a Arctic Cat snowmobile.



Changed the fuel filter and seemed to work fine until the tank was about 1/2 empty, this has been the norm now that I think about it. Whenever the tank is around 1/2 full the engine starts to act up again. Next step is to change the lift pump and see if that solves my problem. The truck only has 251,000 miles and I have no record of repairs made on the truck before I purchased it. I am going to try everything before I admit that it may be the fuel pump.



Thanks for your input.

 

[Missouri Mule]

When you put your fuel cap back on are you making sure it clicks at least three times?

The fuel cap pressurizes the fuel tank as fuel level gets lower.



How about water in the tank?

 

[bmoeller]

Did you check the strainer?

 

[Artickid]

Had trouble changing the filter, not real easy to get at so did not check the strainer as of yet. The local parts store did not know what I was talking about, fuel strainer. Will be going to a Cummings dealer this week and pick one up and will change it then.



If there was water in the fuel then the probelm would be more consistent than just when the tank becomes half empty?



After the last episode I shut down the truck and whent to the filler cap and opened it up, listening for a vacuum or pressure. Did not hear anything, cap was on tight.



Thanks

 

[britannic]

Interesting you mention the problem seems synched to the level of fuel (1/2 full) in the tank.



This may have no bearing on the problem you're having, but I'll toss it into the think tank:



On Chevy diesels with high mileage, the fuel pick up pipe in the tank, would corrode over time (water condensation etc. ) and develop pin holes in it below the halfway mark, causing engine problems with air in the system.

 

[Jeff H]

Leave the g out of Cummins.

 

[Mike Ellis]

I seem to remember a thread from some time back about low power / stumble when the tank drops to 1/2 full or so - didn't Illflem and some of the RKI's indicate this was due to the fuel takeup line getting old and crimping itself?

 

[Artickid]

Problem is still not resolved, was told that I needed to add lubricant to the fuel, piston in the pump was sticking. Put lube in fuel and ran great for about 500 miles, started acting up again. Been told that the pump is shot. Why would it run fine for that long if the pump is shot? I am really disappointed that I have not been able to get a definite answer to this problem. Since it is sporadic I do not know if anyone can diagnose this problem with any accuracy.



I am very thrifty, do not want to spend the $ on a new pump if I do not know if this will fix my problem. Can anybody help??



Thanks

 

[JApplegate]

well... . i think you should buy a pump and get a good one and you won't regreat spending the money even if it isn't the problem... . lots of power!!

 

[bmoeller]

Originally posted by Artickid

Problem is still not resolved, was told that I needed to add lubricant to the fuel, piston in the pump was sticking. Put lube in fuel and ran great for about 500 miles, started acting up again. Been told that the pump is shot. Why would it run fine for that long if the pump is shot? I am really disappointed that I have not been able to get a definite answer to this problem. Since it is sporadic I do not know if anyone can diagnose this problem with any accuracy.



I am very thrifty, do not want to spend the $ on a new pump if I do not know if this will fix my problem. Can anybody help??



Thanks

Originally posted by Artickid

I do not know if anyone can diagnose this problem with any accuracy.

Yes they can, but you will have to pull the fuel injection pump. Take it to a diesel injection shop and have it put on the test stand so it can be flow tested. That is the only way.

 

[Missouri Mule]

Mike Ellis,

I think your in the ball park but I think illflem's had a hole in the supply line inside the fuel module. The thread/post is probably to far back to locate it.

 

[PUMPERDUDE]

#1 ) Make sure you have good fuel pressure ... ... ... . If thats ok go ahead and pull your fuel tank module to check it out as mentioned above. It really is a piece of junk. A pinhole in the pickup could be giving you the problems when you get below 1/2 tank. (sucking air)Check the rubber supply and return lines ,if in doubt change it. Sometimes they look fine but still suck air..... Make sure your shut down solenoid is pulling all the way up and not sticking ... . Check everything else before you pull the injector pump. Good luck.

 

[DPyles]

Mister I am having one hell of a time trying to get mine to run consistantly. Some times I can run it for couple hundred miles and it'll miss and If I take my foot off the pedal it'll croak.

Will not restart till I push the primer on the lift pump a couple times and it might run again for a while or might do it again a mile or two down the road. Does not seem to matter where the fuel level is on mine.

Here is what I have done so far on the repair/replace list

second fuel filter in only 1000 miles.

rubber fuel lines under firewall replaced.

rubber fuel lines at tank replaced.

little rubber "L" shaped hose from pump to strainer replaced.

new Carter lift pump $$$$$$.

none of this helped so far. same story as before.

this time when it died I pulled up on the water seperator bleeder on the fuel filter and NOTHING came out! pushed in on primer and it STAYED IN!!!

It came back out when I pulled up on the water bleeder again.

something is causing a dead vacuum in the lines.

jerked bed off today and pulled the pick up assembly.

looked at inside of tank and felt around in the stuff for sediment in the bottom. Clean as a pin inside.

tore the pickup assembly all apart and could find nothing that would restrict fuel flow.

Put it all back together and took it up the road to a long gradual hill and left it on the floor 60-70-80-85.

kept on going and never missed a lick.

Maybe I fixed it. If so what in the name of all that's holy did I fix.

anyway I see more tomorrow when I take it for another test.

The only thing that I did notice when inspecting the pick up from the tank is that the two slot where the metal piece of crap slides over the plastic piece of crap... . there where three screws. two on one side and one on the other, they hold it together and are supposed to slide in the long openings in the metal piece of crap.

The screws had worn cuts in the metal where they ride all the time and would not let the metal thing move past these spots.

I don't think this would cause a problem but I am not sure. I don't think it moves much after it is installed in the tank, am I right????

Any one ever find anything like this before.

Long winded feller ain't I???

 

[bmoeller]

Is your fuel tank vent plugged? How is your overflow valve?