Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Fuel heater wires burnt

[WOTURBO]

HAS ANYBODY HAD OR HEARD OF THE FUEL HEATER WIRES BURNING/MELTING? I FOUND MY WIRE HARNESS BURNT AT THE TOP OF THE FUEL HEATER. DOES ANYBODY KNOW WHAT MIGHT CAUSE THIS?

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Your fuel heater shorted out, happens fairly often. You would want to replace it or just take it out because when this happens you usually end up with a hole melted in the heater and you start sucking air in through there (which isn't a good thing).

The Cummins (Fleetguard) part number for the heater is 3907766-S
and wiring harness 3843722-S

More part numbers listed here for various items
1994-1995 Ram engine Specs
Ram Diesel Problems

and good info on servicing your heater/prefilter unit
Fuel Pre-Filter Cleaning on Ram/Cummins

 

[WOTURBO]

Is that part# for the hole assm. Or just the black plastic heater between the top cast housing and the bowl? If you buy just those two parts harness & heater, seal kit, strainer kit will that fix the problem? My only concern is the area where it burnt on top of the cast housing? What is the part that the wire plug connects to on top of the cast housing? In all would it be better to buy the whole assm. ?

 

[WilsonF]

I found the connector melted on my 96 years ago, after reading about how unnecessary the heater was and how much troubles it could cause I took mine out. We have been through some cold winters here, below 0* and I have had no problems without it.

Floyd

 

[Joe G.]

Better to take it out. It's just a piece of junk that may make you walk. It's not necessary even if you live in Yellow Knife. It's easy to take out. Use a 17mm socket to remove the pre-filter part of the fuel heater/pre-filter assembly from the below. Use an 8mm allen wrench to remove the black hockey puck looking thing that is the fuel heater. Remove the short wiring harness that connects to the fuel heater. Discard the fuel heater, the wiring harness, the screw that fastens the fuel heater in place, and one of the gaskets. Install the pre-filter where the fuel heater was. Done.

 

[Hootguy]

I've had mine out for years,,,even in the dead of winter here in Ontario,Canada,,,yes it gets cold ,,,i even run different fuel blends of Canola fry oil and Jet fuel,,and it still runs great,,i have to let it warm up a few minutes but who cares,,my winter fuel cost me $1. 00 a gallon,,my summer fuel (biodiesel/veg oil) cost me right now . 30 a gallon,,,gotta love those though P pumps,,

 

[Hootguy]

also note,,that thing can catch your truck on fire,,,i got lucky,,when i came home one night i noticed a flame though the wheel well,,and threw snow on it to put it out,,if i hadn't noticed it or had it been daytime,,,the truck could have gone up in flames right next to my house,,,