Attention: TDR Forum Junkies I have a hard start / long start / slow start problem with a 1998. 5 Cummins 24-valve in a Dodge 2500 Quad Cab. I'm looking for assistance regarding what could be causing this condition which has come up in just the last month.
Truck
1998. 5 Ram 2500 Quad Cab 5. 9 Cummins 24-valve diesel engine
Symptoms
Until recently engine has always started instantaneously for 11 years. Barely bumping the starter half a second would bring the engine to immediate life. Now it takes 2 to 10 seconds of cranking to start. During cranking it acts like there is no fuel at all, no sputtering at all, just all of a sudden it starts up at once.
Starting time seems to be inverse to engine temperature, but not always: 2-3 second starts most often when engine is cooler. 5-7-10 second starts when engine is hotter. Sometimes it will start in 2 seconds when engine is hot, but engine rarely does this and normally requires much longer cranking when engine is up to operating temperature / hot.
No driveability problems whatsoever, even when recently fully loaded with cab-over truck camper loaded and mountain driving, just the hard start / long start / slow start problem.
Earlier Repairs
1) Replaced stock 12 volt starter motor contacts with 24 volt SuperSize contacts several years ago when stock 12 volt starter contacts were sticking/welding. No starter problems or sticking at all since this upgrade.
2) VP44 high pressure pump and engine-mounted lift pump were replaced 3-4 years ago. Lift pump was providing <5 psi pressure per Diesel Technical and took out the expensive VP44 high pressure pump.
3) Engine mounted Lift Pump was leaking fuel through the electrical connector and was replaced with the in-tank fuel pump at Dodge a year ago.
4) CAM Position Sensor was replaced a year ago too.
Already Tried Recently
Two new batteries, new air filter, drained fuel out of filter to make sure no water was in the fuel, several full tanks of fuel run through all in the last two weeks.
So far the Dodge dealer has done the following this repair trip
1) Checked the in-tank fuel pump pressure and flow and found both are okay (engine lift pump was replaced 1 year ago with the in-tank pump unit Dodge now installs).
2) Diesel technician found TSB 18-015-00 for hard starts with winter fuel and engine at normal operating temperature with instructions to update/reflash the ECM module. I'm using normal #2 diesel and temperature is in 60-80 deg F now. Technician confirmed repair but when I went to pick up the truck today it was still taking 2-3 second to start, cranking with no firing at all until it came to life all at once. Restarting even 10 seconds later still resulted in 2-3 second cranking time.
This is the same symptom as before the ECM reprogramming. I've left truck with diesel technician to test if hot engine start has improved after the ECM update and to diagnosis the issue further.
3) Still no firm diagnosis for the hard start / long start / slow start that's taking 2-10 seconds when engine has started instantaneously before.
Thanks
Truck
1998. 5 Ram 2500 Quad Cab 5. 9 Cummins 24-valve diesel engine
Symptoms
Until recently engine has always started instantaneously for 11 years. Barely bumping the starter half a second would bring the engine to immediate life. Now it takes 2 to 10 seconds of cranking to start. During cranking it acts like there is no fuel at all, no sputtering at all, just all of a sudden it starts up at once.
Starting time seems to be inverse to engine temperature, but not always: 2-3 second starts most often when engine is cooler. 5-7-10 second starts when engine is hotter. Sometimes it will start in 2 seconds when engine is hot, but engine rarely does this and normally requires much longer cranking when engine is up to operating temperature / hot.
No driveability problems whatsoever, even when recently fully loaded with cab-over truck camper loaded and mountain driving, just the hard start / long start / slow start problem.
Earlier Repairs
1) Replaced stock 12 volt starter motor contacts with 24 volt SuperSize contacts several years ago when stock 12 volt starter contacts were sticking/welding. No starter problems or sticking at all since this upgrade.
2) VP44 high pressure pump and engine-mounted lift pump were replaced 3-4 years ago. Lift pump was providing <5 psi pressure per Diesel Technical and took out the expensive VP44 high pressure pump.
3) Engine mounted Lift Pump was leaking fuel through the electrical connector and was replaced with the in-tank fuel pump at Dodge a year ago.
4) CAM Position Sensor was replaced a year ago too.
Already Tried Recently
Two new batteries, new air filter, drained fuel out of filter to make sure no water was in the fuel, several full tanks of fuel run through all in the last two weeks.
So far the Dodge dealer has done the following this repair trip
1) Checked the in-tank fuel pump pressure and flow and found both are okay (engine lift pump was replaced 1 year ago with the in-tank pump unit Dodge now installs).
2) Diesel technician found TSB 18-015-00 for hard starts with winter fuel and engine at normal operating temperature with instructions to update/reflash the ECM module. I'm using normal #2 diesel and temperature is in 60-80 deg F now. Technician confirmed repair but when I went to pick up the truck today it was still taking 2-3 second to start, cranking with no firing at all until it came to life all at once. Restarting even 10 seconds later still resulted in 2-3 second cranking time.
This is the same symptom as before the ECM reprogramming. I've left truck with diesel technician to test if hot engine start has improved after the ECM update and to diagnosis the issue further.
3) Still no firm diagnosis for the hard start / long start / slow start that's taking 2-10 seconds when engine has started instantaneously before.
Thanks
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