Hard starting 2003 5.9 HO Cummins

[Gordon Maney]

A friend has a 2003 Dodge that began a hard starting problem last fall at the beginning of the cold weather. Hard starting is defined as requiring extended cranking. Once it did start it took right off, running well, and requiring no sort of recovery period.

The truck did start all winter, displaying this extended cranking symptom, but it did also get somewhat worse. Our attempts to diagnose in early spring revealed that the grid heaters were not working prior to the engine actually starting. Once the engine did start, the heaters did cycle normally.

A next thing he did, at my suggestion, was take it to the dealer and pay for a diagnosis. They found no clear answer in their diagnosis. The dealership employee said, we can't find anything wrong with your truck. They accepted the fact that the truck has a starting problem, but had no definitive thought as to the cause. When asked what they would do to fix it, they said they would try a PCM.

He does not want to spend that much money, since they don't guarantee it will fix the truck.

What does the group think is the thing to do next?

 

[AH64ID]

Generally that points to the injectors, and less commonly the CP3. TC should pop in here and have some better advice before too long.

 

[cojhl2]

A friend has a 2003 Dodge that began a hard starting problem last fall at the beginning of the cold weather. Hard starting is defined as requiring extended cranking. Once it did start it took right off, running well, and requiring no sort of recovery period.



The truck did start all winter, displaying this extended cranking symptom, but it did also get somewhat worse. Our attempts to diagnose in early spring revealed that the grid heaters were not working prior to the engine actually starting. Once the engine did start, the heaters did cycle normally.



A next thing he did, at my suggestion, was take it to the dealer and pay for a diagnosis. They found no clear answer in their diagnosis. The dealership employee said, we can't find anything wrong with your truck. They accepted the fact that the truck has a starting problem, but had no definitive thought as to the cause. When asked what they would do to fix it, they said they would try a PCM.



He does not want to spend that much money, since they don't guarantee it will fix the truck.



What does the group think is the thing to do next?

Is that not the first issue to fix??

 

[TCDiesel]

Generally that points to the injectors, and less commonly the CP3. TC should pop in here and have some better advice before too long.

X2... These People have NO knowledge of CR. . Most likely it is injectors ,but he needs to eliminate component's , step by step. The most effective... fast way to check hard start cause by Injector(S) is either... If it starts right up on either its injectors,9. 5 times out of 10.



Replace PCM hell the PCM on 03 has NOTHING to do with hard starting#@$%!#@$%!

 

[BumpaOB]

Dad's 03 had hard start, after new lift pump,CP3,FCA,transfer tubes, cracked injection line, and well over $2500 5 out of 6 injectors tested bad.

 

[jjdiesel]

Quote by TC: "If it starts right up on either its injectors,9. 5 times out of 10. "

 

[TCDiesel]

Either will allow the engine to spin much faster then cranking,thus allowing more Pressure Volume, in-turn climbing passed the minimum pressure/volume threshold.

 

[MChrist]

And spray it into horn directly, not through filter area. If anything went boom, it wouldn't hurt the intercooler.

 

[jjdiesel]

Either will allow the engine to spin much faster then cranking,thus allowing more Pressure Volume, in-turn climbing passed the minimum pressure/volume threshold.

How about ETHER? THAT, sounds like it makes a little more sense than either... . gee