Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Hard starting

[nopowerforme]

I just recently am encountering hard starting The engine cranks and cranks but won't start I stop and try again it cranks for a few seconds and then starts... . What gives guys and Girls??? Help I live in VA but am in Massachusetts now

540 244 1830

 

[Skydiver]

Is it puffing white smoke while the starter is turning? If not it is a fuel issue. Maybe the dreaded fuel line over the transmission. Do you smell diesel fuel under the hood?

 

[nopowerforme]

I just went out No white smoke No fuel smell... Cranked it several times no start..... then once more anmd it started like it should three times in a row..... any ideas I was planing on goint to NY from here but will head home instead to VA

 

[tgordon]

Just some ideas:

1. after cranking and not starting check the fuel shut-off to make sure it has engauged



2. Gauge to know what the pressure is after the lift pump, does the truck seem to have lost power at all?



3. Cracked fuel lines between the tank and the lift pump. Will draw in air and less fuel, but will not leave any sort of "trail" as the fuel will go back to the tank rather than through the little holes and onto the ground.



That is what I come up with off the top of my head, hope you get it figured out in time.

 

[JDLight]

If it's cranking over good, could be the engine shut down. Turn ign. switch to on pos. pull up on engine shut down leaver on the side of injection pump then try cranking. If it starts, the starter relay or the shut down solenoid may need to be replaced?



You may try slightly depressing the accelerator pedal while cranking, if it starts the idle speed may be set too low.



This is some things have worked on my 96 3500.

 

[nopowerforme]

Batteries fully charged... starter relay changed a few years ago..... I'm trying to find someone in the area I am in now that works on the cummins eng. I don't trust dealers... . I am in Saugus massachusetts





Like i said i just went out and it started 3 times in a row

 

[Joe G.]

It's probably your fuel solenoid relay or the blue wire on the battery. It may be something else as well. Email me at -- email address removed -- for my 12 valve fuel system write up, how it works and how to fix it.

 

[EKlem]

It sounds to me like the fuel shutdown solenoid like has been suggested above. Try bumping the starter and then letting the key fall back to the run position(don't let it go to the off position) and see whether the shutdown solenoid has pulled up. The solenoid is on the back side of the injection pump which is on the drivers side with the 6 injection lines coming out of it. When the truck is off, you should be able to stick your finger under the solenoid and move it up and down.

If this doesn't make sense, Joe really knows these fuel systems so I would suggest reading his writeup(you should do it at some point anyways).

I would make sure that it isn't something simple before going into a shop. If it is the solenoid, you should be able to do it with very little wrenching. The best shop that I know of in MA is Mass Diesel Performance. The shop is located in Walpole. You can find their number on the web.

 

[Fordiesel69]

If it's cranking over good, could be the engine shut down. Turn ign. switch to on pos. pull up on engine shut down leaver on the side of injection pump then try cranking. If it starts, the starter relay or the shut down solenoid may need to be replaced?



You may try slightly depressing the accelerator pedal while cranking, if it starts the idle speed may be set too low.



This is some things have worked on my 96 3500.

Absolutly!!!!! Mine does this when it gets close to zero. The soloenoid plunger is sticking because I have no boot and I antiseized it.

 

[Joe G.]

If you have a bad boot or no boot you can get a new one from LarryB at LarryB's Dodge starting problems solved here. or make one from a piece of bicycle inner tube and a couple of tie wraps.

 

[Gene Arnold]

then once more and it started like it should three times in a row.....

I agree with Tgordon's suggestion about cracked fuel lines.

3. Cracked fuel lines between the tank and the lift pump. Will draw in air and less fuel, but will not leave any sort of "trail" as the fuel will go back to the tank rather than through the little holes and onto the ground.

Mine did this same thing before I put new Larry B lines on. Once I got it started it started fine for the rest of the day. When left overnight it was hard to start.



Gene

 

[bmoeller]

Do you have enough fuel additive in the tank? Could be waxing. Been an issue here, and we aren't as far north as you.

I run a double shot of Howes. No problems. A single shot isn't enough to prevent waxing when it is below zero. The whole tank might not be trying to gel, but if there is any floating around, it will still plug the filter. Until there is enough additive in the tank, changing the filter won't help. Will plug up almost right away.

Have a fuel restriction gauge on the KW, and with a single shot, it was up ~25" at 0*F. Double shot, never over 8" cold, and comes down to almost 0 when the truck has been working during the day. I don't shut the truck off til I get home. Keeps the fuel warmer.

 

[nopowerforme]

Since leaving VA I have been putting fuel additive in the tank Just to make sure... . had a jelling problem long ago in Iowa. I'll be checking everything you all have suggested But why is it now starting like it shoud? Last night it wouldn't start right away I cranked and then shut it off cranked again Nothing The third tinme itr started like it should 3 times in a row





I just went out this morning and It started right up like it should I'm afraid to go to NY before going back to VA.



Thanks for the help people anyone know of asny good shops in or around Harrisonburg VA???

 

[JacobsD]

Transfer pump issue maybe? If it is your shut down soliniod, you can always take it off and work it by hand if you have to.

 

[nopowerforme]

It seems to be an intermittant problem sometimes it starts right away sometimes not until I try a couple of times

 

[nopowerforme]

But so far it is starting just not always the first or second time I crank it over everything else seems to work okay Like plenty of power

 

[bmoeller]

Thanks for the help people anyone know of asny good shops in or around Harrisonburg VA???

Try Highway Motors in Harrisonburg, VA. They are actually big truck dealer (International), but they were very helpful in getting me going when the water pump went out on my ISX Cummins. Even if they won't work on the truck, they should be able to help get info on nearby shops. Nice group of guys.

540-434-6716 or 800-468-7842

Worldwide Service Locator

If it shows an error, then click on the "Change Region" button.

 

[Skydiver]

I think the cold temps are causing the fuel lines to become brittle and crack. There are more posts similar to this.

 

[nopowerforme]

Damm thingh has been starting first time all day????????????????????????Going nuts..... having a guy look at it tomorrow but It will probably start and make me look bad.

 

[hereismylife]

I read all of this and no update..... #@$%!



I wonder what the problem was?