Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Hard to start!!!!

[jhoffman]

Since this is my first post (although I've been a TDR member for almost a year now) I would like to say thanks to everyone for the extreme amount of time and effort needed to provide such useful information. This is truly a great web site to find whatever you need. My question is this, I have a hard to start condition where sometimes the truck will start up right away other times it will turn over for about 3-10 seconds and then fire up. The longer it sits (sometimes) the longer it takes to start. But sometimes it can sit overnight and fire right up. It has never not started but it is very annoying. I had the following Mod's added about 18 months ago. The first was a BD CPC Can Bus Controller/ISB Plug & Power and a K&N air filter. The second was a set of injectors installed about a week later. They are listed on BD's website as the following:

Injectors 1998. 5-02 ISB 35 HP Auto 50 Hp

After they put the injectors in is when the problem arose. At first I thought the problem was air getting introduced into the system over a period of time but eliminated that by the different lengths of time that the truck will sit and still start right up. After reading about the vast amount of lift pump failures I'm looking at the possibility of this or maybe a bad kill switch if this truck has one?????Not sure what system shuts the truck down but I have seen where a bad kill switch inside some of our generators at work(Detroits don't laugh) will cause this. Any suggestions??? How do I test for either condition? On another note I purchased the Mod's before becoming a TDR member (possibly a mistake) are there some better combinations out there for my truck with a stock transmission? I know I should have egt gauges installed, that is why I'm looking at maybe the Blue Chip FMS.

Thanks in advance!!!!!

 

[banshee]

I would check over your fuel lines with a fine tooth comb to make sure you're not leaking fuel and/or entering air somewhere. I just resolved the same problem that was caused by a leaking fuel pressure gauge. It was just a very slow leak coming from the gauge's electrical post from a broken diapragm. It would start harder the longer it sat, but sometimes it would fire right up without a stumble. It seemed worse when the trucks nose was pointed up as well. Hopefully it's just seeping in air somewhere.



John

 

[jhoffman]

Is it possible for air to be getting in without a fuel leak???

 

[HeberRam]

A failing lift pump is my guess... . Get a fuel pressure test ASAP or you may ruin your injection pump.



Steve

 

[Mark@TST Products]

Since your hard starting occurred right after the injector change, I’d suspect it to be related. Perhaps the injectors installed have nozzle tips that do not seal, dribbling fuel into the chamber after shutdown. This makes engine hard to start and it smokes a lot of white smoke after it starts. New nozzles fix this problem.



I’ve seen torn or missing o-rings on the injector connector tube cause hard starting after a few hour shutdown. This makes engine hard to start but it normally runs good after it starts. Inspect o-rings and replace as necessary. In doubt use new o-rings.



I’ve also seen nicks in the fuel line to connector tube mating surfaces cause hard starting, but these usually cause a visible leak/seep. I’ve replaced both the connector tube and the high pressure fuel line in some cases to fix these.