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I just recently bought a 94 2500 it 0nly had 48,000 miles on it when I bought it . In the last month I've changed, the oil, and fuel filter . new starter ,and put a brake switch in because my brake lights wouldn't go out plus the cruise control didn't work. Now yesterday when I was driving it just shut off the whole truck started shaking I pulled over to the shoulder it stared back up fine then a couple of miles later it did it again this time it was harder to start. So It did the same thing a few more times on the way home. When I got home I let it sit in my driveway for about 15 minutes runnning never shut down. I then drove to my buddies shop to put it on the lift to check things out. When I got there I shut it off for about 20 minutes, it restarted fine then put it in reverse it died and would not start it took several tries then finally it started but I had to keep reving it to keep it going. We checked around to see if any thing was loose and found nothing

I drained a little bit from the fuel filter to see if I had any water but nothing. We didn't find anything but the truck is getting even harder to start and when I drove home it still just keeps shutting down. PLease HELP.
 
Sounds like fuel starvation or air getting in somehow. A 94 with such low miles must've had some periods of non-use. Could the fuel be growing some algae? A weak lift pump or bad overflow valve maybe?



Also look at the rubber fuel lines (between engine and firewall on left side) and check for leaks. The stock lines break down and cause some odd symtoms sometimes.
 
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DU516, first of all welcome to the TDR. That'a a interesting handle. I know it has to have some significant meaning, any hints?



On your problem, do a search on fuel shut-off solenoid, and fuel return line. Lots of reading that may well be of help.



I'd also install a healthy dose of conditioner/injector cleaner since as suggested you could have algae/crud causing problems.
 
. . and check for cracks where air can enter, all the way (in the heater, hoses, filters, etc... ). Don't hesitate to change the hoses, they are far more cheap than the manpower required to troubleshoot. Cummins Eastern Canada raked 10hrs (x $99 CDN) working on my 1996, and I'm still having problem with air getting in :(. HTH, Dan
 
I went out this morning and drove the truck about 60 miles or so

it ran fine then when I got almost home it did it again I bought the truck in NOV. since then I've put 5,000 miles on it I've driven it everyday since I've owned it. I added some fuel conditioner+ centane boost yesterday but like I said it still is acting up. I also checked all of the hoses and found nothing.





Also My handle DU516 DU stands for Ducks Unlimited and 516

is my DU plate number.
 
Originally posted by illflem

Fuel filter screen in the fuel heater and maybe even the one in the tank should be cleaned.



I agree.



Step 1. Start with a new Fuel Filter and clean the fuel filter screen on the bottom of the fuel heater. I see that you replaced the fuel filter - but one bad batch of fuel can knock out a new filter - here's where a psi gauge would help.



Personally, I'd eliminate these two possibilities before going any further.



Keep us posted.
 
Originally posted by DU516

I went out this morning and drove the truck about 60 miles or so it ran fine then when I got almost home it did it again...



Did it start hard? When you state "start hard", are we correct in assuming that the engine cranks but doesn't fire? Are you applying any throttle? What is the idle speed?



It does sound like a fuel solenoid issue, kind of...



Originally posted by DU516

I also checked all of the hoses and found nothing.



The fun part of this one is that you can't see a problem and it is rare that fuel will leak out of the return line. It usually lets air in which requires much cranking to get the engine fired again. I'd replace the line. You'll have the filter off to do it so go ahead and put a new one on again. While you have the fuel system open, remove the screen on the bottom of the heater and make sure it clean and that the seals are good (it's best to replace them).



A leaking return line will not usually shut down an engine while it's running. It is most likely a fuel supply problem as mentioned above. Buy a fuel biocide and use it, regular fuel additives claim to "reduce" bacteria growth but won't kill the stuff if it's already there. Is it cold where you are? does temperture affect the starting?



The only other problem I've seen that would shut down an engine without any pattern is a bad injector pump. But that seems unlikely unless the former owner was less than honest about the miles on the truck.
 
I changed the return line yesterday, fuel filter we checked the fuel solenoid it seems to be working fine. It still is shutting down

it shuts down after a hard acceleration if you punch it and then let off it shuts right down and then it doesn't want to start back up right away you have to keep cranking it. When it starts some times it idles fine other times it idles rough and then shuts back down. Today we are going to replace the transfer (lift pump) and then if that doesn't do it where going to do the injector pump. We also cleaned the fuel screens yesterday.
 
Check your shut-off solenoid located aft of the injection pump. Mine had the same problem. The inards of this solenoid get corroded over time and do not allow it to completly extend or retract. I replaced mine and all is well.
 
I think this is your problem. Push up on solenoid with engine running and see if this changes anything. Grab linkage and push it up into housing if the problem goes away then you know what to do.
 
DU516; what kind of fuel filter are you using? when i was working we got a bad batch of filters that was not engineered right, would not seal, and air was getting in, doing a way with the prime these were navistar I-6 engines, changed brand , and every thing was good again.

look every connection over for seepage of fuel, as bighammer said, overflow valve. maybe the spring is shot, and letting fuel through, not enough going to engine.

GOOd LUCK.

just my penny's worth



Marv.
 
Nonrunning RAM

YOU say that you changed filters and cleaned screen but what did what did you find in it? If not good, but cut the filter apart and inspect, then you can figure best milages to change them at? This couldn't be summer fuel could it? Sounds as if the inj. pump is starved for fuel . Sounds bad but if I could stop them from changing them at2, 3psi then I could get 80kkm's on them. !
 
We checked the solenoid over throughly it seemed to be working fine I cut the fuel filter apart it was clean it was only two weeks old. the truck runs but won't stay running after a hard acceleration it shuts off it will idle all day long well at least the hour we let it run it has to be moving to cut off if you rev it up while sitting it doesn't seem to have a problem it's loosing fuel pressure to the injector pump. I'm still waiting on parts as of now they won't be in until tomorrow.
 
Cool, hope that's the end of the problem for you. It's not an easy job and it would suck to do it for nothing.
 
changed my pump too

Cummins Pointe-Claire changed my pump too, they couldn't figure where the leak was and I was kindda desperate.



It worked!



They made me a deal on the pump to compensate from the hefty troubleshooting fees. Hope it's 'case closed', time will tell. Dan
 
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