Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Help!! Hard start with FASS.....

[WorkinStiff]

I have an 01 with 88k & a 5spd..... Shortly after buying the truck new I installed a FP gauge. . About a year ago it started going down so I got a FASS installed... Last summer on long trips hauling a camper & towing a boat I started having the hard start issue... After reading up on it & discovering that there was a new flash from Chrysler which fixed the problem, I called Kendall Dodge in Cottage Grove OR and the guy said that sure they had the flash & bring it in... When I went to retrive it they said that it already had had the flash, but that they had checked the fuel pressure with a flow test and it was fine and that would be 95$...

When I pointed out that my truck had not been to any dealer since I had bought it in 2001 and that if they had bothered to check my FP gauge in the cab they wouldn't have had to give it a flow test he got evasive and snotty... When the mechanic brought it out he had no idea what my original complaint had been and didn't even know that I had a FASS installed, (Given the noise the FASS makes he must have been deaf)... They had apparently just told the mechanic to give it a flow test and charged me 95$ to get my keys back and got me out the door... needless to say, I'll never set foot in that dealer again...

The problem persists, but ONLY when I'm hauling the camper & boat... I've driven distances with the truck empty and have no problems... .

What I'm wondering is if anyone knows the date that DC issued that flash and it's number or code or whatever identifies it from other flashes so that when I try another dealer I can be more specific, which should hopefully lessen the chances of another run around ..... Thanks

 

[johncameron]

When I installed my FASS a couple years ago I had a hard start ONLY when the engine was hot. I never figured out the problem until my VP44 died and since that change I've never had another hard start.

 

[SnoKing]

I had hard start in the hot weather in the SW last fall and this winter the VP44 took a dump setting a 216 and two causes of dead peddle. Installing new VP Saturday. SNOKING

 

[LowFly]

Find someone with a Smarty that will let you try it out for 10 Mins. Once you go back to stock, you will have the following:



Latest and greatest from DC Flash

High Idle Turned on

3 Cly High idle turned on.



This is by far the easiest and fastest way to get the update done and several have told me it works great!



I do have several posts on this subject on TDR. Might Back search my posts or search for FASS HARD START.



HAHA>. . if you go too far, you will find posts by Brad still! haha... .

 

[LRWatson]

I had a similar problem. Some cranking when hot. FASS pressure was too high, about 17-19 psi. I installed a different spring which lowered the pressure to 13psi and have quick,normal starts, hot or cold.

 

[kleaman]

I've had a hard start condition since I installed FASS. It only and always happens when the truck is below half tank. Been that way for two years and50,000 miles. The truck always starts but takes a couple seconds cranking. Any ideas would be appreciated.

 

[Highfinance97]

I've had a hard start condition since I installed FASS. It only and always happens when the truck is below half tank. Been that way for two years and50,000 miles. The truck always starts but takes a couple seconds cranking. Any ideas would be appreciated.

Thats what my 12valve did, i found out that there is a rubber check valve in the bottem of the sending unit in the tank that was resricting the flow.

I removed that and the problem was solved





Michael

 

[ERuhl]

Stiff, what fuel pressure are you running with the FASS?

 

[WorkinStiff]

Thanks for the responses... I'm running 14-15 psi with the FASS... . I found a guy with a Smarty ... In about 10 days he's gonna flash me... I'll let you know if that works... .

 

[LowFly]

Thanks for the responses... I'm running 14-15 psi with the FASS... . I found a guy with a Smarty ... In about 10 days he's gonna flash me... I'll let you know if that works... .

To many innuendo's in that one…ill just leave it alone and hope it all works out for ya! :-laf :-laf



Seriously though... . let me know if I can help any further... .

 

[BHoerling]

Had the same problem with the hard starts. Was running about 20 PSI. Removed the spring and cut one coil off and reinstalled. Pressure was now reading 14 PSI and no more hard starts, even in 110 degree weather in AZ.



Bob

 

[Cummins724]

I found a guy with a Smarty ... In about 10 days he's gonna flash me... I'll let you know if that works... .

WorkinStiff..... Good Luck! I just used my Smarty to install a improved stock prgram in my friends 98. 5 CTD..... really improved the trucks driveability & hard start issue. I think it will work for you.

PS... . Read your posts before hitting the "submit reply" button. :-laf

 

[johncameron]

... In about 10 days he's gonna flash me... I'll let you know if that works... .

:-laf :-laf :-laf

 

[LowFly]

I also have this as an option... ...

 

[Cooker]

I also have this as an option... ...

If you do this won't the FASS always run when the key is in the on position? I do not think I would prefer this while waiting for the "wait to start light" in the winter months?



Is there any better alternatives?

 

[LowFly]

If you do this won't the FASS always run when the key is in the on position? I do not think I would prefer this while waiting for the "wait to start light" in the winter months?



Is there any better alternatives?

I dont see how this would hurt anything unless you are talking about the aditional load on the BATT's... (note: our pumps draw under 10amps. for the 150 and 95 GPH units)



I would explore the reflash option via a Smarty or Dealer.

 

[Cooker]

I dont see how this would hurt anything unless you are talking about the aditional load on the BATT's... (note: our pumps draw under 10amps. for the 150 and 95 GPH units)

So it is not the FASS building against the VP, but the pressure pushing against the VP while trying to start. That makes sense then.

 

[MTatsch]

my 99 had the same problem with hard starts when hot and dead peddle I replaced the vp44 and put the fass on at the same a few weeks went by and i started having problems again with the hard starts i have found that i was getting to much pressure at start up because of the diafram in the vp44 i put a toggle switch on and havent had a problem since

 

[LowFly]

So it is not the FASS building against the VP, but the pressure pushing against the VP while trying to start. That makes sense then.

Correct... . building pressure before you crank won’t do anything. Actually helps prime the VP-44 before it starts. Then when you turn the key to "Start", the fuse tap goes dead, shuts the FASS/HPFP down and removes pressure from the VP-44 so it can start. Then when the key returns back to run, the Tap energizes again and you have power back at the FASS/HPFP