How bad can it be?

[KIKER]

My coworker has an 06 that will only srart with ether. After it's started

it doesnt stumble, miss, or smoke. His bil is a diesel mechanic and says it will cost more to fix than he can get back out of it. The truck has around 175000 miles. What do you think could be wrong?

 

[JFN]

My coworker has an 06 that will only srart with ether. After it's started

it doesnt stumble, miss, or smoke. His bil is a diesel mechanic and says it will cost more to fix than he can get back out of it. The truck has around 175000 miles. What do you think could be wrong?

The theory that he won't be able to get it out of it what it will cost, I couldn't get out of my 06 for what I just paid, but then I bought it to use not hold it's value. as for the problem with the starting, I haven't a clue

 

[Prairie Dog]

Sounds like leaky injectors.

 

[jhenderson]

I 2nd the injector theory. Buy a rail cap and check the injectors 1 at a time. When you cap the bad 1 it will start. If money is that big an issue just replace the bad one.

 

[Wingate]

I would get the rail pressure checked at crank speed. Also, before you get too excited about the fuel system, do the normal stuff first. Make sure its got clean fresh fuel in it, a clean fule and air filter, check for any active/stored codes and have both batteries load tested. Could also be the overflow valve

 

[KIKER]

I checked codes when his check engine light was on. The only one I remember was P0203, but my memory is about as old as I am. He had that injector replaced by his bro-in-law, and it still wouldn't start on it's own. I had him check the oil level and it seemed normal. I don't really know what kind of maintenance he does on it, but I do know that he got some kind of after market reusable air filter and box on it. He also is dealer for some snake oil additives and has used that it in both his crankcase and fuel tank. It seems to run normal after start up. He did buy an '12 Ram 3500 cab/chassis with a flatbed on it to transfer his welding machine and tools onto, but hasn't done it yet.

 

[BDaugherty]

When I bought my '03, it had 245K and wouldn't start if it was 60 degrees out. A rail pressure gauge showed that it would not build more than about 850-900 psi during cranking. I pulled the injectors and carried then down to Griffin, GA to Garmon's Diesel and paid Jeff or test them on his bench. The return flow was off the chart. I bought a new set of Bosch Motorsports 50hp injectors from Sheid and put them in. Now it starts right up even after sitting outside overnight in near zero temps... without preheating. The reason I'm telling my story is that my symptoms were similar to your coworker. With the worn out injectors, if I hit it with the smallest shot of ether, the engine speed would spike and spin the CP3 faster, and once it hit about 1100 psi in the fuel rail, the ECM would tell the injectors to turn on and it would start and run smoothly.

 

[cerberusiam]

His bil is a diesel mechanic and says it will cost more to fix than he can get back out of it. ?

His BIL is an idiot, a dangerous one. Seems that is kind of typical for BIL's though.



Probably the first thing he should do is find a good mechanic, the BIL is not cutting it. When he finds a competent shop it is time to start testing injectors. At 175k and no added filtration its a good bet the return flow is high on the injectors. Its possible that when the idiot, errr BIL, changed the last injector he did not TQ the cross over tube correctly and that could be causing the no start. There are a numnber fo things to check and look for but it take s a competent mechanic that is not only interested in billable hours to do one right.



Likely the biggets challenge he faces is finding a decent shop to deal with.

 

[Prairie Dog]

Dollars to donuts he cinched that cross over tube way too tight.