Is the 3rd gen having engine knocking problems?

[realsquash]

Sorry to bring this back from the dead but I think I'm having a similar issue. My 03 has had a surge since the day I drove it home with 150 miles on it. I also noticed the #1 fuel injector line is very very distinctly different feeling that the rest. This surge is just nasty bad when it's cold out and goes to high idle. The truck goes to 1000 rpm and constantly changes engine speed, 100 rpm, quickly and systematically. At highway speeds it will surge, especially after it's sat and cooled down and I get going 65 right away.



And when I push in the clutch probably 15% of the time the RPM's drop down to 400 or so and the truck wants to die. It's only actually died once on me.



The whole thing is starting to worry me. I am getting 18-20mpg all the time and it pulls great. It was stock until about 4500 miles at which point I put an EZ on (level 4 since day one). No other mods at all.



I have noticed a change in the noise that's close to the same sound as an injection event. It sounds like lifters ticking on an old 350, but it changes, which leads me to believe it's not normal.



And with the bad injectors (not loose ones), just what is the problem with them anyways? What are the symptoms?



Thanks,

Andy

 

[joeyou]

My 03 was quiet until it reached the 10,000 mile mark. I now get an obvious knock between 800 to 1200 rpm while accelerating from a stop in forward and reverse when the engine is warmed up. The knock is not audible above or below these rpms. I have not noticed any difference in performance or mileage. I will not be able to have the dealer check it out for about 3 weeks as I will be away. I am interested to hear of any similar experiences as there seems to be a common problem developing. Injectors? Until now my truck has been flawless.



2003, 3500 SRW SB,4X4, 250 HP,48r Auto. Mileage 11000 miles

2003 8. 2 1500 Bigfoot Camper

Same problem at 5K. It's in the shop right now getting a new injector. Took the dealer and STAR 3 days to figure it out it was what I said it was on day 1. Hopefully I'll get it back today.

 

[joeyou]

Okay, mine pings like my old, sick 454. Do I need to torque the injectors to see if they are loose are can I just tighten them down firmly? I have the pinging when starting with a load but it isnt noticable otherwise. The mileage has gotten to where my '02 was when towing now, too. It goes like a scalded cat normally. Or should I just wait a while. I have just under 3K miles on it.

Frank

Cummins says the "pinging" is normal with these engines. Has to do with the multiple injection events to meet emissions.

 

[ssanders60]

My '03 CTD H/O occasionally sounds like a pecan cracker, even now

I can tell that there 2 injectors that are'nt working as well as the other

4, but it gets 18. 5 MPG in this stop and go city and right at 22 on

the hiway. It has 29,800 miles on it, the oil with 7,000

miles on it is barely stained, I can put it at full throttle and you can

see the front end rise. I'm not convinced that the advance pilot injection

works every time on every injector at idle speed and we'd probably be

better off if we didn't have it at all. I'm simply saying that many owners

are worrying needlessly over pings and pongs at idle speed.

 

[Kennywould]

Friends got 220. 000 miles on his 98, hear him coming a mile away, can't tell where all the noise is exactly cummin from... . here, here...

 

[DPortteus]

I have an '04 3500 dually 4dr 4x4 with 16k miles. very quiet first 5k miles or so then took to dealer for loud enginine noise at idle. I was told too high of ceton(?) & to try different fuel locations. I have gone to a multitude of fueling stations from the truck stops down to the regular stations like Conoco & Texaco (the dealer recommended them) After several tanks and mileage falling, dealer rechecked with computer & engine load @ 9% & was told that it should be 3% @ idle. Again was told that fuel was the problem. . played the game again to the different fuelings. Returned back to dealer, load @ 17% @ idle now. All along deciple readings, new Rams on the lot are 67 deciples, mine ranges 75-77. The dealer even bought the deciple meter of me! Going into drive, noise reduces about 3 deciples then a clicking or tapping noise when it goes into drive. That's it in a nut shell, a very large nut though.

If there are any ideas or suggestions. . please let me know. Contacting Cummins will be on my list for sure. I love the truck... I just want it right.

 

[rbattelle]

I have an '04 3500 dually 4dr 4x4 with 16k miles. very quiet first 5k miles or so then took to dealer for loud enginine noise at idle. I was told too high of ceton(?) & to try different fuel locations. I have gone to a multitude of fueling stations from the truck stops down to the regular stations like Conoco & Texaco (the dealer recommended them) After several tanks and mileage falling, dealer rechecked with computer & engine load @ 9% & was told that it should be 3% @ idle. Again was told that fuel was the problem. . played the game again to the different fuelings. Returned back to dealer, load @ 17% @ idle now. All along deciple readings, new Rams on the lot are 67 deciples, mine ranges 75-77. The dealer even bought the deciple meter of me! Going into drive, noise reduces about 3 deciples then a clicking or tapping noise when it goes into drive. That's it in a nut shell, a very large nut though.

If there are any ideas or suggestions. . please let me know. Contacting Cummins will be on my list for sure. I love the truck... I just want it right.

Bad injector or major fuel system component. Try another dealer...



-Ryan

 

[BMeier]

I have been having the same problems as Jumbo Jet has claimed. The dealer is being a piece of @#*# and will not change any parts because the scan tool wont tell them somethings wrong and there is no active codes. It really sucks because sometimes it run soooo smooth and most times it sounds like a piston is slapping around the cylinder.



I drove the crap out of it and took it in hot and it was ticking, they cut out number six and it seemed to go away, they replaced six and told me to stop idling, the tip was carboned up. I work for Caterpillar and my expierence with diesels is I have not seen and engine knock with a carboned tip. They showed me the injector and it was not bad, there was carbon though. After a few days of running it it did not go away. I took it back and told them the problem still exists. They told me there was nothing they could do. I had a closed door, meeting (butt chewing) with the service manager and they still will not change any other injectors or persue the problem. I am so mad with the dealer that I might have to go to the Ford lot, they have and excellent service department and they do care about your issues. I know this because I drive a F550 6. 0 L diesel for a service truck.



Just thought I would vent and wondering if there is any way I can talk these guys into fixing my engine.



__________________

'03 2500 305/555 48RE with banks six gun :-{}

 

[nickleinonen]

has anyone here pop'd their valve cover off, idled the engine and listened to the injectors with a stethoscope [with a rubber tip]. that should tell you real quick if the injector is not firing like the rest of them... ????



i plan on doing this come spring. .

 

[EErmert]

Engine Knocking...

Well, yes, we did get a good, loud, it's coming apart, knock! My son had the truck at school for his two weeks of finals, then drove it home with a buddy, he told me that he pulled into a truck stop for to check the LOUD KNOCKING from under the hood! This was from Blacksburg, Va. , to Brookfield, Ct. I was on a bussiness trip, so a few day's went by before the sound (knocking) and me were united. Boy, WHAT A KNOCK! So, after checking the TDR, went to the local DodgeShip, had the fuel filter changed, trans fluid,(6sp=NV=5600), and ask them to look into the KNOCK. And guess what, no KNOCK, not even a computer code!!!! Well, the knock has gone away, for now...



'03 6spd, HO, SRW, SWB, SLT, anti-slip, QC, all stock except mirrors...

 

[jimnance]

I guess I'm a lucky one. No knocks, ticks, or other problems. I have an Edge EZ on the '03 and it runs like a scalded dog compared to my '99 with the Edge. I'm counting myself as lucky as obviously some are not so lucky and are having injector related problems.



I suppose I should change my fuel filter. It's been 35,000 miles now, and I suppose it's due. Been faithfully changing the engine oil with dino Delo at 5-6 K intervals. It uses about a half a quart in between changes.



I'm not selling this truck. I think I got a good one and I'm gonna keep it!

 

[adsharpe]

Mine don't knock but it only runs about 112MPH. And it takes along time to get from 108 to 112. I don't like that much. My '01 ran about 119mph. Takes me longer to get where I'm going now.

 

[jimnance]

Put larger diameter tires on it. It will fool the computer and let you go faster!

 

[rbattelle]

I suppose I should change my fuel filter. It's been 35,000 miles now, and I suppose it's due.

You do know the factory specified interval is 15000 miles?



-Ryan

 

[jwilliams3]

My truck runs great.

I am more pleased with it every day.



Nickle,

Exactly when are you going to take that valve cover off with the engine running?

If you get it on video, you can show all of tdr what its like to get sprayed with oil from a 3rd gen engine!

 

[jimnance]

You do know the factory specified interval is 15000 miles?



-Ryan

Yeah, I know. I'm spoiled by my earlier CTD's where I could go 50K + as long as I didn't get a bad load of fuel. I know the common rail system is more sensative to crap in the fuel so I guess I'd better get it done.



BTW, at 100,000 I finally changed the lift pump on my '99 for the first time. Everything was working OK, but I didn't want to worry about replacing the VP44 out of warrantee. :-laf