Here I am

just bought a first gen 12valve!

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Battery Goes Dead in Four Days

Question for you 1st gen gurus

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bit the bullett!

my farm truck(1984 jeep cherokee) has been slowly dying! not to mention it's only good for hauling me and a few tools around. i needed to dump a bunch of money in it and decided to just get a new truck. a usable work truck! i found a 1993 dodge 2500. or is it a d250? i'm not sure, theres no badges on it. anyway, the truck is white single cab long bed. 4 inch skyjacker lift on mickey 858's and bfg all terrain33's. the mighty cummins has 150,000 on the od. i didnt know this before i bought it but the truck has full guages(pyro, fuel press, boost and tack)on the dash. it's an auto 4x4. has working ac. the water in fuel light is on and the brake light is on. i think all i need is a new spring to lift the e-brake all the way up to get rid of that warning light. not sure about the water in fuel. going to drain it after hurricane hannah passes by us here in connecticut. oh, yea... she is straightpiped with a costom made BHAF stainless steel housing.



truck is tight! no rust above and below! has a new steering box and front driveshaft.

drove the truck home from out by cape cod and got a nice 19. 1mpg hand calculated! alot better then the 13mpg i get in my 2006 megacab!



anyway, just wanted to share my new truck with you guys! i'm very excited. i've always wanted one. with 150,000 on the clock she should last a long,long time. this winter my project is going to be build a costom flat bed for it. i also have to swap my plow off the megacab to the 1993. it's a pita plowing with that beast!
 
You have great truck. I had a 89 wish i never sold it, had it for 11 years was more than a good truck but a best friend. Best of luck.
 
Congratulations on your aquisition! Ive had my 91. 5 since it was new. They are a rugged truck. But, not invincible! Hope you get great service out of yours. GregH
 
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For the water in fuel light, there is a drain on the bottom of the fuel filter. It's on the left side of the engine, aft of the injector pump. Filter looks like a miniaturized oil filter. If draining the water from it doesnt work, try unplugging the wires and spraying them with WD40 et al.



GLad you like your 1stGen. You will notice that it is MUCH easier to work on than the newer rigs, even 2ndGen 12v trucks.



Daniel
 
how do i drain the fuel filter? with it running? i see the black plunger. do i just crack it open and drain whatever is in there, close it and fire truck? how much do i let out?



i'm going to attempt to turn up the pump a bit today. i'm worried that because it has full guages somone alreagy messed with it. (dosnt really smoke unless WOT) the truck also has a B&M deep transmission pan. wish i knew what has been fooled with!
 
With the engine off, push up on the drain and let enough fuel/water out until you get straight fuel. There may not be much water in there, you won't know until you drain it. I catch the water, silt, whatever in a glass it's easier for me to check it that way...
 
The tube coming out the bottom of the fuel filter has a round flange toward the top of it, pull up on that with your fingers to drain. Let it run out until its pure diesel draining out of the tube.



If someone messed with the pump on your truck already, the collar on the max fuel screw would most likely be removed. Sometimes people put the gauges in to look cool... sometimes its for a baseline before they touch anything else and then never get to anything else... and sometimes its just to monitor their stock truck, so it could be possible you still have a virgin on your hands. If you have any questions, this is the place to go.
 
i'm thinking it's been messed with. it shifts nice and firm and when i press the go pedal it really moves out! i only get a initial small puff of smoke when i go wot. it's not even black. just dark and hazy.



i drained a bit of fuel out of the filter. i'm afraid to do too much because the plunger behind it dosnt seem to work. probally drained an ounce of fluid out. water in fuel light is still on. pulled the plug out and the connection lookes good with dieletric grease in there. am i supposed to drain it after the truck has been sitting overnight? i'm still confused on the procedure. how much should i drain? will i have to prime the system with the plunger afterword?

I owned a brand new 1998 2500 12valve sport. i remember the one and only time i changed the filter it sat behind my shop for almost a week because i couldnt restart it. dont want to go there again. my plunger goes up and down and dosnt return to a perticular location. there is no resistance on it. should i get a new one from cummins before i start messing with the fuel system?
 
i'm thinking it's been messed with. it shifts nice and firm and when i press the go pedal it really moves out! i only get a initial small puff of smoke when i go wot. it's not even black. just dark and hazy.



i drained a bit of fuel out of the filter. i'm afraid to do too much because the plunger behind it dosnt seem to work. probally drained an ounce of fluid out. water in fuel light is still on. pulled the plug out and the connection lookes good with dieletric grease in there. am i supposed to drain it after the truck has been sitting overnight? i'm still confused on the procedure. how much should i drain? will i have to prime the system with the plunger afterword?

I owned a brand new 1998 2500 12valve sport. i remember the one and only time i changed the filter it sat behind my shop for almost a week because i couldnt restart it. dont want to go there again. my plunger goes up and down and dosnt return to a perticular location. there is no resistance on it. should i get a new one from cummins before i start messing with the fuel system?



I dont claim the expertise of many on this board. I do have experience with my 91. 5. The priming handle on the lift pump locks in the horizontal(up position). If the diaphragm, in the pump is in a full discharge position, the manual handle will not pump any fuel ( stroking it to the full down position). Just start the truck and it will reprime itself, if you have only drained water.

The water in fuel light could be an electrical fault. I have the same problem on mine. I just unplugged it. Get a new water sensor for your fuel filter, next time and try that. I have been getting good fuel and use an additive, with no issues. Had to change out the instrument cluster and the problem with the water in fuel light presented itself! GregH
 
That plunger has always had kindve a cheap fischer-price feel to it on my truck too, still works fine, though. Like mentioned, if you're in doubt of how much to drain, let just a little out into a glass jar and see how it looks. If it seems like pure diesel to you, it's probably just a sensor or wiring problems..... there's about 50 miles of wiring thats now 16 years old in your truck... . mine has a little slip up like that once in a while too...



I just pressure washed my motor a couple weeks ago and my water in fuel light and low oil pressure light got stuck on for about 30 miles and then they went out on their own. It happens... .
 
I have a tendancy to tighten my water in fuel sensor a little too much... so it doesn't leak. I think I tightened it too much and it bottomed out and the light came on. I ground the probes back about 1/32 " and all seems fine now.

You might try the same thing.



By the way I have never seen water come out in my 5+ years with this truck. Anyone else ever find any water? Just wonderin'.

Jay
 
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