Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Morning Stalling

[BrosseauJD]

Hello,



My truck has had a quirk since I have owned it. The truck will start up fine, and run for a about 30 seconds, and then begin to sputter and stall sometimes in the morning. This problem is always in the morning, and not weather dependant. If the truck completely dies I have to pump the manual primer about a gillion times, and then it will restart. This has not been a huge problem, because in the past it would do it about every two months or so. I found that at the first sign of a morning sputter I could change the fuel filter and the problem would go away for about two months. For the last 180K miles it was just a reminder to service the fuel filter. The truck only did this first thing in the morning after it sat all night. The symptoms seem to be aggravated on my drive where the truck has a few degrees of up slope. This has never happened leaving work, even after being shut off for 24 hours or more. Two weeks ago it began to sputter at the end of the drive when I lifted off the gas pedal. I did the expected maintenance, and the problem did not go away. So this week the truck is sputtering when I lift of the gas pedal at the end of the drive. So far, I Have found I can keep it running by playing with the accelerator pedal. The sputter lasts about 10 to 15 seconds, after that the truck will drive fine for the rest of the day. Any advice, on what to check or replace would be appreciated.

 

[dodge cummins]

at first it sounded like the idle is too low,but now it sounds like it isn't getting enough fuel. liftpump maybe

 

[tp0d]

Sounds like possibly some air in the lines thru a cracked hose, probably in the suction side if you havent smelled diesel at all. . If you havent changed hoses yet, its prolly a good time to do it. One other thing to check would be the overflow spring in the pump side of the return line, may need a new one. .



good luck



-j

 

[mechanic]

Hello,



My truck has had a quirk since I have owned it. The truck will start up fine, and run for a about 30 seconds, and then begin to sputter and stall sometimes in the morning. This problem is always in the morning, and not weather dependant. If the truck completely dies I have to pump the manual primer about a gillion times, and then it will restart. This has not been a huge problem, because in the past it would do it about every two months or so. I found that at the first sign of a morning sputter I could change the fuel filter and the problem would go away for about two months. For the last 180K miles it was just a reminder to service the fuel filter. The truck only did this first thing in the morning after it sat all night. The symptoms seem to be aggravated on my drive where the truck has a few degrees of up slope. This has never happened leaving work, even after being shut off for 24 hours or more. Two weeks ago it began to sputter at the end of the drive when I lifted off the gas pedal. I did the expected maintenance, and the problem did not go away. So this week the truck is sputtering when I lift of the gas pedal at the end of the drive. So far, I Have found I can keep it running by playing with the accelerator pedal. The sputter lasts about 10 to 15 seconds, after that the truck will drive fine for the rest of the day. Any advice, on what to check or replace would be appreciated.

I would change the suction and return hoses for good measure. And check all the hoses from the tank to the lift pump for any hint of cracking. Mine suddenly refused to start one day and the suction hose looked ok, but a new one fixed it. On a side bar, use Gates FUEL INJECTION HOSE to replace your hoses, it has a VITON inter liner and will last from now on. Regular fuel line won't, I found out the hard way. Also, to access the hoses and lift pump area, if you jack up the truck and block it (putting it on a frame lift is best) and remove the left front wheel and plastic inter fender liner, you can get to the parts in that area with out near the pain that access from the top or bottom offers. When you reinstall the liner, use some plastic retainers the have a plunger that locks them in place. Then next time you only have to pull the plungers to remove it.



If the hoses don't help. then go to the next items that the other respondents mentioned, as they are all very real possibilities.