Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) No Start HELP!

[moparman440]

ok, so first things first its been about -25 here in Idaho the last week. its never started well in the cold for me. but alway fires up well when plugged in. So here is what happened I started the truck up and went inside to grab a few things was away from the truck maybe 3 min came back and the truck had died and will no longer restart I have a fass 150 fuel system on it. the lift pump is running I replaced the fuel filter thinking that the fuel may have been gelled but it is not gelled. I reprimed the fass but I did notice that when priming fuel pressure was at 19psi (normal for cold weather) then after tightening the filter it will drop to 3 psi. I also cracked the line from the fass to the VP to see if I'm getting fuel there and I am. thanks in advance I would like to get my truck going as soon as possible.

 

[petersonj]

I think it may be possible that the fuel is in the early stages of gelling. You didn't say where the fuel filter is located on your truck, but if it is attached to the engine, the block heater would have kept the fuel in the filter housing warm enough for the engine to start and run. In the early stages of gelling even though the fuel is still liquid, wax crystals begin to form and get caught passing through the fuel filter. The fuel filter becomes plugged as cold fuel from the tank passes through.

It is possible that by the time you replaced the filter, residual heat from the engine block warmed the filter housing enough to make the fuel clear again.

Also, is the fuel heater working?

- John

 

[moparman440]

the fuel filters are on the frame and that is a very good possibility. I do have winterized diesel fuel and additive. what remedies can I do and what else may be the problem

 

[DonFitzwater]

In situations like yours I will use a diesel fired heater (master heater makes a good one) and point it under the vehicle for a few hours. It will get the underside of the truck warm and make all the liquid systems fluid again. If it's gelling, it should start.

 

[petersonj]

Theoretically, with winterized fuel and a anti-gel additive, fuel gelling shouldn't be an issue. If this were my truck I would perform the following test for conclusive results. Since you have a frame mounted pump and filter, I would fill a five gallon container full of warm diesel and use the Fass pump to pump this warm fuel to the VP44 and see if the engine will start. If the engine still doesn't start then I would bleed three injectors (just pick the easy access ones) and try again.

If the engine starts and stays running then you know you have a fuel supply problem for whatever reason. If the engine still won't start or keep running then you know you have a VP44 problem or an electrical problem. My bet is that the engine will start and run.

Also, thank you very much for your recommendations regarding the air intake temperature sensor circuit modifications in you past posts. They have worked well for me.

DonFitzwater's suggestion is also a great idea.

- John

 

[moparman440]

Mission accomplished petersonj Thanks a ton!! I reprimed the fass system by loosening the filter and with some diesel 911 it took a few tries I got it. Then cracked open 3 injector lines and cranked till I saw fuel coming out tightened em and it fired off. luckily I was able to have it plugged in and the weather helped out a little got up to 27 today. the cause of the problem that I can come to conclusion is the Fass pump was either overloaded or starved of fuel because of cold then causing the truck to run completely dry from the lift pump forward. anyways thanks guys for the help.

 

[petersonj]

Excellent! Glad to hear you got it running. Thanks for the follow up - it is always good to know what fixed the problem.

- John

 

[SAndreasen]

We had semis and everything else gelled up when the 25 below hit here the other day with winterized fuel and howes in the tanks we've been treating with howes since thanksgiving. My truck did the exact same thing yours did last winter I started it and let it idle for a couple hours good as new