Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) start problems and no acceleration

[McLaughlin]

I'm having a couple increasingly consistent problems with my '96 auto 2500. I read a bunch of the posts on this problem and am leaning toward starter contacts and an air leak, but any more help would be greatly appreciated.



A couple weeks ago I noticed it "clicking" consistently when I'd turn the key to start and would start on the 2nd try. Now, it takes anywhere from 3-6 times to get it to start. The clicking noise is intermittent now.



Smoke is white immediately upon startup and then turns very black (usually a few seconds later) and a huge cloud. This seems to happen mainly after the truck has been cool for a couple of hours.



Hard start/no start doesn't seem to matter if it is cold or warm outside or if truck has been running for a while.



It also has no acceleration, but don't know if its related. I can floor it but it is extremely slow to accelerate.



Here's all my info (the truck at the bottom of the post is my Dad's):



'96 2500 auto 180,000 mi, ATS transmission, torque converter, triple-lok commander, BHAF, valves adjusted, timing 17, new TPS (8/05), new fuel filter (3/05)



Thanks for any help, don't want to get stranded somewhere

 

[RJPotts]

The starter clicking is probably the contacts if it works correctly sometimes.

The starter has no involvement in the other problem you described.

You said it white smokes on startup after this problem then makes a black cloud. I'm assuming this is all at idle withouth hitting the go pedal.

The white smoke is fuel that had no chance to burn and then got pushed out of the engine, the black smoke is excess fuel that didn't burn while other fuel in the same cycle did (easiest way I could think to explain)

What it sounds like to me is you "flooded it" (with lack of a better term) and when it does start all the excess fuel comes out as smoke.

As for the acceleration thing, it could be a bunch of stuff, trans could be out of adjustment, could have a boost leak, fuel leak (this would likely make it run funny though), etc.....

I'm sure someone will chime in with a better answer.

-R. J.

 

[JFaughn]

I agree with RJPotts but would add that any electrical connection will cause these symtoms, start at battery[ load test] cables , starter contacts and brush and armature in starter , sometimes when you have a bad conection a repeted try can burn through the bad conection and start working till the next time. The accell. problum sounds like fuel starvation , maybe as simple as a fuel filter , fuel lines and hoses sucking air, then start looking at bigger , like fuel pressure.

 

[Joe G.]

The accelleration problem could be the AFC. Quick test is to take it off, cover the hole, and go for a ride.

 

[JoshPeters]

Check the solonoid on the side of the injection pump. If it's not pulling up all the way it will give you hard/no start/low power (just found that one myself) Mine was pulling up far enough to start and drive, but was NOT giving full rack travel in the pump.



Make sure it's pulling up all the way.



Josh

 

[McLaughlin]

Thanks for all of the suggestions - I'll start there and see what happens.

 

[EBansberg]

is it making boost? black smoke comes basically from lack of oxygen to burn all the fuel completely. You said black smoke on startup, what about smoke on accel? any/none/tons?