Starting problem

[Enimmo]

I have a 1997 2500 with about 55,000 on it. Occasionally when starting, the starter will turn but the engine won't fire. This will go on some 30 seconds if I continue. Most of the time, if I turn off the key and try again with a little accelerator pedal it fires just fine(no need to recycle the heat). Once or twice I was afraid it wasn't going to start at all because it took several tries. Outside temperature makes no differance. It seems to be occurring more frequently now (about twice a month). No other problems with performance.

Any ideas?



Stock engine. K&N air filter. Remote start (it happens with and without use of this)

 

[Joe G.]

Classic symptom for idle too low. If you have an automatic trans it should be at least 750RPM with it in gear and the AC on. A lot of guys have it set even higher than that.

 

[illflem]

Piers is recommending 850

 

[redramnc]

I had the throttle cable recall done by the stealer and they apparently left my idle wherever it was when they started. I thought it was too low - didn't know for sure until I got the KDP done and Rammin On checked it for me. Turns out that the idle was something like 583 in drive w/AC. Keith set it to 750 and it now starts like a goosed barmaid.

 

[Enimmo]

reply

My tach says 750+, is it useless for this?

 

[Six_Man_Diesel]

Check the fuel return line also, could be cracked

 

[Todd T]

what about the fuel shut off solenoid relay going bad. or the starter relay and contacts?



next time the truck does this, stop cranking, leave the key turned to the run position, get under the hood and see if the solenoid pulled up. even if the truck doesnt fire after a few seconds of cranking the solenoid hould have pulled up and will stay up as long as the key is left in the run position.



if it didnt, you found where to start looking a new relay is about $30 its on the firewall to the left of the brake booster, just over the fuel filter. its the bigger one on the right.



another trick, if it gets to the point it wont pull up at all, you can leave the key on and pull it up yourself. then fire it up.

 

[Enimmo]

Okay, it finally did it again. Yes the fuel shutoff lever is not going up when I tried to start it. When I held it up with my hand, it started right up, but when I let go, it quit again. Did this a couple times before returned to normal function (which it always does).

Is that a bad electric connection or the solenoid problem?

 

[Todd T]

it wouldnt stay up if you shoved it all the way up?



if not, i would say start with the shutoff solenoid itself. make sure if you cant push it up all the way and it will stay up, first. its a two part test so read on to make sure you dont waste your money.



to test the solenoid upplug it from the relay and ground the black wire then put power to the red/violet tracer wire. the solenoid should fire. DONT hold the voltage to it just fire it a few times and make sure it will do it every time. if it wont then your off to the local Cummins shop. if it fires each time then i would start shooting trouble out of the relays and starter contacts. until you fix it.



if it really wont stay up, and the solenoid fires then you need to make sure THAT part of the solenoid is not bad. and its in the wiring. to do this, again, ground the black wire. then put 12volts to the Light green (smaller) wire on the solenoid. you CAN leave this voltage on there it wont hurt it.



next push up the solenoid and see if it stays up. if not again, its off to a Cummins shop. if so... . let me know and i'll try to think of something??

 

[Cooker]

Originally posted by illflem

Piers is recommending 850

Is this in drive w/ the AC on or just truck running, no AC, in park?

 

[HoleshotHolset]

850 in drive with A/C, headlights, BOMBed stereo, and coffee pot on.....



This is affectionately referred to as 'curb idle'



Matt

 

[GMcLean]

check your battery connections on the drivers side battery!!! Pay special attention to the small wires sandwiched inbetween the battery cable coming from the pasenger side battery. . One of the wires is for the fuel shut off solenoid . . good luck. . GARTH

 

[Enimmo]

success (I think)

I think it's fixed.

Tried the battery connection thing -- didn't help.

Didn't know how to test the relays, etc. because most of the time it all worked so I replaced the solenoid.

It' been almost three weeks without any failure to start first time!

Hope that was it.

Thanks to all.

 

[Enimmo]

Uh, disregard that last one

I replaced the relay, not the solenoid.

 

[Simon]

My 96 always started first click until one morning when going to work I had to crank for a good minute and from that point on every morning it was hard starting. After the truck once started it fired right up. Thanks to the TDR I posted this and the members thought it was the FUEL RETURN LINE. They hit this right on the head. The hose was rotten. It took me 30 min. to find this 2. 5' section of 5/16 hose. The hose is located behind the fuel filter under the intake manifold and runs down to a clamp on the pan, the over to a solid line which is almost imposible to see. The hose is held on by hose clamps.