Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Trouble Starting

[IdaH.O.Train]

Normally my truck turns over immediately when I go to start it. The past two mornings I have had to crank on it for 5-6 sec. before it would start. Then I noticed I had white(ish) colored exhaust for about the first 100 yards or so, then nothing. The rest of the day, yesterday anyway, the truck started and ran fine. Fuel pressure is normal 11 - 13 psi @ idle and doesn't drop below 8 psi driving. No other red flags or check engine lights. Any thoughts?

 

[Tcolesanti]

Maybe it set a code without tripping the "check engine light". Did you check for any codes? The white smoke could be unburned diesel fuel, did you smell it?

 

[IdaH.O.Train]

No codes, either PCU or ECU. Couldn't smell the smoke cause I was on my way to work; never thought to do that, anyway. Driveway has a slight incline; however, it's not as though I'm low on fuel. Besides, I've parked on that driveway every day since I've owned this truck.

 

[Tcolesanti]

How about a clogged fuel filter?

 

[SpicyJam]

Welcome to the hard start blues, I am having all kinds of starting blues. Had it fixed once I thought. One week later back to the same ole crap. Only does it when it sits a little too long. Please let me know what you find.

 

[IdaH.O.Train]

Thanks for the replys. The truck only sits overnight, less than 15 hours, and it's only been the past two days this has happened. The only common denominator has been my kids have loaded up before me; however, I don't know what they could have done to make the truck act like this. I'm going to see if it does it again in the morning and go from there. It's almost time for another servicing, so I may just go ahead and change the fuel filter this time, although it was just changed last service. Puzzling I tell you.

 

[IdaH.O.Train]

Update: It seems to have something to do with the incline of my driveway. It started at work with no problems (level parking lot), came home this afternoon and parked in the driveway. Went to leave less than 1 hour later and it had trouble turning over. Still had 12 gals of fuel in tank. Help... :{

 

[CStewart]

FASS hard start

I had a hard start problem ever since I put the FASS system on my truck. Its only been a couple of weeks but I haven't had a problem since I redid my fuel module. My main problem seems to have been the quick coupling that attachs to the fuel mdule. On my 98 it was steel and badly rusted, I'm not sure if it had pin holes in it or the oring in the QC was bad. I'm gonna try and post some pics on the other thread pertaining to the fuel module.



Chris

 

[d.miner]

Possibly the crankshaft position sensor not identifying what it needs to for 5 or 6 seconds, could be faulty.



White smoke could be cold engine w/o grid heaters working.

 

[fox]

Check the fuel filter cap. I have seen them a little loose and that allowed air to get in the system when it sits.

You could try just bumping the starter to re-prime it before you start it.

 

[IdaH.O.Train]

I'm convinced it's the angle of my driveway. Yesterday morning, even with a full tank, the truck did not start right away. Drove it all day, turning it on and off several times and not one problem. That is until I got home, parked it in the driveway and then went to start it an hour later. Had the same issues starting. Fuel tank prolly had 30 gals and it was warm outside. There doesn't seem to be any driveability issues and all the gauges are showing everything is within the normal operating ranges. What am I missing??? :{

 

[truckstom]

Sounds like it's sucking air when the nose is tilted up... check the drain valve on the filter housing, and the filter cap... you prolly won't see anything, but it's worth a try as it should not be doing this, as you know...

 

[FourBarR]

sounds like fuel is draining back from some where. if you park your truck nose up in the driveway, try parking nose down , see if it makes adifference. if it does then its fuel siphoning back. hope this helps.

 

[IdaH.O.Train]

Well it's been 3 months since it last happened. In that time I had the FASS installed and I hadn't had any starting issues since mid Sept. That is until Saturday when low and behold, it's back. Same problem as before. It has done it that last three mornings and no other times during the day. Truck has been plugged in, so I know it's not a heater grid issue. Tank is 3/4 full, so I know it's not a fuel level problem. FASS shows 14-15 psi, so I know it's not a FP issue. It just cranks for 4-5 secs before it turns over, then runs fine. Anyone?

 

[aarlucas]

My truck started having problems just like yours. It was a little hard to start, 5-6 seconds. Now as the weather has got colder it won't start at all, unless the block heater is pluged in. Then there is still no guarantee. I got no codes. I looked at everything it could possibly be. So today I pulled the VP44 off and getting a new one. Everyone else that had my/our problem seemed to need the new pump.

 

[d.miner]

Crankshaft position sensor ?

 

[IdaH.O.Train]

If it is the crankshaft position sensor, how would I check that? and Are they expensive?

 

[IdaH.O.Train]

Parked truck nose down last night and it started fine this morning. That being said, if fuel is somehow draining back, with the nose up, how do I fix that problem and, more importantly, why would it go away for three months and then show back up without warning? The last thing I want, obviously, is to replace a VP44.

 

[Mad Bomber]

Leaking air into the fuel system is what it sounds like to me.

 

[SpicyJam]

I want to jump back in here and relay what I found to be my problem. I had a hard start for 3+ months then I replaced injectors, and put in new delivery tubes when I fire ringed my motor. WOW the hard start went away and then returned 2 weeks later . Parking it nose up hill was the only way it would start. If I was pointed up hill at all I was screwed. So I decided to take the injector lines off again. I pulled the delivery tubes out and found I had 2 torn O-rings one number 3 and the other on number 6, best guess is I pinched them when installing the new tubes. I replaced them with O-rings from my local hardware store, hard start gone, so then I went to Cummins and bought the right ones. I still have the hardware stores O-rings in the truck and no hard start for almost 4 months now. In all my findings there are only a couple of places the air can let the fuel drain back, with no apparent leaks, the O-rings being one of them. I hope this helps, if you read back to some of postings on hardstarts I kept a pretty good journal of what happend each time I checked something.