Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Truck hard to start?

[rholcom2]

I will make this as short as possible.



One of my friends owns a 2001 2500, Quad Cab, short Box, 6 speed, heres what happened:



Symptoms: Hard to start first time of day, if he let it sit for more than an hour or two the truck was once again hard to start. This symptom went away when the truck was parked on a grade. The performance of the truck was hinderd only slightly/intermitently. The truck would seem to "bog" down, or "miss". These symptoms started Mid January, and persisted untill last night. The symptoms increased in severity and occurences, untill something had to be done. Heres what was done:



New Parts: Fuel Filter, Lift Pump , Injectors, Injector Tubes, O-rings



Swapped Parts: Injection Pump computer:--) , Injection Pump:--)



Cost of Labor for all this approx. $1,000



Actual Fix: New Fuel filler cap (mechanic walked back and took the cap off and a large "rush" of air sounding like releaving pressure was heard... ... ... Problem Fixed



Only thing we can come up with after a few Budweisers and thinking about the events is: The truck was rolled this winter on an icy road, it was fixed. The only logical thing that could have happened is that fuel in the tank went up in the vent, and got trapped.



What do you think? Would you have guessed?



I guess that depends on how much you have read the TDR, I read a lot, good thing they dont charge per hour of useage, I would be a poor man. But, hopefully this will help someone else in the future, if they are having similar problems to check the fuel cap.

 

[CCOLLAR]

I am not sure if the post above is a question or just informational?



I'll assume a question: you might want to check the fuel return line (from the injecttion pump back to the tank through a 'T' behind the block). When the truck rolled the line might have developed a crack, which is now causing air to be drawn back into the pump when the truck is shut down.



Some parts were replaced -- how about the sealing washers at each of the banjo fittings?



Parked on a grade: nose up or down?



If I recall rightly the fuel tank is vented, so a vacuum shouldn't be created. Check the top of the fuel uptake module -- some trucks were shipped with a red "cap" sealing the vent.



Mid Jan? Perhaps the vent is clogged with ice?

 

[rholcom2]

I know that T was checked, and ended up being just fine, no problems there. I dont however know if they changed the sealing washers at the Banjo's. I do not believe that it mattered which way the truck was parked on the grade. And, yes, you have brought up a very good point, we should check that vent to make sure that there is no cap in it. Thanks