Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Truck will not start after short drive

[pmillsap]

I have a Dodge 1999 2500 diesel 4x4 with an edge system. The truck always fires up when cold but intermitently on a short drive after turning the truck off it will not start. If I wait 30 minutes or so the truck will start. Any suggestions where to start?

 

[JLandry]

Can you please give more symptoms surrounding this problem?



For example, does the starter crank normally but the engine doesn't catch?

Would you say the engine is warm after this short drive?

Have you hooked up a code scanner to the OBDII port to check for trouble codes?

Have you tried completely removing the Egde system to see if the problem changes?



Best regards,



John L.

 

[Ron Bissett]

Could be winding in starter get hot resistence high ,cools down then starts. Or it could be a bad ground or low battery or two . Dirty post ,bad wire , loose clamps , All of the above.

Ron Bissett

 

[pmillsap]

Hi John

1) The starter cranks the engine normal but the engine does not fire up.
2) I would say the engine is not hot most times
3) I have not connected a scanner or removed the edge system.

 

[monkeyman]

I would crack a injector to see if you are getting fuel. Another trick is to disconnect batteries for 30 minutes and re-connect.
Good luck
Rick

 

[JLandry]

Hi John



1) The starter cranks the engine normal but the engine does not fire up.

2) I would say the engine is not hot most times

3) I have not connected a scanner or removed the edge system.

It could be a number of things. Checking for trouble codes with a cheap scanner is always a good first start because it sometimes helps to point you in the right direction. A code scanner can be purchased from any auto parts store or even places like Walmart. Some auto parts stores like AutoZone will let you borrow a code scanner.



Without having a trouble code to go on, a couple of things come to mind...



It could be an intermittent pin connection at the ECM. There's a 50-pin connector that goes into the face of the ECM on the left side of the engine block. You can try disconnecting and reconnecting this plug to see if it helps.



Another culprit that sometimes causes a "crank but no-start condition" is the "ASD" relay located in the PDC (Powertrain Distribution Center). The PDC is the black plastic box located on the driver's side fender under the hood. Next time the problem happens, find the ASD relay and swap it out with anther non-essential relay like the wiper or horn (they all use the same type relay). If this fixes the problem, simply replace the bad relay.



Anyway, get a code scanner and let us know what you find.



Good luck,



John L.