Archived Won't restart after engine warms

[m_mitchell]

1998 Dodge 3500 Cummins diesel



Truck cranks beautifully every morning. Works like a mule until you kill engine. Will not restart. Acts like it is getting no fuel. The diagnosis from a local pump shop (over the phone) was you need a new injector pump. Sounds crazy to me. Truck runs and drives perfect. Truck pulls 20,000# plus daily. Sounds like it's sucking air to me, but I'm no mechanic. If it's a bad injector pump, why does it run so well? HELP!

 

[Joe G.]

Is the truck 12 or 24 valve?

 

[m_mitchell]

Thank you for your reply Joe G my truck is 24 valve 4x4 5spd I have already had the electric fuel lift pump replaced. It didn't change a thing. Start it up in the morning run it a few minutes shut it off and if your lucky after you grind on it for 2 or 3 minutes it might crank if not you have to break loose a couple of injector lines to release head pressure? At least thats what the pump shop calls it, sounds to me like it's sucking air. Truck runs great pulls great.

 

[Joe G.]

I'm familiar with 12 valve. Your truck is normally (on this list anyway) referred to as a 98. 5. The best place to ask this is on the 24 valve forum. That's where all the experts on your engine hang out. It's a good idea to set up a signature (see below) so we know what sort of beast you are herding around.



Oh yeah, a hardy welcome to the TDR forums!!

 

[barbwire]

mmitchell,

I may be out of line, But on other brands of diesels, I have found some starting problems to be blocked (kinked) feul return line. It would seem to me, that if you have to relieve pressure via injector lines, that maybe this could be a possability. However, I am not up on the modern electronicly run diesels, and I am new to the B series Cummins.

 

[JR2]

There is a TSB for this sort of problem... ...



Look here.

 

[A Johnson]

Get the TSB update done for sure! The hot fueling algorithyms in the ECM have been changed for better hot starts. I believe this is also available at the Cummins shops as of March 1. AJ

 

[Andy Redmond]

Your pump shop may not be pulling your leg. A Dallas TDR member encounter this same symptom and the result was a new injector pump.



Any of the vendors assoc. w/tdr can likely save you big bucks over Dodge/Cummins. In his case a $2500 repair parts and labor.

Read 1200-1500 for a new injector pump.



I cracked the fuel lines loose and a small amount of fuel was present. His symtoms of hot starts finally went to cold starts to no starts. If you could get it to start it seemed to run well and had decent fuel psi. Pump electronics/sensors?



Obviously, it can be many other things, do the troubleshooting or take it too a compentent independant, Cummins shop or a good DC dealer. Oh, he had about 100k at the time.



However, after the pump was changed he switched to a powerstroke as he wanted a true four door.



He misses his Cummins.



Good luck

 

[obert]

My vote is on the pump too . This was my story back in november. The vp44 is a VERY delicate pump (im told that is assembled under calibrating oil bly gloved hands). My lift pump went and within days of replacement my symtoms worsend so that pull- starting was the only option after even a brief run. The timing mechanism fails and defaults to a position to late to start, but runs ok(sound right - who knows?). Thankfuly D-C gladly bought me a new pump, but i had to pick up the labor. I can work wonders with mechanical diesels, but im not sure i understand evrything i know about the vp44...

 

[WileyCoyote]

Hard Start When Hot

I have had a similar problem with my 2001 HO 6 speed. The problem first started when I used the Shell DFA for the first time.

After the truck had been stopped for about 30 minutes, it would crank a long time before starting.



It is like the pump is dry and has to reprime itself. The service bulletin on a reply sounds like a software change to have the lift pump somehow circulate more fuel through the VP44.



I think that the additive combined with winter fuel causes a heat soak condition in the VP44 which causes vapor to form where liquid should be. Only when the engine has cranked and the lift pump has circulated does the vapor get purged and the engine starts.



On the same topic, does anyone know where the best method to bleed air from the system after running out of fuel would be listed. A bad gauge caused me to run dry and I could not start even after loosening the banjo fittings on the VP44 and purging for a long time.



Are there any other ports on the pump that can be used for purging?



Thanks



Harry

 

[Shooter]

Keep a 3/4" end wrench under the back seat with the spare fuel filters. Bleed the filter, close the filter drain. Use the wrench to loosten a couple ( what ever you can reach ) injector lines at the head. crank engine till you get fuel to head. Tighten injector lines and go for ignition and lift off. You will want to lay a rag or some thing over the fittings as the fuel is under very high pressure and can spray, it aint purddy but it will get you going.









WileyCoyote



On the same topic, does anyone know where the best method to bleed air from the system after running out of fuel would be listed. A bad gauge caused me to run dry and I could not start even after loosening the banjo fittings on the VP44 and purging for a long time. Are there any other ports on the pump that can be used for purging?