Won't start unless I give it throttle. Why?

[BC]

Larry and all those who helped him,

I also want to say thanks for all the info. My Dodge has had a low idle for about 3 months. My wife, it's her truck, kept telling me the truck was stalling on her. I knew upping the idle wasn't a fun job and kept putting it off.

Finally Larry started this thread and I followed along. The directions were great. I adjusted the idle yesterday. The rpms are now one mark below 1000 in neutral and two marks below 1000 in drive.

Thanks guys for all of the help.

Bill Cook

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'98, 3500, 101,000 miles, 12 valve, 4x4, QCab, SLT, auto, 3. 54, tow pkg, Pro-Loc TC, TST #8 plate (230/605), BD exhaust brake-presure lock-torque lock, heavy duty valve springs, Mag-Hitech trannie and diff. covers, transmission and pyro gauges pillar mounted, K&N filter, silencer ring removed, Draw-Tite brake controller, 14k 36' fifth wheel, 12k Sooner 4horse gooseneck, 13K (when loaded) 24ft gooseneck flat bed. '96 Ford 250 4x4 Powerstroke.

 

[LWilliams]

BC, you forgot to mention the main thing here. Was the wife happy? #ad

 

[Oregon Ram]

I'm having a similar starting issue. 96 12 valve cummins. (252K) Normally it starts right up. a week ago all of a sudden it would barely crank as if the batteries were bad. Batteries are good. After two days I decided to press the accelerator and it started right up. I then did some towing and it's getting worse. If I don't press the pedal it will barley turn over. I'm having to press the pedal further and further...... I replaced the overflow valve and it seemed a bit better for that day but the next day it seems like its getting worse. One thing I noticed ( after replacing the Overflow valve was that the EGT's dropped to about 150 at idle ). Normally it hovers around 275-300. I thought the gauge was bad at first because it was so low.. I have a pressure gauge that is due in today so I'll install that and have more info before I start changing things out. My plans so far are to delete the fuel heater to eliminate that as a leak and to replace the lift pump and hose to the heater. Once it's running and warmed up it runs great. I can almost burn rubber. (Lots of aftermarket stuff ) Also my idle is set at about 850-900 when in PARK. That hasn't changed at all during all this. If anyone has any ideas please let me know.

 

[rebar]

Whats your fuel pressure?

 

[Oregon Ram]

I got the gauge installed. I'm getting 28-30 at idle (about 850 rpm on Dash) and 40 at 2250. My starter went out and I replaced it and it starts right up. I'm not sure if I had a fuel issue ( As I replace the overflow valve) that caused my starter to go out OR was it just my starter in the first place. The reason I'm not sure is that before I changed the starter, It would start right up IF I pressed the accelerator pedal about half way.