Timmer

my buddys 97 will start if its plugged in, but it will die right away. then the second time it will fire and keep going.

if its not plugged in he will have to try several times to get it to keep going. this is in weather below about 30 deg.
he also says he cant give it any fuel truing to start it it will not start at all.

needs help to make it reliable to get to and from work.

TIMMY22

Could be a number of things...

1. could have air leaking into the system.

2. try bumping the idle up.

3. check the grid heaters.

4. could have lift pump/overflow valve issues.

5. timing may have slipped.

6. check you shutoff solenoid for full travel.

chariotdriver

Probably a smoked fuel heater. The old ones will get hot, melt and cause a vacuum leak. Both of mine did it. A good test is to pressurize the fuel system, tank and all. Use an air hose and rag or a "custom" fuel cap with a pipe fitting and fill the thing with about 5 psi. If you have a leak, even on the suction side, it will start dripping in a minute or so. Works great for priming the fuel filters after a change too. cd

Dartmouth 12V

If his truck is plugged in and having trouble starting, the problem is most likely fuel related. It could be as easy as the idle being too low(should be at 850rpm when warm in drive with a/c on). It could also be an air leak which most likely would come from cracked fuel lines or the fuel heater. Does the truck run alright once it is started or does it buck, blow smoke, or lack power?

It is also probably worth checking the operation of the grid heater relays at some point even though I suspect the problem is fuel. These can be checked by using a voltmeter and checking the leads to the grids versus ground while they are on.

Timmer

ok, he said it idles at about 500 rpm. that sounds low to me. he also said it will die if you turn the air on. (when you come to a stop, not just running down the street.)

hes going to look at how to turn the idle up, but if any of you know then any info will be appreciated.


the grids work, we can see voltage drop on the battery gauge.

when warm it starts and runs fine.
how do you turn the idle up?

TIMMY22

500 is way to low, bring it up to 900 in the winter.

a 10 mm wrench and a milk crate.

TIMMY22

http://dodgeram.org/tech/dsl/adjustm...d_Gen-Idle.htm

Timmer

ok, we just went out and messed with it. its about 5 deg here. (F) i jumped in it and fliped the key on, wated for the wate to start light to go out and cranked it. it would fire just enough to kick the starter out, then die. start die, start die, not running for a short time, just fire, then die right away.

even if i kept the throttle open just a hair, it would do the same thing. suimlating the high being high, just a little pressure, it would start and die.

i tryed to hold the throttle half open and crank it, but it would not stay running. fire and die.

tryed it with no pressure on the pedal and still the same thing. fire and die.

did this..... little pressure, lots of cranking, didnt let off the starter, it would fire, run on the starter for a sec then take off on its own.

adjusted the idle to be just under the 1000 RPM mark, (guessing about 800 to 900 RPM) and took it for a drive. got it all hot, raged on it for a few, adn stoped to check the idle. no change, around 850 to 900. pulled just a little at idle in drive, like a auto should.

got it back home and shut it down, hit the key and it fires right up, like it should.

LOST!!!! what do you all think now?

TIMMY22

Sounds like the symptoms of air.

patdaly

Was the block heater plugged in?

Mine does that when it is extremely cold and my grid heaters are also not working.

If the block heater was not plugged in, try it plugged in for 3 hours and see if she fires right up.

Ru rammin 2?

I saw one do that one time. We never fixed it but a dodge mechanic said he thought it was the injector pump. I wanted to fix it but the guy traded it off. I always thought it was the of valve. I changed the fuel filter and I don't think it was an air leak. I would look at an OF valve.

Timmer

yea it was plugged in. and i know at least one side of the grids is working, i can see the voltage drain on the charge gauge.

8106

Thats my truck he is talking about. Yesterday i saw my fuel shut off solenoids boot was all ripped up. I took it off, cleaned it up and put it back on. I also cleaned my battery terminal wires. After work today the temp was 22 and it fired rght up.I hope that was the problem, thanks to everyone for your help.

dieselfuelonly

Check the fuel shutoff solenoid. I had a problem with my dually SORT of like yours... when you cranked it, it would seemingly start, but as soon as you let off the starter it died.

That was the culprit...

Heres a video of how it should be working that I took to help someone else, be sure to check it, it only takes about 30 seconds.