12valve

i need an advice on a hard starting 180hp 12 valve cummins.

its starts great when its driven for a while, only on the morning it has to be cranked for about 1/2 minute. (seems like it wants to go on, but it wont, seems to have not enough diesel.

I dont think its the timing, changed it already,
i checked the fuel line from the filter to the injector pump, wich bolt was loosened, tightened it up, still the prob persists

any help on how and where to find the problem would be aprecciated

Silvano

MnTom

Sounds to me like your rubber lines above the starter are deteriorating. The lines allow air to be drawn in through tiny cracks that are to small to allow fuel to leak out. Try pressurizing the fuel tank (with NO MORE than 5 psi) and look for leaks. The problem may also be the fuel heater where the wires go into the heater. Mine did that for a while and I found the banjo bolt on the outlet of the fuel filter loose. You are going to have to examine the fuel system carefully to find the problem.
Tom

Rare1

In the morning, does it start quickly if you give it a bit of pedal? This is a symptom of low idle. Your warm-engine idle should be 750 with the AC on. If idle is lower it will crank more to start cold.

KWentling

I would agree that it is an air problem. I replaced the hoses on my '98. The only "bad" hose was the one behind the injection pump. I don't think it was leaking though. Just could see the effects of heat and age. The two hoses from the frame lines to the steel lines on the engine looked great. Those are inside a plastic covering so you can't tell their condition untill the covering is removed. I shouldn't have touched them. My leak turned out to be the electrical connection at the fuel heater. That would be the first thing I would look at. The terminals inside the connector on the heater side will have been hot and the plastic melted allowing an air leak. If this is a warm climate truck you can just eliminate the heater section.
Kim

TxDiesel007

Rubber replacement lines

on the engine seem to be the ones that are the culprit for this. They are gettin air more likely than not and are makin ur truck hard to start. Also your idle could be low, if adjustment of idle does not solve the problem, then the rubber hoses are the ones to blame...

Tx

John Faughn

Have 2 bodies avalable and 1 turns key and the other watches the fuel solinoid linkage to see if it moves , if not the 1st to look at is relay.

12valve

thanks for the inputs, i can try one thing at a time each 24 hours, just fails in the mornings.

a buddy of mine, which truck it is, he said, in the morning the fuel shut of solenoid didnt go up all the way... mayght be the problem...

what kind of fuel lines do i need to buy???

marv h.

Check here. www.fostertruck.com/dodge

marv h.

Did you make sure your intake manifold grid heater is working?

Crimedog

Try priming it before you start it in the morning, down below kind of by the motor mount on the driver side there is a red button that primes the system. When mine sits for a while and it's cold I give the primer a few shots (about 10 or so) and it fires right up. I think my rubber lines are leaking, I just don't have the ambition to go out in the cold and fight them...

12valve

the grid heater doesnt work...

is that a big prob in a cummins???

cumminsdriver635

No. Should start fine without it...

Eric

Crimedog

The grid heaters have proven to be a lot more reliable than glow plugs. I'm not sure if there is a separate fuse (I'm sure there is but don't know where) but there is a relay mounted on the driver side fender, I think it costs about $75 or so, that may be your problem. I'd look in a repair manual so you can see the schematics, hopefully a blown fuse or something simple.

John Faughn

I do not know the yr. & mods. but some had fusesable links at the battery.

12valve

Today in the I primed it about 20 times, then it still took about 15 seconds unitll it started... At least today we dint have to boost (charge) the battery.

i looked at the fuel lines, beside the engine, they are all dry, couldnt see any leaks, or cant i see the leaks, Can there enter air, even no leaks are visible???

and can those lines be replaced with any rubber hose, or does it have to be bought as a part...???

thanks