erslll

My 03 is getting harder and harder to start. It does always start but it is taking quite a bit of cranking to get it to start. From what research I have done it looks like it is either lift pump or injector. Anyone have any thoughts?

Stock lift pump, 82,000 miles, has had an Edge EZ on it most of it's life.

TIA

2003Ram

It may be time to get a better lift pump. I'm on my second stock lift pump, and am now looking into an aftermarket replacement.

rjsram

more than likely your injectors on my 03 the same thing happened it was bad injectors. of course it could be a # of things but generally when the lift pump goes out it's done all at once. my truck started acting up around 70,000 if I plugged it in it started easier and that was in 70 degree whether. Every time i took it to the dealer it started fine, after about 5000 miles of it doing this I took it in for an oil change and purposely park away from the garage instead of leaving it running in the front. The tech couldn't get it to start and asked if i had been having this problem, yep I said and turned out it had 5 bad injectors which luckily for me was under warranty or I would have had to pull about $2500 about of my pocket

Brad5502

I had similar problems over the last year. Knew the Airdog LP was good from the gauge..13psi. Thought maybe injectors (was getting puffs of smoke and a shudder every 4-6 seconds). Thought maybe batteries but they were good, still original!

Swapped the Fuel Control Actuator with a buddies and it started up right up, like new....no shudder/smoke out the tailgate.

Worth looking at the FCA before investing in injectors! Just over a $!00...

Nate-03 D

x2. I had to have my FCA replaced at 40k miles. I had the same issues you are describing. Even if you replace the FCA and it solves the issue, your OEM lift pump is still on borrowed time.

riddle family

How long before you guys consider hard start? I hit the switch and it takes anywhere from 4 to 8 revs of the starter motor for it go?

papaduck

When I crank mine it usually starts on the 3rd or 4th compression stroke. The longest crank, a few times it started on the 5th compression stroke. It did one time start on the 6th compressing stroke about a year ago. It was cold, about 15 degrees, and I had not plugged in the heater. It is at 105k miles.

Dracula

Where is the FCA located? My Dad's 03 is getting harder and harder to start. He said it runs fine (at idle and under load) once it starts. He didn't mention any smoke...but I'll ask.

Thanks

caliaudio

Did you check the air filter, I know it sounds trivial but is a symptom of hard start and smoke.

JJPage

Check batteries, air/fuel filters, lift pumps usually get noisier as they are about to fail, if it still hums along quietly it's probably not your problem.

The EZ could contribute to early injector leaks/failures, but the added pressure could also lead to the injector cross connector tubes leaking, this will cause a long crank time because it takes longer to build pressure before your ECM will fire the injector solenoids, now add suspect start batteries and it has an even higher, increased negative affect.

The filters, lift pump, and cross tubes you can check yourself, also check for any codes, I would do this before I even considered injector replacement. Injectors get replaced when maybe they shouldn't, the cross tubes have to come out to remove the injectors, so a simple torque(37 ft lbs)check will tell you if they are loose. You will know right away if they are, even 1 loose tube will mess you up, if they are not loose, and the other items check out, then possible look at the FCA(fuel control accuator) located on the back of the CP3 injection pump. There are sensors that could also be suspect, rp sensor for one, but check the obvious first, then let us know....

Bankdude

My hard start problems were 2 bad injectors both times. If the lift pump is going down it will contribute to the problem. If you have the OEM lift pump at the filter I am impressed it lasted as long as it has. Mine died in 05. Replaced by an intank, that died about 2 years ago. But when the LP's died, so did the truck. They were an all or nothing affair.
Both times the dead injectors were not really noticable, I think they get weaker over time and you get used to it. When you replace them you notice the improvement easily.
That said, JJPages advise is sound, dont start with the big ticket items, check the obvious first. Also check for fuel on top of the prv as a sign the problem might be at the injectors or connectors (or just too much pressure) rather than LP or CP3.

Brad5502

The FCA is a little cylinder on the CP3, just below the fuel inlet. If you swap it out with a buddies, and reconnect the wires, you can rule it out as your problem OR maybe the truck will start right up like mine and the stumble/shudder at start up/idle will be gone

Dracula

Thanks for the help guys!

Oh, one more thing. Will it throw a code if the FCA is the fault?

Brad5502

I would get the 0148 "pressure common rail" once a month or so, after it stumbled really bad on cold mornings. I think that was pressure fluctuations caused by the bad fuel control actuator and magnified by the CP3, maybe? Haven't had it since and was up in the mts fishing last weekend.

Dracula

Thanks for the help guys. It gives us a good starting point.