Howdy folks!!
New to the forum, but life long MOPAR nut.

My question is in regards to my dads 1990 Ram 350 4x4 Cummins (around 200,000 miles) and it's starting problems.

The only way to get it started is to crack the injector lines, crank it over until fuel comes out of the lines. Then tighten the lines back up and crank her over again until she starts. Once it starts, it runs fine and performs normally. But, when you shut her back off and attempt to start her right back up, she just won't hit a lick. You have to go through the previous process to get her started.

About 35,000 miles ago she started doing the same thing. We inquired with some mechanics and they said to check the fuel shutoff solenoid because they go bad and stick closed. My dad then went and bought a new one. We checked it and it worked fine so we installed it, but it didn't help. We even removed the plunger from inside and tried that, but nothing. So they then said to check the lift pump. We checked it and it appeared to be putting out a sufficient amount of fuel. The only thing wrong with it is the primer lever won't do anything. It just moves, but won't create any pressure. Then we decided to try an electric fuel pump, but the truck was still doing the same thing.

So, dad would just crank the crap out of her until she would start, then drive her. Well all of a sudden she went back to starting like it should. He drove her for another 35,000 miles never had a bit more trouble until about two weeks ago. Then she started this whole thing over again. But this time you can crank and crank and nothing until you crack the injector lines. Then she'll fire right up and run normally.

Has anybody had a similar situation, and what was the fix? Or is it time for an injector pump? Thanks, Larry........

 

whoa, will be interesting to see the fixit guru's attack this monster!! (watching closely)

 

I'm no guru, but it sounds like an air leak to me. Do you still have the electric pump hooked up? If so, remove the bleed screw, jam some clear tubing in the hole and run the pump to see if you get solid (no bubbles) fuel out of there. That'll tell you whether the air leak is before the injection pump.

Loosen and retighten all the fittings and banjo bolts in the system if you haven't already.

It's not the shutdown solenoid.

The primer lever only works if the pump arm is on the base circle of the pump cam. Turn the engine one revolution and the priming lever should work.

 

I second the "air" theory. Let's hope that the fuel pick-up tube in the tank is not cracked. https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...threadid=57034
My guess is that the fuel line between the tank and the lift pump is the problem.
Keep as advised when you find the problem.

By the way welcome!
---
AlK

 

I'd agree with the two fellows above. Any time you crack the lines and have to run fuel up in there, you have air where you don't want it.

Not a guru wannadiesel? from the help you've given to me and others over your 2744 postsyou've got to be close Take care guys, and Ram350 let us know how she turns out.

 

I also think it is air or the fuel is running back to the tank. Have you tried parking in on a decline so the nose is downwards keeping the fuel up front? Most likely though is air getting in somehow.

Welcome aboard and hope you learn great things here.

 

I vote for sucking air also.

 

Thanks for the input guys! The first time it started this we dropped the tank and checked everything inside of it. Everything appeared to be ok. You can remove the fuel filter and crank it over and the lift pump appears to put out enough fuel (1/2 to 3/4 inch dia stream that squirts out). I've checked all the hard line connections and they seem to be tight. I agree it's an air problem of some sort. But where?? It's like the pump seems to be loosing it's prime. I thought maybe the system was pulling the fuel back towards the tank. But the fuel filter has been at least half full of fuel each time i've checked it.
The pump looses the fuel fast. You can have it running, then shut it off, immediately turn the key right back on and try to start it and it won't run. It's almost an instant thing. I haven't had time to look at it since the other day. I'll let ya know what we find out. Thanks!!!!
Also, what is the aluminum/plastic piece that is between the fuel filter and the engine? The one that has an electrical plugin and is finned inside. Thanks.......

 

Sounds like the same problem I'm having with my '91.

 

That would be your Water in Fuel sensor. It detects if any water is in the fuel filter and notifies you via the Message Center on your dashboard.

 

Also, what is the aluminum/plastic piece that is between the fuel filter and the engine? The one that has an electrical plugin and is finned inside. Thanks.......

Are you referring to the round piece that is on top of the filter. That is the fuel heater. The electrical plug on the bottom of the filter is the water in fuel sensor.
---
Al

 

Replace your fuel lines. I bought enouph hose from Napa to go from the tank to the lift pump, bi-passing the steel lines. The rubber hose has a larger inside diameter (which I think would help the lift pump), and if anything happened in the boony's, the rubber line would be easier to repair. My leak was rubber hose attaching the tank to the steel line. My steel lines were looking bad and only wanted to fix it once. It is possible to suck air without leaking fuel. It sounds like a good guess that your losing prime when it's not running. Probably not a bad enuff leak (yet) to compete with the pump while running.

 

You are 100 % correct on that Al. I didn't even think about it and just responded. I have been working on my WIF sensor as it has a slight break right at the sensor. So it was the first thing on my mind. I just need to track one down now or see if Mother Mopar has one in stock.

 

REDLEG,
Were your symptoms the same as mine? On mine, the fuel is getting to the filter. Each time i've checked the filter it's had fuel in it, but usually only half full. When we removed the filter and cranked the engine over, fuel came out in a stream. Does the filter have to stay full all the time before the injector pump will pick it up? Or will it pick up the fuel being half full?

Denis,
You mentioned my symptoms are the same as yours. Have you found a fix for your problem yet? If you do let met know, and i'll do the same.....

 

You are getting air somewhere before the lift pump. Like Redleg said, the best thing to do is replace the lines. The filter should be full to overflowing. Run that fuel you're pumping ot the bleed hole through a clear tube and I bet you'll see lots of bubbles.