This is a 99 Dodge 3500 with a 24 valve cummins. I just installed a new lift pump and 2 new batterys. Its not throwing any codes. I have to start it with Starting Fluid everytime i want to go anywhere Or i can let it roll and pop the clutch and it fires right off... After i get it started it runs great. The dodge dealership said its bleeding down and looseing prime somwhere. Or the injector pump could be out..

 

What won't start?

Need to know some details, year, make, model, etc.


phox

 

Must be a long day for you Phox Mulder...

Well there has been articles about the pick up tube in the tank rubbing a hole in it.

Do you have a fuel pressure guage? Have you changed you fuel filter lately?

Try parking with the nose down on a hill and see if it will start.

Are there any codes? (I pretty sure there is )
Cycle the ignition switch 3 times leaving it on. the odometer will show the codes.

It sound more LP is gone! If so the IP (VP44) is going south soon (P0216 Error)!

As for the starting fluid that's a big NO NO! It could cause a explosion! If you going to continue to use it unplug the grid heater on the manifold!

 

Ok, I know that first line wasn't there.

It just wasn't.

He sent me a PM: The filler neck got ripped off from a blow out so there is no pressure in the tank.. I dont know how much pressure its supposed to have. I changed my filter about 2200 miles back.


Tank doesn't need any pressure.
The lift pump gets the fuel from the tank to the injection pump.

Losing prime sounds like the ticket.

Check the return lines going from the injection pump back to the tank, these are known to get very small leaks that let air into the system.

Leak could be small enough that you don't see fuel leaking, but as the pressure drops off, air is sucked in.


phox

 

The key On-Off trick started in 2000.
Won't work on the '99s

 

Quit using starting fluid. Starting fluid will knock the upper edges of the top compression ring off from the explosive hit when it ignites. What it does is torque the ring and cause the edge to scrub on the cylinder wall. That will lead to a low cranking compression condition known as starting fluid dependency, and the only fix is new rings. Starting fluid should only be used on older technology diesels with really tall piston crowns, and junk engines that you really do not care about.

Follow the advice of replacing the flexible hoses between the tank and the frame, and the frame and the engine, and the pickup hose in the tank. The flex hoses on the external fuel lines should be replaced every few years as normal preventive maintenance.

 

If it makes you feel any better a friend of mine has the exact same problem except it throws a 1689 code to my superchips scanner but only a 1693 to the truck, no fp gauge till friday but a new lp a new pusher, relay even hotwired the pusher to feed the ip but get nothing. He said he blew into the feed line with compressed air and since his troubles began, always going down hill with 1/4 tank so friday it gets the tank pulled and fp gauge, we will check the hoses and let you know if we figure it out....if any one knows please feel free to scream at me!

 

Thanks, Shovelhead

I forgot what year it started that... I stand corrected!
I'll step back with Phox... Oh well...

 

3500, I told you a friend of mine was having a very similar problem so this evening I went over to his place and installed some vulcan weld fittings on his IP and his Filter and installed a fp gauge. the gauge was showing 23lbs after the whole cycle to bleed drill but still no start. I unplugged his lift pump harness and left the pusher inline, the truck was seeing 7-8psi and was now trying to start but still nothing. then as the pump cycled off I heard a "sucking" noise @ the factory lp. It turns out that the washer for the lp had some crud on it prohibiting a perfect seal but not enough to show a fuel leak just enough to introduce air into the system and goof up timing. so we fixed the washer situation and reconnected the stock lp cycled 3 times and she took off!!!!! what a sweet sound!!! kind of tough to chase down as he had great fp but still a tiny leak to areate the fuel. I hope yours is this easy.

GREG