I'm new to diesel's but have a mechanic background. I have a 97 Dodge 3500 dually that I purchased a few months ago. It has a few quirks but Hasn't been to bad till yesterday. I was letting it warm up and smelled something burning then I noticed smoke coming from under the hood. So today I had someone else help me look for the location of the source of the smoke. I quickly saw something on the drivers side of the block start glowing red and smoking as soon as the switch was on. It was coming from the top of something that looks similar to a fuel bowl/filter. Any Ideas on what this is?


I also have a problem with the truck going out of overdrive at times. It will intermitantly change in and out of OD. While it is doing this the Tach will quit and the voltage guage will drop. Was told this might be the tp sensor?

Also my cruise control doesn't work.

Wondering if tp sensor/apps is the problem
Thanks, Eric

 

http://www.dodgeram.org/tech/dsl/Fac...ocations-l.gif
Sounds as you have a problem with the fuel heater or more likely is the power harness to the heater block. You can disconnect and remove the heater entirely.

TPS failure won't cause the tach to drop. I suspect the crank position sensor either needs air gap adjustment or replacement.

Pull the left battery & tray to access the cruise module. Acid spills from the battery rots the plastic vacuum lines or destroys the entire module.

 

thanks, from that pic. the smoke was coming from the fuel heater temp. sensor.

 

http://www.dodgeram.org/
The Dodge Ram website is a wealth of info especially for a person with a tech background.
Good Luck

 

here is a pic. of one of the problems. Look at the wire going in at the top left.

 

Unless you live in the arctic there is no reason for the fuel heater.
Deleting it is very easy, you find directions here http://www.cumminsforum.com/forum/94...m-writeup.html