Went to start my 90 yesterday to go to work and when i turned the key it would crank but wouldn't fire. I thought the fuel might have gelled because it got to -10 the night before so i bought a new fuel filter because it needed one anyway. Put the new fuel filter on and bled the lines and then tried to start it but it still wouldn't fire. I think it is the shut off solenoid but i wanted to get some more opinions before i went through with replacing it. so any advice or knowledge you guys could give me would be wonderful.

 

Jump from the solenoid to the battery to rule out bad wiring. If that doesn't get it going, take the solenoid off, remove the guts, then put the solenoid body back in and try to start the truck. If you got air in the high pressure lines, it may take a bleeding it a couple times to get 'er going. Try cracking 1, 3, & 5 and cranking, then 2, 4, & 6 and cranking. Crank for at least a count to 10 each time. If it won't go after 3 or 4 tries, do what I suggested.

 

my wiring is good. and i tested the soleniod and it seems to be fine. i know i don't have any air in the lines because i bled them when i changed my filter. i'm stumbed my manual shut down isn't stuck. and it was runnin fine the night before.

 

How many times did you try bleeding and cranking? If you got it air bound good, it may take a few tries. When you say you tested the solenoid, did you jump power to it and feel/hear it click?

 

I blead the lines twice just to make sure and did it till there weren't any air bubbles in the fuel coming out of the injecters. I didnt jump the solenoid but i ohmed it out and it was in the acceptable range. and i tested the voltage and it was fine. tommorow i should have time to take it out and test it that way.

 

The connection on my shut down solenoid looked good but was giving me grief. After two episodes of cranking but not firing, I changed the terminal and put some contact grease on it. It has never acted up again. It will seem like the pump is dead. Try hot wiring it just to start it.

Good luck. There are not many things that will make an old cummins balk.

 

Today i replaced the fuel solenoid and it still would not start. I bled the lines one more time and still it will not fire i even replaced the connections on the terminal. i cant figure it out. is there a fuse somwhere that is bad that i should look for.

 

No, if you have power at the solenoid with the key on she ought to light off. Disable the heater grids by pulling one small wire (either wire, doesn't matter, just make sure you do both relays) off each of the relays and give the truck a little snort of ether to see if that'll get you going. It's gotta be pretty cold there, if the motor is tired ether will get it going.