My 92 has recently been starting extremely hard, cranking is good but it acts like it is air locked. IF it does decide to start, it will then run totally fine. Starting is so bad that I cannot drive the truck for fear that I will not get home. When it is cranking it acts like the cylinders are one by one getting fuel and then it will fire up, maybe. Kind of sounds like a carbureted engine with a bad choke, not getting enough fuel. It will do this immediately after shutting it off too. I have read that the VE pump has a mode it goes into while starting to give extra fuel, has anyone had any experience with this? I had the top of the pump off this weekend to replace the throttle shaft bushing, which was sloppy and leaking, and install the 3200 gov. spring. I thought that maybe the leaking throttle shaft was letting it air lock. Not the case though. Any ideas?

 

This is pretty basic, but when was the last time you changed the fuel filter? A dead lift pump might also make it hard to start. Hope ya get it figured out.

 

A fuel-pressure gauge will help in the diagnosis.

How long has the fuel-filter been on there ??


A weak diaphragm lift-pump will let the fuel drain back and cause similar symptoms.


A small air-leak will usually take a couple hours of sitting to create problems, so you would have to have a big air leak which would also be a very noticable fuel leak.


The shut-off solenoid could also be suspect, or any part of the wiring that supplies it, including the key-switch.



I have had several VE-pumps to leak ferociously in numerous places, both running and not, and it have absolutely no effect on starting or running.

The son's VE was leaking to the tune of about a gallon every half-minute, yet it could sit for a week and fire at the first touch of the key, and would run like a sawmill if you could afford the fuel.

 

Shoot me your vin and I can check if this recall has been done.
NOTE: BEFORE ATTEMPTING THIS RECALL, REVIEW VIP OR VEHICLE HISTORY TAB TO VERIFY THAT THE RECALL APPLIES TO THIS VEHICLE AND HAS NOT BEEN COMPLETED.
No. 605
May, 1994
To: All Dodge Truck Dealers
Subject: Safety Recall #605 -- Diesel Fuel Injection Pump

 

BigIron70, the VIN is 3B7KE23C9NM554069. Thanks

Oh by the way, filters and lift pump are good also.

 

Check for air leaks in the fuel lines.

 

Could an air leak cause this thing to not restart immediately after I shut it off? I think I will supply an underhood fuel source (gas can) or try a clear hose on the existing fuel inlet to the lift pump to check this. Boy I hope that leads me somewhere.

 

Just for fun, lay a pilot-light on top of the dash, wired to the terminal of the fuel-solenoid, and observe what it does when the engine refuses to start.

Anytime the key is ON, that light should remain ON, even when in crank mode.

It could be okay in RUN, but cutting out in START, hence it running fine once it starts.

 

My brothers '97 12V Valve had an air leak, and just like you describe, it would crank, and crank, and crank, and finally start. When it started, it would run fine, until the next morning...

As far as if you shut the truck off, and then immediately try and start it up again, I think it if its an air leak, it would start with no problems. The air has to get in the lines and that takes time. If it won't start right after you shut it off, I don't think it would be an air leak.

 

Yeah guys, this is crazy. I can get it going and drive it for a 1/2 hour, shut it off and immediately try and restart, it will start hard again. I am talking about 40 seconds or so of cranking. This truck used to start with 1/2 of an engine rotation.

 

Wow, now THATS a fuel leak! I am only losing a thimble full every minute or so on mine.

 

Ok, I found an online print of the complete workings of the VE pump and it looks to be a Bosch manual, 56 pages worth. I have it stored on my laptop @ work so I will try and post it tomorrow.

I appears that the governor goes into a starting mode when the truck is shut off for the next start. This governor position puts the "control collar" into the maximum fueling position for starting, and then it immediately pulls the fuel back when starting speed is detected. Sounds like my problem lies right there.

I am going to pull my pump top back off now that I know what to look for and give it another go. Wish me luck!

 

Sorry couldn't gey your service history but call local dealer and check if recall has been done. Recalls do not expire because of time or mileage as long as they weren't done on your vehicle yet.

 

Try flooring the accelerator while cranking. If nothing changes, this is not your problem.

 

It seems to help slightly. It still takes a ton of cranking to get it to start. I pulled the pump top back off today and everything seems to look good, although I have never been any deeper than this.

I am a BMW technician by trade so I have a good grasp on most things mechanical but with zero experience on one of these it is hard to tell what is right or not.

WANNADIESEL, it sounds like maybe you know a bit about these things?