Hi everyone, I am new to this forum and need some help.

I have a 2000 Dodge 2500 with 101,000 miles on it. I got it from my brother with 62,000 miles on it in 2007, it is not my daily driver, but is use a lot to get hay and haul farm equiptment, etc... My brother had a Edge chip place in it with a Banks exhaust. It was running fine up to a few monthe ago when it would not crank over at times, I would let it sit after some time and then it would crank and run perfect. It will start 20 times in a row and then not crank and I would repeat the process. I have had it to a few mechanics and no one could find the problem. I had the gas line checked and it was fine. I was told I needed a crank shaft position sensor. I have two codes on the dash, 0713 and 1693.
This truck is in excelent shape, I bought it because of the engine and I am getting very upset because it is not as reliable as I need it to be. Any help or thought would be appreciated.
My other question is that some one told me I could use starter fluid when it does not start. I have done this a few times and she cranks right over, I was always told this is bad for a Diesel engine, there are some starting fluids that say "Diesel safe" is this true?

 

Starter fluid is a big no no in these trucks. The Cummins uses a grid heater which looks like the elements in your toaster. Ether will blow the intake off of it.

The guy that told you to use ether/starting fluid should not be used for info on a Cummins diesel.

Sounds like a fueling problem. Check this sites main page for trouble codes to see what you have got.


1693 Companion code
0713 Trans temp sensor- voltage too high

Sounds like you may be getting air in the fuel line. Does it not start after sitting a while between regular use? I.E. overnight?

 

Need to get fuel pressure gauge on it ASAP

 

Good point. May also be lift pump failure.

 

I thought about the pump, but would it run good once started if the pump were bad? Once started, this truck runs great. Would the chip or the crank sensor cause any of these symptoms?
Thank for all the help!

 

yes a crank sensor wld cause this prob, as i seen it on my 2000 24v. But that may not b your prob. you are sitting at 100k which is about the right time for a inj pump to go out. hopefully this is not your case. First course of action is you need to get fuel psi. make sure lift pump is getting fuel to the vp44 inj pump. if you have fuel psi then i wld replace the crank sensor as that is cheap and easier to do. if that doesnt fix it u r prob looking at and inj pump. best of luck