And I have to say, it makes driving it very hard when you can’t do that.

It started yesterday when I went out in the morning to start her up and go to work. It was a bit chilly (about 40 degrees) and she started right up, stuttered a few times, I pressed on the gas pedal and got the RMPs up to 1500 and it stuttered some more and died. I let her sit for a little bit. Turned the key to the on position and waited again for the "Wait to Start" light to go off. Turn her off, and repeated three times. Tried to start and she cranked like a champ, but didn’t start. Popped the hood and "bump started" her to see if the fuel pump made noise (I figure that means its working if you do that and it does), it did. Waited a few minutes and tried again. Went inside to search to see if anyone else on the board had this type of trouble and no one had. Went back out and tried again and she started up after cranking for about 8 seconds. Drove her to work, parked all day, started up fine when I left work last night and drove home. No unusual sounds when driving from the engine that I can hear.

This morning same routine, except she never started. I came home after work and tried again, and still wont start. Cranks like a champ but nothing more then that.

Any suggestions as to what to do? What to look at? Things to tighten, things to loosen, things to replace, things to clean out? I would really rather not have to tow it somewhere if I don’t have to.

 

Any codes?

 

Check for ANY signs of fuel leakage , take filter out and bump starter to see how much fuel flow there is(messy). if good flow and no leaks, try starting again with 4 injetor lines cracked open, it should start squirting fuel out and then start to fire up. SOUNDs like weak lift pump or fuel leak / air injestion into line or fitting.

 

I dont think it does the codes cuz I did the turn on turn off turn on turn off turn on thing and nothing showed up.

 

I looked for fuel leakage and found nothing.

I will go try the rest of what you said.

 

By four injector lines cracked open you mean open it up a little after the injection pump right where it goes into the engine?

 

If thats where you ment, thats where I loosened just a little bit. Cranked it over for 15 sec. Still nothing. No spray either. I hope that doesnt mean the Fuel Injection pump is blown.

 

yes the 3/4 or 19mm fitting where the lines go into the head....if it is the lift pump and you need the truck running before replacement, find a air compressor and wrap a rag around a air nozzel and pressure up the tank while some one tries to start truck....will take about 15 - 30 sec of cranking

 

It is getting fuel to the filter and the lift pump is before the filter in the fuel line correct? I then loosened four of the fittings heading into the engine after the fuel goes through the fuel injection pump and then cranked for 15 sec with nothing to show for it, meaning no spray from the line where its going into the engine.

 

Its very rare that an injection pump will cause a no start...90% of the time that an injection pump is replaced is for a P0297 timing error

 

Hoser, its up and running now. I cranked it for 30 seconds when i went out this last time and she fired up REALLY rough. Ran it for a while like that, killed it. Tightened everything back up and cranked her over, 2-3 second cranking and she fires right up and purrs like a really big kitten.


So, from all of this would you say air in the system? Does that mean I should have the high pressure lines tested and look for leaks?



Also, if you are ever in the DC area ping me through here, I owe you a beer or six.

 

last month we ran into a 01 with the same problem and it was a supply line rubbed though from the fuel tank....it was just a pin hole leak and was intermittent , but the was evidence of diesel leaking.It might be a loose fitting on or after the transfer pump (fuel filter cap ?) causing airation. Make sure that you filter isnt plugged and you have transfer pump flow.

 

When I pulled the filter off I checked it over for looking like crap. It was grey but not bad and what fuel was left inside was clear of debre. I will make sure it gets cranked down tight before going anywhere.

 

when u bump the starter , take the cap off the schrader valve at the inj pump and depress the valve , there should be a good constant spray of fuel while the pump is running

 

you should consider this your one chance, get a fp gauge!