Hohn, I had similar problem. First, one month after I bought the truck in VA. [e-bay] , had it serviced in N E Pa.,and drove to New Mexico, it started hard after the first cold night.Got it going but driving into SilverCity it seemed to lack some power. After buying 6 pt. socket, 8 in. extension and a breaker bar [I thought the service guys glued the lid on!] I got the filter changed-no evidence of water but I don't believe the service guy touched the filter either! I headed to Texas and warm weather with no repeat problems untill 11 months later, zero weather and dido!! Mine was all fuel condition related to initial cold temps. I only ever found 1 or 2 beads of water in the filter can but noticed a good amount af filter serface area was a lite charcoal in color [blotchy]. I had consecutive injector pump problems on a previuosly owned ford and had sworn off using fuel additives. so wasn't using any at the time. the fix required adding fuel treatment,[I used HOWES] and 3 filter changes in 1 week. I've now gone 2 weeks since last filter change and power seem restored, starting OK. I'm going to change again this weekend and inspect can for water and filter coloration - again! I carry a filter and a 20 oz soda bottle of fuel to top of with and am continuing to use fuel treatment. Bad fuel and losing prime definatly bum me out! Oh, on the ford I had to loosen the "gas" cap until correcting a check and vent problem- not so on this dodge. good luck. STY

 

Where do you get your fuel? Do you fuel up at the same place all the time?

Not saying this is the problem but maybe you should try a different fuel stop.

Change the filter again also, if you got a bad load of fuel and didn't drain the tank it will take several changes of the filter to get it all sorted out.

DB

 

rangerst,

Keep us posted on your recent fuel problem. Good information you have posted.

I bought a 1993 Dodge diesel in 1995 and sold it on Jan. 27th, '04. When I bought it I installed a Racor fuel filter and started using Howe's fuel additive. I have never seen any signs of water in the clear bowl on the filter. I believe a good additive to the fuel is a good investment. My .02 cents worth.

remarc

 

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He said it has NO problem cranking......This is NOT a battery problem. It sounds as if the Fuel pump is loosing it's prime...ie: The fuel is draining back, could be a check valve that is stuck open......I had one in an N14 Cummins, it had a rubber type plinger that would come closed when the fuel solenoid was shut off, but what happened was the owner got a bad tank of fuel, that had some water in it....when it froze it ripped the plunger and then under normal operating conditions when the truck was shut off the fuel would drain back from the pump......which in turn created alot of cranking to get it to start.......if it was left long enough it would'nt start at all......I beleave that your looseing the prime NOT the actual pressure once running........just my 2 cents......canucktrucks

 

Sounds like you are sucking in air,Even if your gauge is reading normal pressure the gauge can't tell you if there is any air in the line.My suggestion is to go to your local harware store and get you some clear plastic hose and make a temporary line between the VP44 and the filter.In the morning have someone watch the hose with some good lighting near the hose,and watch for air bubbles.If you are drawing air,it is possibly the pump or may be the o-rings at the quick couplers at the pump, or the quick coupler orings at the sending unit in the tank.Hope this helps.Merv

 

That's what I was afraid of.

This morning it fired right up- unplugged, single digit temps, only 1 heater cycle.

Just like it's supposed to!

Now if only it would do that all the time.

Justin

 

i have had some hard starting probs before, it was the return line right out of the vp it had cracked right past the banjo and was bleeding off fuel when it would set a while , but would crank fine just after shut down . mine didn't leak much diesel when off ( 1oz.) when running it would leak worse ( it would leave bout a 6 inch puddle in 5 min) . this was another vibe killed line there was no updated line , the cummins mech told me put a short piece of rubber in it ( kinda like the line between the filter and the vp) to absorb the vibe that was cracking it . it's just a thought

 

one other thing, my newest vp does same thing you described and its got a bad main seal ( o-ring ) does the same the thing that the line did , like all these guys have said , it is a air in fuel prob

 

I went to fire the truck up at lunch-- it started instantly. It had been sitting for 4 hours in the high wind, and was stone cold.

Justin

 

Interesting set of posts here guys. Last week I changed my fuel filter, primed it and fired right up. On the same tank of fuel no problems until yestarday. I ran the truck in the morning and parked it on a steep incline for 2-3 hours and when I went to start it I cranked for 3-4 seconds nothing. I cycled the grids twice and cranked 3-4 seconds nothing. The thrid time I tried it I pumped the pedal while cranking and it fired right up. When I started it again yestarday no problems. Last night I parked on the same incline and plugged it in. This morning I had to repeat the same process to get it started (pumping the pedal) but with several stops and starts later this morning no problem. Day before yestarday I idled in a traffic jam/snow storm for about 2 hours on a low tank (light came on when I made it home) and thats when the problems started (next day). My business parter has a PSD and when his filter got plugged the mechanic told him that makes the fuel gel. I wonder if my filter is crapped up or if I might have a problem with a check valve and when I park on the incline fuel is running back into the tank. Any suggestions.

 

I had a theory about the incline too. My driveway is inclined. So I started backing into it, thinking it would change things. I can't say I have noticed a change. There's no discernible pattern that I can tell. This is so quirky and frustrating!

Justin

 

Same scenario as the last 2 days this morning, but all day it started fine, I think I am getting air. I started it in a parking lot today and noticed the pump wouldn't shut off. I got it started, shut it down and the pump pressurized and shut off. This problem is really strange. Should this be covered under the engine warranty? I only have 40,000 and my truck is stock.

 

You been buying your fuel somewhere new lately? Being in WY. I would assume your local station is gettin a winter blend. How much additive and what kind have you been using? Its got me to thinkin maybe you just got a crap tank of fuel somehow. How many tanks have you been through since the troubles began? Maybe you have a lil minature iceberg floating around in your tank LOL. Sorry I know its not that funny. God bless electric fuel pumps! Earlier in this post the guys were talking about trying to prime a big truck after shes sucked dry. Man talk about stinky-no-fun Havin your buddy (if ya got one) crack fuel lines, while you try shooting compressed air into your fuel tank with a rag and an air nozzle.
Also, pumpin the pedal does nothing to move fuel, hold it half way to the floor and crank a lil if that dont do it.... Get heat.

Aaron

 

If your 24v is hard to start after sitting for awhile, but starts easily right after shutdown, it's the fuel system loosing prime from a small pin hole leak somewhere. Park the truck, with a full tank, and the front end down hill, where the fuel will gravity feed, to verify this condition. !2v's have been known to have this problem also.

 

Loosing it's prime ???? Did'nt I say that about 2 pages ago ???? Oh well that's ok, at least it's the same in here as home......NO ONE LISTENS