I was driving and the engine started missing and it started to put out a lot of smoke. I was wondering if any one else has had this problem or if they knew what the problem might be. It has been doing this on and off for about a week now. Any help would be great. Thanks!

BTW...

I have an 01 Dodge Ram 2500 24 Valve Cummins Diesel.

I know very little about cars and less about diesel's but I heard good things I have had this truck for about 2 months. I see people say injector pump and lift pump?? I dunno thanks for help again.

 

what color smoke??

I would lean towards injection pump.

 

I believe it was kinda white looking... but I am not 100% sure. I was trying to look in my rear view while not hitting on coming traffic the first time I noticed the smoke. :P

It doesnt seem to do this while I let it set and run. Only while I am driving.

 

You might have already checked this but....
about 6 months after I picked up mine while coming back from a holiday visit to the out-laws my truck all of a sudden wouldn't go over 50 mph without belching whitish smoke. Being new to diesels I feared the worst. for the rest of the 6 + hrs of trip (and almost divorce court and jail for killing my kids) my wife was reading the manual and asked how many miles were on the truck. It seems they recomend changing the fuel filter at fairly regular intervals (15k i think) I told her how that couldn't possibly be it.
short story
I get back and go to the local parts house, buy a fuel filter, put it in and VIOLA no smoke 70 mph no problem. I guess I got a load of bad fuel in the garden state and plugged the filter which was already 4k miles over schedule.
Needless to say I not only change at 15K but I carry a spare in the cab. I figure it's cheaper then alimony oh yeah I still haven't told her she was right about what was wrong

 

I had to put a new starter on it after the first month, I changed the oil, oil filter, fuel filter, air filter also just because I didn’t know the last time any of that was done.

Now it has this problem so I don't know if they are as good as every one said they were. I thought diesels were supposed to be very dependable. I guess it’s just a fluke that I got it right before something went wrong with it. I hope it doesn’t continue in this way of needing a new part every month.

(after I find out what part it is I need this time)

 

*bump*

So every one agrees on injection pump?

 

Turn the key to on/off/on/off/on leaving it on, (don't start, just "on")
watch the odometer window, and report what it says.


phox

 

White smoke - good chance its the IP

 

I didn't want to scare him yet, but white smoke is usually a timing problem.
(unless it's 12 degrees outside)


phox

 

Good point. Ive been told I need to work on my soft skills

 

It's called "Bedside Manner", Doctor.



phox

 

I turned it 3 times and it said "P PCU” or CPU or something I can’t remember then it went to all of the greenish -------- lines. I don't know what this means seeing as how I did not get a owners manual when I bought the truck either.

So this could be caused by IP, and timing problem? :S

 

This is not in the owners manual anyway....the manual is pretty much useless. Theres much more info here - you just got to ask.

Carl, sometimes the codes dont show up with the key on/off trick. Can you swing by Autozone and have it scanned. WRITE down the codes and then report back. We NEED the codes (if any) to help you out.

 

It said it had a "fuel pump primary circuit malfunction".

code: P0230

He didn't know what it means. I don't know what it means. Something about a fuel something.

Any ideas?

 

I have been searching on google and I have been getting different things for that code...

one said...

P0230 Fuel Pump Relay Control Circuit

The other was...

P0230 Transfer Pump (Lift Pump) Circuit Out Of Range

another was....

P0230 Fuel Pump Primary Circuit Malfunction

I need transfer / lift pump? I will keep looking and call the dealer tomarrow I guess. I hate to pay them a billion dollars and my first born child for answers though. :S

I can't seem to find this "Transfer Pump (Lift Pump)" on autozone or advanceautoparts web pages. This is what I should be searching for?