Hello All,
First I'll start by saying that DTR and all those that take the time to post give us all a knowledge base from which you can get positive answers, I Thank You All! Okay here we go. 1998.5 Dodge 2500 24Valve. Running great up until last week, summer holidays of course, don't worry it never left me stranded, just a hot start issue, a few worrysum moments! I have read alot about starting issues and things are starting to point toward the VP. I put an Airdog lift in awhile back and I don't think thats an issue, although I don't have in cab gauges from which to say hey dummy your pressures dropping! I have test gauges so I going to have to get off my rear end and crawl about. I will repost when I get some results. Thinking of getting the pillar gauges by Glowshift: Fuel, Boost, Exh. Temp. Any thoughts on those? Oh I thought I better mention a little over 130000mi. but when I bought the truck used the speed sensor was bad so I don't know if the miles are correct. Its not a daily commuter so it sits hence the lower mi. I assume original VP. I will also do the cool the VP down when the hard start issue crops up and I will let you all know those results. Thanks Much, Cheers! RG.

 

Thought I Ask also, should I plumb in fuel pressure gauge at the Airdog where they suggest for low pressure light or should I do the lift pressure at the injection pump? I'm thinking at the inj. pump. Any thoughts?

 

try and unplug the air dog when you have the hard hot start issue and then start it up if it starts shut it off that will give you and idea that the VP44 is bad and the higher fuel pres, is doing it ,

 

Thanks Rebal, I did drive the truck yesterday of course it started fine every stop I made. I have read about the disconnect of the air dog and will be trying that. Still have not done fuel pressure either. Will run again today and try a few different diagnostics. I was towing our ski boat maybe I need the extra load if the run up our local big hill doesn't get a result I tow the boat around for a bit!

 

Most commonly there is only four reasons why you would experience the hard hot start issue.
1) VP's computer is hot and also letting you know its about to fail electronically.
2) Your high volume/higher pressure aftermarket fuel pump is placing to much pressure on the VP's pintle valve during engine cranking. (which has nothing to do with a bad VP or not either)
3) You have a bad battery or both batteries are getting old.
and 4) You have a fuel leak.

Describing in detail when and how you have hard hot start issue will allow pin pointing what the problem is but I will say that having no fuel pressure gauge is not smart nor will it make solving this problem and easier. Lastly, have someone pull any possible indicating codes with a code reader.