I have a friend of mine that has a '99 2500 CTD 4x4 auto with 3.55 gears. It has 220,000 miles. He has owned it for a little over a month. No history known.

The problem he is having is when the outside temp is greater than about 60 degrees the truck turns over for 5 to 10 seconds before it starts. This is with the truck sitting overnight or immediately after running for a while.

If the temperature outside is in the 50's or lower the truck starts almost immediately with the turn of the key. This is with the truck warm or cold.

When he purchased the truck he put all new filters along with a complete fluid change and lift pump. It started this way prior to and after all of the changes.

Additionally at 65 mph on the interstate for 300 miles he is only getting 16 mpg, he is getting around 14/15 mph in town.

Any ideas?

 

Any one? Any suggestions?

Thanks

 

a lot of people have attributed a hard start condition to a bad injection pump, especially if the engine has been up to temp for awhile.... doesn't make sense that it would matter what the ambient air temp was though. I know my truck starts easier in all conditions since I had a new injection pump installed.

 

Go and get the codes pulled and get back to us.

 

Another idea...

Check fuel pressure... (Lift Pump good or not?)
Check fuel volume test... (See if the LP is doing is job correctly)
Check fuel for air or foam... (If so look for air leaks)
Check the IAT sensor... (Soot problem for Jake Brakes but seen on not jaked engines too!)

And like BigBlue said above... Go get the codes pulled then get back to us...

 

He did have Advance auto pull the codes and there were none.

We are assuming (yes I know) the LP is good since it is new. We will check everything that Mopar suggested tomorrow. How would one check for air or foam?

Thanks again

 

http://dodgeram.info/tsb/2003/14-002-03.htm

Go to the line above to do a LP volume test... It will have you check for foam / air during the test...

If it does pass... Do the test again... About 10 times... My LP passed 4 times and failed 6 times. I recorded all the test and then went to my dealer for a replacement.

But the stock LP's have been know to be bad out of the box!

 

Did all the checks and still no go. He is going to go by and get an AIT sensor and then we will have to wait for it to warm up again.

Thanks for the help