I have an 01 2500 Quad 4wd. 4in. exhaust ,AFE air filter,lift pump relocated to tank, min of 7lbs. fuel pressure. Heres my problem. After normal cold start the truck will run about 5-8 seconds then act like it ran out of fuel. I recycle the start-up, the engine will crank 20 to 30 seconds before it starts. Once it starts it runs fine. I also get this problem intermittenly on a hot restart. I checked the codes all I got was P-PCU P-Done (or) END (CRS again). This problem developed about 2 wks. ago. I relocated the lift pump and added the fuel pressure gauge 6 mos. ago. The truck always started instantly.I use Howes diesel tratment regularly. I would really appreciate any help anyone can give. Hate to burn out that starter. Thanks Frank

 

sounds like you have a fuel/air leak and the fuel is draining back to the tank.

 

I will agree but finding that leak has been the better part of 2 months for me and I still can't find it.

Same thing happening to me, starts normal, runs for about 3 seconds and then shuts off. 20-30 seconds of cranking I'm back to normal. I DID just find my fuel filter was leaking, new o ring and filter problem solved (obvious enough but not the root of my problem) Some say it's on the low pressure side others the check valve on the VP, still can figure where that is.

If I find my leak or fix I'll let you know and if you find your's please let me know.

Good luck.

 

Following up on the 2 suggestions; I unscrewed the fuel filter top, there was only about 1 inch of fuel in the bowl after removing the cartridge. Prior to this I let the truck sit for 3 days. On a normal fuel filter change when the cartridge is removed the bowl is about 3/4 full. If the truck is not sitting level when parked the starting problem is worse. What stops the fuel from running back into the tank? Check valve(s)? If so where are they located.? I moved the stock LP back near the tank 6 mos. ago and all was fine till about 3 wks. ago. This is turning into a real head-scratcher. Thanks Frank

 

there is a check valve for the return on the side of the VP44 its easy to change and about 30 bucks, i got mine from industrial injection but i am sure you can find one locally also. also somebody here installed a check valve in the fuel line but i dont know how much i would recommend that..

 

Mine does the same thing...starts....quits. I have a leak at the low fuel pressure sensor that I can't seem to fix. It leaks enough to leave a couple spots on the ground when I park.

 

Update: Last night I went out unscrewed the fuel filter cover again just on a hunch. I took some moly grease and coated the threads on the cover. This A.M. it started instantly. Tried it several more times still started good. I may be on to something here, if this stays good I will wrap the threads with teflon tape. Frank

 

That may be a fluke. Mine does not do it all the time. I hope that is a fix for you, though. If it continues to work then go with it.

 

A bad fuel cap can do the same thing, causes a high vacuum and if there are any leaky lines it will draw fuel back to the tank, BTW fuel line leaks on the suck side if a pump do not leak fuel

 

Is there a good way to check for leaks?

 

Nick G. Regarding your fuel cap thought. Would a air escaping sound when you remove the fuel cap be a good indicator of a bad cap? My problem came back again after 1/2 tank of fuel. Im ready to change the check valve in the pump. Thanks Frank

 

Nickg gets the prize!!!!! After unscrewing the fuel cap, and doing extensive testing under near laboratory conditions (1000 mi. trip). NO MORE starting problems!!!!!! Bought new fuel cap- went 500 more miles, and alls well. Wish everyones fixes were this simple. Thanks to everyone for your help and ideas. Frank

 

No problem Frank, Glad it worked for you, and that you came back to a thread to post your results, as lots of folks dont and you can never fiqure out faults when you use the search feature. the bad fuel cap thing is more common than not, just make sure you get a diesel rated cap and not a gas cap as they have different pressures/vacuums for the different fuels.
FFIW I have seen a GM diesel tank (metal) collapsed to almost 1/2 its capacity, because of a bad fuel cap.

 

Still interested on this, my problem has went away as well but I've done nothing. Did you have a vacuum pressure when you opened you fuel cap? I don't, never have, but for the price of a fuel cap I'll try anything.

 

I thought the tanks on our diesels are not sealed and freely vented. If vacuum is developing in the tank it would mean the cap is plugged, and a drill bit would fix it.
-P