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Where to go for a quick diagnostic?

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Old 07-22-2005, 04:24 PM
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Where to go for a quick diagnostic?

Hi All,
My 99 QC, with automatic and 3.54 (3.56?) rear has 100k on it, and it feels like it has gradually lost power over time. The last run I made into the MD mountains (ok, hills) I really struggled pulling my lightly loaded trailer. I know that when I switched to the 265 tires some time back I lost some pulling power, but this feels different.

I don't have a diesel mechanic that I know, but I'm wondering about chain stores that can do a quick plug-in diagnostic. When I called the closest Cummins Power place, they said wait a couple weeks, drop off the truck, and then all they could think to do was adjust the valves, which could be argued as regular maint, but it's not the kind of place I wanted to do business with.

Ideas?

Pete
ps. I'm in Maryland, which is a desert for all things powersport, or mechanical.
Old 07-22-2005, 04:34 PM
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pps. My second thought had been to just spend the $500 on an Edge EZ, because it's something I can do, and it's hard to get out of a mechanic's shop here for less than that..

Pete
Old 07-22-2005, 04:49 PM
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Check your inner cooler boots. They tend to slip off.
Old 07-25-2005, 07:12 AM
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Thanks Geico,
I'll take a look at that this afternoon. Does anyone know if it's likely that a decent repair shop would be able to use it's analyzer on one of these? Are the analyzers common across all brands these days?

Pete
Old 07-25-2005, 12:12 PM
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I had a 99 that did the same thing and it was a map sensor.
Old 07-26-2005, 02:43 AM
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A valve adjustment should make a big difference on these trucks and it is due at 100,000 miles. Here is a site you should study if you haven't already. It's filled with info you needhttp://dodgeram.org/support_pgs/diesel_ix.htm
Old 07-26-2005, 06:15 AM
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I'm having a similiar problem. Does anyone know how much a map sensor costs?
Old 07-26-2005, 11:17 AM
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It takes a while to find a non-Dodge part number for this thing, but I got it - Cummins 3348747 (it used to have an NX or something at the end identifying it as a rebuilt part)

$48 + shipping from Cummins Power Systems in MD, but the PA phone number is 717-986-9062.

Ordered at 4:45pm yesterday, got here at 10am today.. UPS ground, gotta love it.

Pete

ps, I'll post my results but I'm doing one thing at a time to see which helps most.
Old 07-26-2005, 02:36 PM
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I hate to beat a . But I can't seem to find what the sympthoms of a dead MAP sensor are and how to check it/test it. I did search, but didn't find much.
Old 07-26-2005, 04:54 PM
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Yep, I couldn't find the spec test for it either but it seems to be a pretty common cause for gradual or occasional loss of power. It's cheaper for me to risk $50 guessing at the part than to take it in for the diagnostic.

Pete
Old 07-26-2005, 05:14 PM
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True. The IH dealer I pass all the time has some Cummins parts, but didn't have the MAP sensor. I guess I'll have to venture thru Dallas traffic to see if I can find one at Cummins. I would order it, but I'm trying to get out of town to do a little fishing. The truck would make it ok, but I'd like to have it to see if that's the problem.

I disconnected my Edge, and that stopped the smoking under light throttle load. I could not get over 22 #'s of boost with any setting on the EZ and 20 with it off. It may be the box. I sent Edge an email, but haven't heard back from them.

Let us know when you get the MAP sensor installed.
Old 07-27-2005, 10:22 AM
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FYI.....From Cummins South Plains, Mesquite, Texas

Boost Pressure Sensor - $48.94 + tax

IAT Sensor $37.70 + tax

CR
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