joem

Friend picked up a 03 3500 4x4 6mt with 290k on it, ran perfect, mechanically perfect, no check engine lights and no blowby- it had 2 problems 1. it smokes like a tire fire black smoke even at steady throttle and has low power and 2. long crank times when cold..... then today, now no start unless its pulled down the road, then it fires right up and runs flawlessly even restarts with the key perfect. ***? We put in a new crank sensor, but that did not help. When pull started it fired at walking speed in 2nd gear, a very low rpm so im really stumped at why it fires like that but not with the key. Tried new battery's, no go. I figured the rail is leaking down, so cranked until the battery died and it never fired. No codes & no clues. About ready to suggest P pumping the thing, anyone on here experience anything of the sort?

joem

just a update, new batterys and lift pump seems to be working- bump starts perfect. even at walking speed but it still will not fire with the starter when cold, once running for any length of time it fires right up

FMB

I would look at your turbo to see if it still spins freely and has no play. Second, I would check all the rubber boots from the turbo to the intercooler and intercooler to the intake for cracks. Check closely as they can hide pretty good at times.

This kinda sounds similar to the folks with the complaint their truck won't start unless it was plugged in overnight. IIRC, most if not all of them pointed to bad injectors. I would look at having them tested and either rebuilt or put new ones in. I had mine tested and rebuilt years ago by F1. No complaints.

Jeff in TD