Hi I have a 2003 Dodge 3500 4x4 5.9 vin C automatic that has been a bad dream for over 2 months now. It starts up just fine but has no power. If I nurse it along and take it easy on the power band I can get it up to maybe 65 mph in after a couple miles or so if it's not uphill.
I have had it to a diesel repair shop, they initially thought it was the engine brain box on the lh side of the block. I bought another used one with matching numbers. No luck. It had the exact same problems it had before. They then traced the wiring harness thinking it was a bad connection but came to the conclusion it was fine. They we're stumped so they called a local dodge dealership who suggested it may need a computer update installed. So I took it to the dealership. Updates we're fine, they came to conclusion it was the wiring harness. Since I run an auto salvage and have a man working for me that ran his own shop several years back, I had him ohm the wires out again. We found nothing wrong. I consulted my original diesel repair shop again he put it on diagnostics again Resulting in it showing the cam sensor being bad. We swapped the crank and cam sensors since they are the same and it still shows the cam sensor as being bad. Both crank and cam sensors have been changed in the past couple months trying to fix the problem. But after resetting the codes the engine has somewhat of a different sound to it. watching the diagnostic while driving shows as soon as engine is accellerated under a load it sets the cam sensor code immediately (PO341) I am stumped, my mechanic is stumped.
Here is a list of things that have been done in the past couple months
1) replaced waste gate with banks
2) sent FASS fuel delivery system back to factory to have it checked
3) replaced both cam and crank sensors and swapped positions with the sensors.
4) replaced ECU with used one with matching numbers
5) ohmed the wiring from sensors back to ECU twice
6) pulled exhaust system apart below the turbo and test drove to make sure we had no exhaust restrictions
7) did the best we could with mirror and flashlight to see the cam ring movement inside timing cover. Seemed to be ok.
8) fixed an oil leak at one fuel injector and siliconed around injector wiring.
9) replaced throttle positioning sensor with new one. But numbers on new one did not match and showed a different voltage so took it back. So could still be problem. ????? This was from autozone, I say this since I have had bad luck with some of their electronics and my mechanic does not recommend them. They we're the only parts store that had it or could get it besides a wait from cummins.
10)mechanic has concluded the injector pump is within tolerance pressure, has run a defeat on fuel injectors individually to make sure they are firing, all looks good on scanner except the po341 code

Any suggestions to fix this problem child will be greatly appreciated, Randy

 

hows the fuel output from the lift pump. Is it providing enough fuel. what;s the rail pressure durring this.

 

I am not sure what the actual rail pressure is. Just that the mechanic said it is within tolerance. I did connect a pressure gauge to the FASS fuel delivery system, the lift pump pressure at the pump is around 18 lbs. I now have the truck at a different diesel mechanic, he has not started on it yet. Hopefully he will have good news after turkey day.

 

The problem wound up being the fuel control actuator.

 

It sucks when a $100 item can cause so much grief....I know first hand. Glad to hear you got it worked out.