2003 Starting Problem, Intermittent

This has been going on since last winter when My 2003 Dodge Ram Cummins 5.9HO wth 110,000 miles would not start at below zero. Parked in the shipyard with cold ocean wind.

I bought two Brand new batteries and replaced the fuel filter. Truck started right up. Have only run thru maybe 3 or 4 tanks of fuel since last winter as I ride a motorcycle most of the summer.

Have change fuel filters 4 times already ( last filter change a week ago) added a bottle of 911 and about 1/2 gallon of Power Service Diesel Fuel Supplement Treatment and had 1/2 tank of fuel since June. Topped off the tank with 11 Gallons of fresh fuel from local Irving truckstop and the truck ran for 2 hours without any problems pulling a small 1 ton trailer.

Truck is hard starting every time and usually requires that I hook up battery charger as it takes 10 mins of cranking before it fires. It started yesterday After about 10 mins with the block heater plugged in 40 degrees F outside and this morning No start again.


lift pump fills fuel canister and filter with fuel and it looks ok when I drain it off.

when it runs it performs great. no lack of power, no smoke.

Its sitting outside with the block heater and battery charger on it right now.

Any ideas as to why it wont start?

Is there any way to bleed off the common rail?
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2003 Dodge Ram 2500 4x4 Cummins 5.9 HO, 6 Speed

 

fuel filters will not help, the cp3 will work at MINUS 5 psi. you do not need to bleed the common rail. the ecm will not let the engine start unless it sees somewhere about 3,000 psi rail pressure. get a rail pressure gauge and I think it will verify this. some component is leaking from wear or the fca is sticky. do a leak down test to determine the cause and add a 2 micron filter to prevent future wear

 

Need to run injector return flow test most likely excessive leakage. Try capping off injectors at rail until you find injector causing no start. If you are lucky it will be just one injector. Good video showing tests needed to check fuel system. Tools used are Miller and can be purchased online, Diesel repair shops will usually charge a few hours labor for these tests.

 

Sounds like bad injectors. that how mine acted.