I have a 2003 2500 Dodge Ram with Cummins 5.9 H.O. Automatic Trans. I’m the original owner and truck has 90,000 miles.
When I arrived at home after pulling my 13,000 lb. 5th wheel about 60miles, I noticed the motor was running rough at idle. I didn’t notice anything while driving on x-way at 70 mph or when going slower. Performance seemed ok. I disconnected and let truck sit until morning and drove it to work and back (23 mile round trip). The truck started right up at home and work, but still was running rough. I reconnected the 5th wheel to take it to storage and went 3 blocks (motor still running rough) and the motor made a 2 second clatter noise and died. I tried to restart, had to crank a few times, it started and stopped after about 3 seconds. Would not start again. I coulld smell diesel fuel, but didn’t see any leaking anywhere.
Had the truck towed to local diesel garage. At first they thought it was a bad ECM. Replaced it, but didn’t work. Then they said there was no fuel getting to rail and the truck needed a new lift pump and injection pump. (They said they always should be replaced together.) Now fuel getting to rail, but truck wouldn’t start. They said they need to bleed the lines more and would take a while. They said they got ther truck started the next day, but was running rough, white smoke and diesel fuel coming from exhaust and truck quit.
They pulled the injectors, and found that the #4 injector tip was cracked and the end melted shut and that cylinder #1 was full of diesel fuel. They are sending the injectors to Superior Diesel Repair in Detroit for inspection (not #4 injector) to see if they are ok or need to be rebuilt/replaced.
The mechanic working on the truck said that the lift pump was still working good, but the injection pump failed. The owner of the garage said that the injection pump failed because the plugged injector(s) caused too much pressure and made the pump fail. Would this be true? This is going to be a huge investment and I still do not know the outcome yet, but wanted to see what our forum people have to say.

I appreciate any insight you can offer.

Thanking you!

Jerry

 

I think you've been had. They were just throwing parts at it. The rail has a relief valve, and there is a return to the tank as well.

Sounds like you broke an injector tip and it flooded your crankcase. Probably going to need some internal work if the tip broke off completely.

Sorry, dude. Note to self, when a diesel is running rough, stop driving it. They're expensive to replace.

 

Take that truck to another shop those guys are stroking you for every dollar you have. Find a shop in your area that knows what their doing. Lp and cp do not need to be replaced together. the cr motor is self priming. You now have severe issues due to these guys part throwing. Sorry for your trouble and for picking a crappy shop.

 

Jerry, please get your truck and RUN from those jacklegs as fast as you can, they are taking you to the cleaners. As stated above, it sounds like you had an injector totally fail, and now you very well my have some internal engine issues. I'm sorry brother, that really sucks.

 

I sure hate to hear stories like this!! MANY diesel mechanics still think old school and customers are stuck with the bills for their incompetence.
Get that truck out and to a REAL Diesel tech!

 

Can anyone recommend a competent common rail Cummins shop near the original poster?

 

to offer INSIGHT and not a diagnosis, it sounds like youve got some issues. Firstly you need a new mechanic. seccondly your fuel in the exhaust is from no.1 (no intake air no boom) at least not enough. doubt it was truely full of fuel as it'd cause hydrolock but there in again stranger things have happened. I'm not sure of how much of a mechanic you are and im not gonna judge if youre not. but if youre familiar with gas engines think of it like this: diesels are like gas engines EXCEPT your fuel CAUSES your fire in a diesel where as in a gas engine your spark plug IGNITES your fuel. I'd really like to help you alot more but seeing as youre stuck up north...however i would like to say this: make a list of ALL shops in your area and branch out a little farther if you'd like, talk to a TECHNITIAN not the service writer or whoever else answers the phone, and ask the tech about your problem, if he had ideas talk with him in person. Diagnosing a problem isnt always 'oh its this' but sometimes someone whos seen this before might have a close idea. One last thought: a good shop with good tecnitians will help or pickup the tab on their mistakes.