When I turn my key to on and not crank the engine over I here a ticking. Some times it is their other times it isn't.
Turns out that #1 and 5 injectors are pulsating even though the truck is not running. (Solnoid is operating)
I figure that this is resulting in the fuel draining out of the lines of those two.
Question here does any one know if this is normal?

Some have said it is the pre injection. But pre injection does not come into effect untill the engine is actually started and running for a few seconds. Hence why some of us here a different tone of the engine when you first start it. Goes from a clang clang to a more smooth sound.

This symptom cmay be why hard starts are happening. Injectors drain of fuel and also into the cylinder.

ANy imput would be great guys.

Cheers

 

The ticking has always been happeneing on mine which is a 03 also since since new, normal. I was told it is the fca on the cp3 transmitting pulse to #1 especially. I am just taking a stab in the dark here, but with it being winter and longer idle times,high fuel cost,driving for mpg etc and the age of your engine, from advice given me the injectors are carboned. I just got my rig running sweet again after having white smoke on mild ( 35 F-40F) starts and a erratic loping idle. One day two weeks ago my exhaust temps shot up to 650F on a cold start running short trips! Carbon buildup on the tips prevent the diesel from spraying fine enough out of the injector tip holes. I have been told this from a relative who has 40 plus years experience on diesels wrenching and he said you will notice it when it starts to get cold! Well how do I prevent this I asked him and his reply was to work the motor, get it under load and exhaust temps hot. " It's a diesel work horse, not a commuter car" Great it's not like I'm going to say to the wife " Honey load the trailer where going camping".He said the common rail system is finicky due to the high injection pressures and said to run fleetguard asphaltene conditioner first tank and then howes meaner cleaner. It worked for me!

 

This problem isnt when the truck is running, But when the key is in the run position with engine off. #1 and 5 injector are operating.

 

Okay I get what you saying. You think your fuel injectors #1 & #5 are actuating before the engine starts. How are you determing this? I'm also curious about the ticking I've always noticed too and am trying to understand this. The rail is not pressurized before starting since the injector pump is gear driven. Maybe #1 &#5 injector solenoids actuate prior to start but I can find no info in the shop manual. I keep checking this and follow up.

 

That is normal.

 

Why is it normal? If it is normal why hasn it occured all the time since new? Why don't the other injectors do the same?

I figured it out because it seemed to me that I may have had a faulty solinoid some where under the hood plus the ticking noise was driving me crazy. So I took a stethscope and placed it around the engine. electricle panel. When placed on the fuel rail the ticking was loud, I then listened to the injecor lines, then the FCA. Narrowed it down to #1 and 5 injector. Removed the valve cover and put stethscope end directly on #1 and 5 injector. They were clicking away. Then after a few minutes one would stop and then the other would stop. Their is no time limit on when they stop, or any regularity of when they come on.
As far as I can figure the injectors are to come on once receiving a imput from the ECM, that can only occur when their is fuel fuel pressure in the rail and the crank sensor sends the signal to fire that cylinder. I may be wrong but. If the noise use to not be their and is their now.

Klockliear if you have a reference to this being normal can you please let me know where that reference is. Thanks

 

Is it possible that the noise may be comming from the glow plugs pre-heating. My 04.5 does the same thing but only during first or cold start. Run then shut down after reaching normal operating temp, then re-cycle the key, no ticking prior to startup?

 

Could it be the Computer actuating the injector(s) based on last known (before shutdown) crank position ? (stabbing in the dark)
Mine does it too.

 

Good answer about the computer. One more area to look into. One thing I do know is that the injectors are not suppose to acutate untill the starter has been actuated.

 

It aint the glow plugs because we have a grid heater no glow plugs

 

Like Locklear says above;
It is totally normal for the injectors to be cycling when the truck is keyed on.

If they didnt start cycling when you were keyed on your truck would never start.
No fuel is getting into the cylinders though since the rail is not pressurized.

 

My truck has done the same as yours, engine off, key on, clicking sometimes sometimes not.

 

When talking to Cummins they say it isnt suppoose to do what I have described. But due to the fact that Chrysler has changed the diagnosing tool they cannot help. And recommended that I go see a skilled dealership.