I posted this in the Help section, but thought that I might get more response here.

I have a 2006 CTD with about 9,500 miles on it. Still on the stock fuel filter. My wife drove my kids around in it today with no problems. We went to get into it tonight to leave and it started up and it then died after about 3 seconds. I started it again, and same thing, died after about 3 seconds. Once more, same result.

I got home and went out and drained a couple ounces of fuel from the water separator. Tried to restart it and it won't restart at all now. Did the prime procedure in the manual and still nothing. Tried it a few more times and nothing. Now I am stumped.

I don't think its bad fuel. I have gotten fuel at this place before and they sell a lot of fuel. It is B5 biodiesel also. I have run several tanks of it before with no problems. I also ran about 6 ounces of Powerservice Diesel Kleen in it. I have ran that before also.

Is it the fuel filter plugged or something more serious?

 

I had a similar problem which turned out to be an engine code. I really doubt this will work in your case. But since mine was doing the EXACT same thing and this solved my problem, you can try this. Just remove BOTH battery grounds for about 15 - 20 minutes. I know what caused mine was due to accidentaly hitting a hot wire against a metal fuel line.

Like I said. Doubt it will work but its worth a try.

 

I think you should consider the lift of injection pumps. My brother in law has an '03. It would start for 3 to 4 seconds and die time after time. The lift pump went out. He still has the injection pump, but I'm sure it is not too far behind.

 

Thanks for the help. I called the roadside assistance number to get it set up to get towed to the dealership and get looked at. I don't have time in the next few days to mess with it.

 

I had the same problem you did a couple months ago. Turns out I didn't read the instructions for upgrading my bully dog . Long story short, the truck wasn't recognizing the computer chip thing inside the key. It would run for 2 seconds and then shut off. It did that a couple times then it wouldn't start at all. I read in the owner's manual that if the truck doesn't recognize the chip in the key it will run for 2 secs and then shut off. I didn't see that you had a downloader in your sig so who knows.

 

My truck is still stock. Still waiting on the dealer to look at it. Looks like I am without a truck this weekend.

Oh well, rode the harley to work today. Nice ride to work anyway.

 

Try cranking it with another key, I have a spare key and all it will do is unlock the doors. When you try and crank it, it will run for 2-3 secs and quit.

Use another key and it may solve the problem.

 

Thanks for the suggestion. I tried that though. My wife originally tried it with her set of keys and I tried it later with my key. Dealer still hasn't looked at it. Guess I am riding the harley all weekend! Good thing I didn't have any camping plans this weekend.

 

sound like the skreem module took a crap on you. that is the module that controls the chipped keys. had one in the shop today with same problem, not a diesel though.

 

This is a key related issue. When I had the recent reflash done on my truck the other day the tech was explaining how the keys work.

He told me very specifcally how if my other key wasn't programmed properly the truck would run for EXACTALLY 3 seconds then shut off. He told me that after a certian # of tries it would lock up totally and you are screwed.

I'm sure it's something simple, yet very much annoying.

 

You guys are exactly correct. The module wasn't communicating with the chipped keys and that is why it shut off. After three attempts, it goes into a lock up mode and won't run at all.

The service writer went out to move it into the shop and it started for him. It must reset itself after 24 hours or so. ??? Anyway, the diesel tech updated the module with the new program that is supposed to fix it. We will see. Your right, it is very annoying, especially when your truck has to get towed and you are without a vehicle. Oh well, it is back home now and running fine.

 

This must be some new technology. I was in the waiting room of our local dealership when the tech came out to the counter to talk to me. He asked me if I had the other keyless for the truck with me. I was like,” no"? He said, "Oh, well you may need to come back then, when I did your re-flash it wiped out the program". He then went on to explain the exact condition that was described above.
I went home a checked out my other key as soon as I got home, it worked fine.
Weird.