HELP. I really need help here. This is a 1995 Diesel powered (Cummins 6) Dodge 3500. It has 116K miles on it and has always started and ran fine. Today it started and ran rough for a few seconds and died. Can it be the fuel filter? If so, how does one even change it? Thanks for the help.

 

Look for signs of weepage along the frame behind the tank. Also follow the lines completely and look for wet spots. My 95 3500 quit and would not start and it was sucking air due to rotted lines.

 

Might try to pump the manual lever on the transfer pump for a bit.

 

do u know where ur fuel shut off solenoid is? make sure that thing stays up while the truck runs..could be that its falling down...most likely due to a broken or rotted blue wire ( blue i believe) that runs to it

 

Thanks all. I did determine it most probably is fuel related cause in the beginning i pumped the pedal and it tried to start. I don't know where that solenoid is located. What does it look like and where is it most probably located? Is this the thing that shuts off fuel and kills engine when the key is off? I will check the fuel lines during the daylight hours.

 

hmmm that solenoid is under the afc...if ur looking at ur master brake cylinder from the front of the truck its left of it....had a lil "bag" type of thing around it...when u put the truck into the on position it will lift up...and then its upposed to stay up when the engine is on...its fed by a wire...sometimes the wire corrodes, brakes or whatever....and ur truck will die..


http://www.dodgeram.org/tech/dsl/Fac...ocations-l.gif
http://www.dodgeram.org/tech/dsl/tro..._solenoid.html

u can see it in this pic

 

u can check whether its coming up by putting the truck into the on position and then gettign out and seeing if it lifted...if it didnt then u got ur issue....or perhaps it falls after a couple seconds....obviously do check for leaks and all that...maybe u have a cracked fuel line too....wayy wayy wayyyyyy worst case scenario it would be a lift pump...but i doubt it on a 12 valve

 

Try the hand pump to build up some pressure. Open the hood and stand on the drivers side. Look down past the small brakes lines coming out of brake res. As you look through these lines you will see a small rubber button. press this button about 30 times or so. Then try to start truck. If this works more than likely you fuel lines rotted out along the frame. It is a common problem for these trucks. They redesigned them a more than a few years ago so they are less likely to rot out again. If this is your problem you have 2 options. 1 go to a dealer and buy the lines. They are not cheap!!! Your other option is to replace them with rubber Diesel fuel lines. I know where I live I cannot buy this at a part store. You have to go to a place that sells Hydraulic hoses. Since the pump is hanging off the side of the motor these lines are suction and the regular rubber hoses will colapse. I hope this helps. Others on this site are very helpfull but they do not understand that people don't understand all their technical advice.

 

Alright!! I did that and the thing stayed down. I then manually shoved into position and it then stayed up. Then it started, so guess that was the problem. Guess i need a new solenoid??
Thanks for the help to all of you.

 

Dave, you taught me something here, never knew that pump was there. Mr.T was the one who hit it right on the head as it was rhe solenoid. Thanks for your help.

 

Before you go and replace the high dollar solenoid, check the relay on the right, above the fuel filter. (2 mounted side by side) I am working on one now that will start sometimes and then wont without manually moving the solenoid. Took the relay apart and cleaned the contacts, and now it starts everytime.

You can get a new relay at Napa or other auto parts stores for about 30-40$, the new stop solenoid is about 200$

 

dont replace the solenoid...for some reason its just not gettign energized...check the wiring to it...most likely u have a bad wire...i think its a blue wire...i think there's a relay as well...check it..swap it with another relay to see if that does the trick...then you'll know its relay...the relays are right there looking at u...thats a 5 sec experiment