While driving down a flat stretch of road, the Cummins 24V in my '99 Dodge just quit.
No sputtering...
Just like I shut it off. No dummy lights...initially (check engine light came on much later)
I had it towed home.
I changed the fuel filter. Purged the air. Still won't start.
I suspect a sensor (Crank?) may have failed. The lift pump still makes noise when I turn the ignition to ON. (I've heard that doesn't really mean it's necessarily working.)

Anyone have the same symptoms in the past and how to diagnose?

Later on...
I'm looking at (maybe) purchasing software and cables for my Palm to diagnose? (I've seen these for non-Dodge applications) Do they exist? Any ideas which are good ones? Are there such diagnostic tools for the average guy to figure out what's wrong with his Cummins?

Thanks, Jeff

 

Not trying to be a wise ---, but make sure there is plenty of fuel in the tank. Then try cracking the injectors loose, as if to bleed the fuel system, and see if you have fuel up top.

 

I'm not sure if you can "self diag" the 99 to get the codes out but that would be the first thing I would want to know. Sounds like a great possibility the dreaded P 0216 may be there. There is a line from the filter housing to the injection pump and it has a rubber line connecting it. Separate it there and put a longer line on (the part coming FROM the filter housing, new filter assumed)and run it into a container larger than 1.5 liters. Bump the starter and the lift pump will run approx 25 seconds. If you have less that 1.3 liters in that time your lift pump has failed the volume test. That will give you a good start, but checking the ECM for trouble codes is priority one.

 

try all the simple stuff 1st....go to your fuse box and make sure there is power at all the places there is suposed to be.- under the hood ther is a main fuse if that blew I do not know if anything will work

 

Gentlemen,
Thank you for your suggestions. I'll try to tackle the big ol' beast this weekend...and let you know what the solution is.
-Jeff

 

OK guys...I fixed it.

I climbed under and tapped on the fuel tank. It had that hollow/empty sound. (Can't believe I didn't check this earlier...But the gauge said I had 1/4 tank!!!)
I put about 4.5 gallons of fuel in the tank. Then bled the injector lines (couldn't get to #2 and #6, but figured that 4 out of 6 would be good enough).
Then, after several times cranking it over, she came to life!!!!

Took it down to get fuel and it took nearly 30 gallons (34 gallon tank, right?) It was bone-dry!!

Thanks to Firestorm for nailing the problem. I really appreciate the advice from all of you.

So, as it turns out, I have a fuel gauge that is faulty...


Thanks again.

-Jeff

 

Ahhhhhh! the old "1/4 tank syndrome".......don't feel bad, your not alone. I've had many tow ins over the years with that problem. So many that I pretty much drive by my trip meter.

 

Just yesterday we had one towed in from 75 miles away for Farmer Joe 2001 Dodge , says it just quit on him , so we check for fuel from the lift pump , nothing , check the inlet for fuel , nothing , hook it up to bucket of fuel , fired right up , LOL called Farmer Joe and told him we need to drop some fuel into the tank, he gave a big sigh and said there is a fuel tank with a pump in the bed and if we can pump it into the truck tank. poor guy he had the fuel with him the whole time. but it was red fuel.... hope he doesnt get caught.