So I went to start my truck this morning and it would turn over but not fire up. This happened once before and I held down the throttle and it reluctantly fired up with all kinds of smoke. It was after I let it sit for a few days. I drove it on sunday and it sat all day yesterday then 7AM today nothing. It did get cold last nite like 45. That shouldn't make a difference though.

 

Check fuel shut off solenoid. When was last time you changed fuel filter/pre-filter screen. Check fuel lines for leaks, rubber ones around lift pump area.
Check Fuel shut off first, let us know.

 

sounds like you lost prime, I had this happen when a line got a pinhole leak in it. you can keep cranking and feathering the peddle , sometimes will fire. or you can manually prime it. if its the line, get it fixed, i wrecked a starter last winter , it was cold and i didnt feel like messing with the lines.

 

I replaced the shut off solenoid in july. How do I test it? I just rebuilt the starter. I hope I did not kill it cranking it this morn. the batteries after a cranking letting it sit then cranking the batteries are too low to try again so I am charging them up.

The fuel filter has about 30 k on it. Lots of different diesel as I travel for work I will try changing the filter. what about cracking the first three injectors and cranking closing then the last three.

 

Have a 2nd person turn the key , to the start pos. , watch to see if the linkage lifts , if the linkage lifts , its OK , if not , it maybe the relay , there are 2 circuits to the lift pump working , 1st is pull -70 amp relay in start pos. 2nd is hold , lower amps , keeps fuel to eng. till key is turned off .
If solenoid is OK , then fuel pressure test , maybe over flow valve , or lift pump .
Cracking the injectors will tell you if its getting any fuel , but is a relative judgment on volume & pressure , without a gauge .

 

I cracked the injectors and cranked... nothing no fuel. The main to the injectior pump had fuel just nothing in the injectors. Pumped the lift a pump a million times and got fuel to the main. Then charged up the batteries till full. Then I primed the solenoid a few times and had my daughter crank the engine and it fired up right away. HUGE cloud of smoke and 20 seconds later it was firing on all 6.

While it was running I bled the lines and got white bubbles. Let those purge till I got no bubbles and tightened the injectors back down. Starts up fine now. Any ideas?

 

I had the same problem recently

turns out that it was my shutdown solenoid... i had fuel everywhere but the dvs and injector lines.. on my 96 it was an orange wire that was unplugged... priming the solenoid i dont buy, perhaps u meant the lp... U did the right thing. but if i was you id check to see the connection to the actual shutdown solenoid, and the lines see if you have any pinholes...

good job man! glad u gotter over...

rick