I have a 1998 Dodge 3500 Diesel that will only start with starting fluid. The fuel transfer pump is working and the filter is new. It seems like the relay to the glow plugs is out but I don't know how to check this. Please help! We need to go out of town but we can't rely on this truck starting.

Thanks in advance for any advice you can provide me.

 

Is this a 12v or 24v engine?

and you don't have glow plugs. You have an air intake grid heater (look near the intake for the "spacer" that contains it). Whether it comes on or not shouldn't effect your starting abilities this time of year?

 

it could still be fuel related, FYI : even though the pump makes noise doesn't mean it's actually pumping..ultimately a fuel pressure test would be needed to make sure, if it runs w/ ether it sounds like it's not getting fuel...

 

If your truck is a 24 valve it may be your lift pump. You can do an easy fuel pressure check on this to see. The lift pumps are known to fail in our trucks.