New to the Cummins (2001 3500) and may have done what was told never to do. I think I ran it out of fuel, my gage indicated a bit over one eighth tank and the idiot light, alarm did not sound,( both have a couple of times in the past with about 3 gallons left ) It just died while going down the road.
checked my milage and I had traveled 560 miles, I have been averaging 16 mpg when I checked the computer.
35 times 16 equals 560-- OH OH.
Put in 5 gallons, was told by a mechanic to pump the fuel up with a bulb on the filter housing, can't find it, did find a drain handle. Hit start 5/6 times to run fuel pump, turned over engine several times for 8/10 seconds at a time, repeated that whole sequence twice, no go.
anyone have any guidence ?? :-[ :-[

 

Every time I have ran out of fuel or had to "prime" I just cranked on it till it started. Not contiuously, but crank it for about 10 seconds and give your starter a rest, then do it again and again and again... As long as you give your starter a good rest you should be alright
BTW: It would probably be a good idea to change your fuel filter now that youve sucked all that junk off the bottom of your tank
Scott

 

Turn on the key and just bump the starter without starting it. Do that a couple of times, that makes the lift pump run. Then try to start it. If it does not start, loosen two injector nuts on the head, drivers side where the injector lines go into the head and with them loose crank on it until they expell fuel, tighten them up and start it up. If you have fuel at the lines it should start, probably run rough for a few seconds until the air gets out.

 

Can I make sure my lift pump is working by leaving the filter cap loose and bumping the starter ?
I would think if it was there would be fuel running out.

 

Be careful shutting down on a low tank. The fuel is used to cool the pump, and is expanded in the tank when heated from a long drive. Try not to shut down with much less than 1/8th tank. When it sits and cools, you may get a surprise.

 

You can hear the lift pump. Take and turn the key on and bump the starter do not wind and then left off. Leave the key in the on posistion, you will hear the pump run, open the hood and door if you are unsure its pretty loud.

 

Got it running !, Tried a bunch a times with the prime and turn over, no go, ended up cracking #1 and #3 injection lines, turned over for 10 second intervals with cool down in between and when got clear fuel tightened and she fired right away.
Sure don't want to do that again !!
Thanks for all the help,

 

I aint sure if you were getting my PM's but I am glad you got her running.