If the fuel shut off solenoid does not fully open you will be down on power and perhaps not start. The solenoid should be cleaned every few years to keep the slug free and moving as it should.

The grid heaters are easy to check with a multimeter, or just pop the air horn off and cycle them. The solenoids are easy to check with a multimeter, too.

I would check the overflow valve on the inside of the injection pump. When it goes **** up the head pressure for the injection pump drops and you get hard starting, low initial pop-off pressure, and seemingly forever to get enough fuel through the system to make any combustion heat so the EGT's will run low. White smoke is also common from low injection pump pressure.

 

What is weird is the truck will start with the fuel shut solenoid not pulling up at all.... How is that possible? I did take the air horn off and did not get any heat through the grid heaters. They should get hot like a toaster, correct?

Fuel solenoid is one year old. And the overflow valve is one year as well.

 

AHHH, now we're getting somewhere! I can't remember, off the top of my head, which way the shut off solenoid is supposed to go...it's been 3 years since I had my 94. The grid heater, if I remember correctly should have power on both sides while charged. To make sure they kick on, pull the coolant temp sensor so it thinks it's really cold outside...they should stay on for at least 15 seconds. Test in that time.

 

I'd take that fuel shutoff solenoid apart and hose everything down with brake clean as well...but start with that intake heater.

 

I just checked the grid heaters. Both grid posts where 10.98 . But the grids don't heat up. So it seems I need to get new grids? Is the grid a dealer part only? Or would NAPA carry it?

And anyone else on how my truck starts with the fuel shutoff solenoid not pulling up?

 

I LIED!! I forgot, sorry...it's the IAT Intake air temp sensor and it's on the intake. Sorry about the bad info, it's been way too long.

This is what it looks like:


Should be mounted right on the intake. Pull the connector out of it, it fools the intake grid into thinking it's -80*f.

The CTS thing only works on the Chebbys. Too many trucks running around here!

 

Yeah, I did pull that out.... I first went to the T stat sensor in the back. But I did pull that one....

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/dodge...spagenameZWDVW

If she's not heating up, and it has power there's gotta be something wrong with it. Is there a crack in the heating "wires?"

 

Try taking jumper cables and going (+) to one of the terminals, and (-) to the heater housing (not the element). See if it heats up. Don't touch the thing, you'll burn the **** out of your hand if it does work!

 

If the grids are working is that enough to cause the hard cold starts and popping/sputtering until it warms up? I assume these 12 valves really like warm intake air....??

 

The 12v will ALWAYS start but with no heat, they smoke, sputter, stumble, and give typical cold diesel headaches. The warmer the better. Mine, with the bad intake heater, would start down to -2* but wouldn't run correctly for at least 15 minutes of sitting there billowing white smoke out. My dorm at college really appreciated it.

 

Yeah, my neighbors love me when I leave in the morning and make it SNOW....

Thanks for the help htrex. I will try some local wrecking yards in the morning. I assume the grid heater is a package deal? Or can you just replace the heating elements/solenoids?

 

The only part you need was the one in that link to the ebay item. The whole thing comes in one deal. If you can find a cummins at the junkyard, I don't believe they changed the heater from the first gen through 02. As long as it looks the same, has a spot to hook up your wires, and fits...it'll work. What's the temp out there in NV now?

 

41 right now at 10:30. Mid 50's during the day....

I love my 12 valve when it smokes......... Just not white smoke......LOL..... Thanks again for the help....

 

Not a problem, let me know if it works. If it does, have a beer for me.