I’ve had an intermittent starting problem on my 94. Occasionally it will take approximately 3-6 “hits” with the starter (while holding the accelerator down) for the engine to finally start. It sometimes will go two weeks without having a problem then it will give me this problem nearly every start for a couple days in a row. Then it’s back to working okay for a while. Of course when I take it in (and I have taken it and left it for two weeks at a time) it never messes up. I have changed the flexible sections of the fuel line, the crankshaft position sensor, the single board engine controller (it was changed for a charging system problem), and have also adjusted the TPS (for a minor O.D. problem). This thing is killing me. Thanks for the help.

 

Your fuel cutoff solenoid could be giving you trouble, it could be dirty and probably is if it has never been cleaned , it could be the notorious blue wire coming from the driver side battery with a buildup of corrosion, and there is a relay on the fire wall next to the brake booster, actualy there is two there, the one you are concerned with is the one next to the booster. That is a fuel solenoid relay and they get weak. They can be bought from www.fostertruck.com and I am a bit confused on the 3 to 6 hits if that means clicking then get a set of oversize starter contacts from him also, this should be done anyway even if the 3 to 6 hits is not clicking as this is a very common problem and if they have not been changed out they need to be. If the 3 to 6 hits are motor revolutions then the fuel is either not there,which would either be air from hoses, or fuel filter dirty,pre screen fuel heater is getting clogged etc. Goodluck, and try them Rick On the TPS I would go to the 12v engine and drivetrain forum there is a good thread on there about the tps. It also helps if you fill in your signature as what truck you have. Goodluck again,,,, Rick

 

Rick, gives excellent advice.
Don't fall for the dealer scam to replace the expendsive solenoid, 99.9% of the time it isn't the problem.
My feeling is the relay is acting up, get a new one from www.fostertruck.com

 

Replace the blue wire. Get a replacement relay from a junk yard. You can probably get a handful for two bucks.

 

My cousins, and uncles were both acting up, and my cousin bought a new relay, and now his works fine. We wiggled the old ones around in the connector, and my uncles whose NEVER works would work sometimes with us holding it, but never buy the solenoid without checking the relay first. A sure way to test is the next time it doesent start the first good crank, leave the key on, and pop the hood, and see if the solenoid arm is raised up or not. If its not, raise it up by hand, and try starting it again, and if it starts, then that is your problem.

Eric

 

Thanks for the advice guys. I went out and looked under the hood this morning to try to find the relay and the solenoid. On my truck there are three modules beside the brake booster on the fire wall. I am assuming that one of these is the fuel solenoid relay. They are arranged vertically so neither of them is closest to the brake booster. Also where is the fuel solenoid? Eric suggested looking to see if the arm is raised up but I don’t know where the thing is. Sorry, you guys are dealing with a rookie here. One last thing, the 3 to 6 hits I’m talking about are motor revolutions. I have no doubt that it is a fuel problem, I’m just getting tired of throwing parts at it hoping to fix it. I have no doubt you guys will get me fixed before long. Thanks again for the help.

By the way, this is a 94, 2500, 2wd, auto, bone stock.

 

Go look again, there are only two, and it is the one on the drivers side,you can volt check it if you have a volt meter,it should read some what over 12v. The fuel shutoff solenoid is on the side of the injector pump,right below the intake manifold and slightly to the rear. It has a wire loom out of the top with a elec. connection plug. The next time you use your truck,try something first, turn key on and raise hood, find the solenoid and push up on the plunger then go try to start and see if it starts any better, if so then the solenoid is not coming up all the way, which as stated before it could be dirty, the relay is weak, the solenoid is out of adjustment which is on the bottom and has a locknut, or itself is getting weak. Do a search on fuel solenoid and relays and you will probably find the schematic, also go to the local parts store and for less than $20 you can pick up a Haynes 94 to 98 manual that is not that bad of a manual until you can get the factory one which is about $79 shipped to your door,from wwww.techauthority.com they are the better manual,but if you do not do the deep maintnance and repairs on your truck then the Haynes is for you. Goodluck, Rick Oh,yea no appology's are in order, we all started out at sometime with our first Ctd. And there are no dumb questions, the haynes is a good starter info book, I have seen them on ebay go for $15 but they are not that much more localy.

 

Yes, the fuel shutoff solenoid is right behind the injection pump. It looks like a round cylinder from the top, and then if you look under it youll see its hooked to a linkage that turns the fuel on and off. If you do raise it up, be sure to have the key on, or it wont hold itself up. Good luck, and no appologies needed .

Eric

 

Well it finally did it to me again. Just as suggested, I raised the hood with the key on and the fuel solenoid linkage was down. I pushed it up and it held. Fired right up after that. Haven't had a chance to try to isolate down to the relay or solenoid but it also hasn't failed again. Hopefully it will hold out for some dryer and warmer weather. I will also replace the blue wire when I finally get to work on it. Thanks again for the help.
Joe

 

The problem will be either the "blue wire" or the relay...almost 100% sure

 

Thanks for the reassurance Smokee. I hope to get to work on it this coming Monday.

 

Instead of paying big bucks for a relay, a local junk yard will let you pick up a handful for a dollar or two.

I will bet on the blue wire being the problem, though.

 

This might help, save it till you get a manual,, Goodluck,,, Rick http://www.dodgeram.org/tech/dsl/Fac...ocations-l.gif