i have a 99 24v cummins. motor is factory with the exception of a edge box..

i just drove it to get my wife from work. stopped at the parts store on the way home. everything works perfect

i went out with a fuel press. gauge and tried to hook it up.

i unscrewed one of the top pressure ports on top of the filter. screwed my gauge in and it wont start. i took the gauge off and tried to start. nothing. i opened the water drain valve and bled some fuel out..... nothing..

i think i just have air in the line, but i cant tell how to get it out? its dark and hard to see...

i need to drive to work in the morning. help!

 

You say it won't start....

What does it do?

Does it crank and not fire? Will it not crank at all?

If it cranks and won't fire, bump the starter a few times and let the LP cycle and build fuel pressure.
Check for pressure at the VP. Do you have the schrader valve? If so, push it in for pressure test.
If need, break the banjo loose at the VP and bump the starter to see if you have pressure there.

Next, crack injectors one and three and crank the engine to see if you have pressure at the injectors.
If you do, crank it for about 10-15 seconds and wait a couple minutes then try again.
This procedure got mine started after running it out of fuel installing my Draw Straw..

Good luck

 

sorry....... it cranks and cranks, i cycled the LP a few times.

i am a cummins newb. by one and 3 do you mean the first and third from the front of the motor, or do you mean cyl 1 and cyl 3 in firing order? if so, whats the order?

 

1st and 3rd from the front will work. Be sure you "bump" the starter.....meaning turning the key on long enough to engage the starter, but don't start it. It should run for 15/20 sec or so.

 

i went outside immediatly following my post..... why not crank the starter? IP purposes?

i got it started. i took the hose off the LP and nothing was coming out.. so i took my compressor, and put the blowe nozzle down the filler and stuffed the excess with rags to build pressure.. wa la it worked. my LP was primed again, the filter was full.... but i still had to crack 1 and 3 like mentioned.

thanks guys!! major help

 

sounds like you have a dead (or weak) LP. You need a in-cab FP gauge, and a new Lift pump, ASAP, or you will be spending big bucks for a IP. The lift pump should prime itself. The VP can suck fuel from the tank as long as the line are closed, when you opened the line it stopped, and so did the truck.

 

Good advice.. Get a new LP for a hundred bucks vs. an Ip for a thousand. It's easy to replace and should only take a couple of hours. By experience, I suggest removing the intake horn, fuel filter and housing top (two bolts on top) before getting to the pump. While you have your intake horn off, check to see if your interheater wires are chaffing on the high pressure fuel lines. If so, adjust them. One other tidbit of info, GET NEW BANJO BOLT WASHERS FROM A CUMMINGS PARTS SUPPLIER. They should be about a buck and a half apiece..

 

Fullsize,
You can do a search here and find the part number for a "campaign" pump. They're specifically for commerical use vehicles like school buses. Have to get from Cummins. Cost is about $65.

You can replace the lift pump pretty easily (if you get something to stand on) without removing anything but the old lift pump. Might take 45 minutes. Fuel line coming in, one going out, three small bolts on top and an electrical connection to unplug. Again, do a search and you'll find every tip you'll need.

Might suggest if you're going to keep the truck for a while, you can get a Vulcan "big line" kit for about $125 that comes with a backet to mount the LP back on the frame rail in front of the fuel tank. It comes with fitting to replace the restrictive banjo fittings and new hose to go from you new pump location to the filter and on to the IP. This switch will take you maybe 2-3 hours, but then you never have to reach thru all the engine components to remove the LP again. It doesn't get all the vibration from the engine, and if you do have trouble you can replace in in 10-15 minutes next time. Do get a lift pump, or you're a gambling man!