It seems that this problem only occurs in the Summer or hotter months, All Winter it started fine but now that it's getting hot the only way I can start it is with Either. Once it starts it has no problems, Plenty of power, no hesistation, etc. It cranks great but it just seems that it is not getting fuel. I have had the truck in with Dodge and Cummings and they can not figure it out. The have replaced both pumps, The heater, etc. Any suggestions would be great

 

Also forgot to mention, No codes before or after it is started, And once I get it started and running for a while, I can tun it off and turn right back on no problem but once it sits for about 10 minutes I have to use either again to get it started.

 

Can you hear the lift pump running when you switch the key to on? It could be a faulty ignition switch causing you to not get juice to the pump....

 

Never use either on a 1996 or newer Cummins. It rounds the upper outside corner of the compression ring when it ignites and torques the ring down into the cylinder wall, and will result in low starting compression, which is what old timers call creating an ether dependency.

From your description of the problem I would suggest you have an air leak in the fuel hose between the lift pump and the tank if you can hear your lift pump running and it is flowing fuel.

Do a flow test on the lift pump and see that it is actually pumping. Most 2003's have had the lift pump ugraded by now, but you may still have the original and it has a known problem with premature failures.

 

Don't use either on ANY dodge cummins , that stuff hits the hot grid heaters , and you may end up with a sunroof in your hood.

 

unless you make a nifty pipe for either that is after the grid...

 

Thanks for the advice,


I will not use Either anymore. I have checked the lift pump (Opened up the fuel water seperator and then bumped it plenty of fuel is coming out). One other thing I came accross I changed the fuel filter and then bumped it a couple of time and then it started just fine for a week or so. Then it goes back to it's not starting self. I have replaced the rubber fuel line from the water/fuel seperator to where the lines go to metal lines but that still does not help. when I have it started I swear I can hear an air leak next to the fender where the water fuel seperator is but I don't know what other lines to look for since the rest are metal lines and I do not see any bubbles or fresh fuel in that area.

Any other suggestions would be appericated.

 

this may sound dumb...but do u have a cracked or leaking fuel filter? u may not see it leak and u may not see a crack and once it starts it runs fine...just ur truck might seem to guzzle a tiny bit more......well im not gonna tell u my story with my filter but it becomes hard to start with a bad filter...sounds dumb i know but u never know

 

I have check the fuel filter which is now different it actually a paper filter located in the fuel/water seperator. I have also replaced the fuel filter and still no changes. Any other help would be appericated.

Thanks

 

i heard that you can use wd40 to start a diesel if needed is that true