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New (to me) 2003 Ram 2500 Diesel stalling

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Old 09-09-2004 | 11:35 PM
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Scott BNB's Avatar
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Angry New (to me) 2003 Ram 2500 Diesel stalling

I brought my 2003 Ram 2500 home last week, today in slow traffic it stalled on me. it started immediately but now seems to run fine for a while then want to sputter and stall. truck has 50,000 kms and dealer said he had checked it out. I am supposed to be going towing my trailer tomorrow , any thoughts?
Old 09-09-2004 | 11:40 PM
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First thought, fuel filter.

Either it's clogged or you might have got a bad batch of diesel,
check the fuel filter and fuel cannister for "boogers",
boogers would be algae growth.

Stalls when the boogers (or other contaminate) inundate the fuel filter,
it sits for a while, boogers slime their way down,
opening up the filter for fuel to flow again,
start it back up and it runs fine for a while till the boogers fill up the filter again.

Usually when the Dealer "checks it out",
that just means they hooked it to their computer and didn't find any codes.


phox
Old 09-09-2004 | 11:45 PM
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Ok now I have to show how little I know

Is the fuel filter something I can check easily or do I need to go back t the dealer and ave it done?
Old 09-10-2004 | 12:10 AM
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We all started out not knowing much about these trucks.

Here's a couple threads on the subject.

https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...ilter+pictures

Above has pictures even.


https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...ht=Fuel+Filter

https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...ht=Fuel+Filter


https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...ht=Fuel+Filter


That should cover it.
Feel free to ask if you encounter anything not covered.

Oh, if those threads don't happen to mention it, don't get the filter from the Dealer.
Cummins has them much cheaper, or if there isn't a Cummins shop near you, any big rig diesel shop should have them.


phox
Old 09-10-2004 | 12:15 AM
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Thanks very much for your help. First diesel for me so I expect I'll be back asking about other stuff.
Old 09-10-2004 | 09:25 PM
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Had to go to work today and sent the wife over to the dealer to check out the problem. It turned out to be the transfer pump which has to be replaced. It is on warranty and the tech is going to work saturday, that is the good news - bad news is they also nailed me $135 to change the fuel filter while it's there. Lesson learned on having them change the filter.

Odd part was there never was a check engine light on, even though when it got to the dealer they had to push it indoors. Seems like having it inoperable would warrant a "check engine" light?
Old 09-10-2004 | 09:35 PM
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Glad you got it fixed, too bad they couldn't have thrown in the filter change.

Odd about the transfer pump going out on a 3rd gen, you don't hear that often.


phox
Old 09-10-2004 | 10:21 PM
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Originally posted by Scott BNB
Had to go to work today and sent the wife over to the dealer to check out the problem. It turned out to be the transfer pump which has to be replaced. It is on warranty and the tech is going to work saturday, that is the good news - bad news is they also nailed me $135 to change the fuel filter while it's there. Lesson learned on having them change the filter.

Odd part was there never was a check engine light on, even though when it got to the dealer they had to push it indoors. Seems like having it inoperable would warrant a "check engine" light?
your diesel needs routine filter changes. should be something you can do. if you have been driving with the filter plugged or getting plugged you will overwork the lift pump. i would get the 4 necessary gauges on it. good tools for diagnosing problems. i replace my fuel filter every 15,000 miles. if yours has not been replaced you should of been on your 4th one at 50,000 miles.
Old 09-10-2004 | 10:51 PM
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Hard to know how often it has been changed, I have only had it for a week so this might be the first one for all I know. its only on about 30,000 miles (50,000 kms for us Canadians) but regardless should have been done before now.

I'll ask the tech tomorrow what the old filter looked like. Thanks for the advice.
Old 09-11-2004 | 12:14 AM
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$135 for a $12 filter and 5 minutes time... I would avoid that dealer in the future. -Steve
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