hey guys,
i was idling to day for about 20-30 min today and all of a sudden the truck quit running tried to start it up again and after about 20 -30 sec of cranking it started but will only stay running for a couple of min so i let it sit for a few minutes and try it again same thing crank for about 20- 30 sec and it starts ( almost acts like right after you change the fuel filter and ya have to crank on it so the bowl can fill before it starts) and when it tries to die (or right before it dies) it is putting out alot of white smoke and it stinks kinda like rotten eggs not sure what the smell is telling me but in my past dealings with deisel's white means water not sure though i change the fuel filter every other oil change and it's due know but i'am pretty sure that is not the problem ( i hope it is ) i'am not getting a W I F light ( it comes on when the key is turned on but goes out like it is supposed to ) i hav'nt hecked anything yet (it got dark on me ) so in the morning iam going to check the filter but i wanted to get expert advice before i went crazy trying to fig this out
any help would be a god sent thnks guys/gals

 

Ha\/e something that will read codes? If not you can cycle the key 3 times and it will display (some) codes in the odometer window.

White smoke CAN be water. It could also be diesel fuel that hasn't reached the correct temperature to burn properly. I.E timing has gone to crap or low injection pressure or low compression.

 

OP,

I would get a code reader on that thing and see what codes are there. Maybe it is the VP-44 that has finally gave up life. I know it sounds silly but is there enough fuel in the tank? How many miles are on the VP-44 now. Has the original lift pump ever been replaced? Sometime the lift pumps kill over but the VP-44 will live on, but at a greater life period. But those are somethings that popped into my mind when I read your post. Good luck.

oudive

 

Check codes. Do you have a fuel pressure guage?

 

just got off work kinda late
the vp 44 has 200775 miles on it, no fuel pressure gauge (yet ) will have one very soon though i have about 1/4 tank of fuel in it dont have a code reader ( will have one of those too soon) i pulled the fuel filter this morning 3/4 of it was frm bottom to top was black as coal, iam not sure if the orig. lift pump has been changed but when i asked the previous owner he said he had to replace the vp 44 ( injection pump to the tune of $1400 ) with only 40,000 on it - so iam just praying

 

Cross your fingers - you NEED a fuel pressure guage man - theres no getting around it. It can save you thousands in injector pumps.

You also need to buy, beg, steal, or borrow a code reader. Without that we really cant help you much.

 

10-4 will have them both within the month thnks guys

 

for now here's what you can do. The later Dodges will display some codes in the odometer window if you cycle the key 3 times. On,off,on,off,on

Doesn't always display all the codes but it might give you something to go on while your waiting.

 

^what he said^

 

1trucker,

If you have an autozone close by you could pull in there and they should be able to hook up a reader for you. And you might want to pick up a filter too. Something like 2 birds with 1 stone, however the say goes. I know the one in Ft Lauderdale did until I got one for myself.

oudive