I have cummins 5.9 in step van. 2006 all stock. All maintenance up to par, and documented. I have two odd problems. Big one, when I let it idle with a/c on for more than a few minutes it starts running rough and dies when I try to move again. It acts like starving for fuel but after sitting for a few minutes off, it starts and goes back to normal? Cools off but coolant temps normal. . Comes and goes but getting more frequent. Also when headlights are on the wipers sometimes start by themselves. I'm thinking that may be loose ground? I haven't found it yet but was wondering if the two are related? Any ideas would be appreciated! My personal truck is ford so I do not have the experience with cummins.

 

Its definitely possible. Loose grounds and the cummins ecu aren't good bed fellows. Mine did a similar thing this winter. it would sit and idle, then after about a minute it would start to choke and sputter and cough, then it would die. restarted it and it would do the same. for a while I thought the fuel had gelled. pulled off the filter and poured 911 in it. never could get it to run, later that night I found that the battery cables were loose enough to rotate by hand. the vibration of the engine was making the loose cables lose contact. it seems if the ecu looses power even for a second it shuts the engine down. tightened all 4 of them and it hasn't happened since. Don't know if that's what's happening to you but it would be a cheap fix if that's what it is.

Good luck!

 

X2 Clean your grounds!

 

I'm just going to clean every one I can find , thank you!

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Found an inline filter on frame by motor. Took it off and it's dirty. Can't find a number anywhere but dodge 3500 in yard with same 5.9 has same filter. Can't find a number on that either. Every parts store around here keeps giving us the main cartridge filter but nobody can find a listing for frame filter. Can anyone give me a part number or how I can get one? I'm sure the dodge guy in shop will be eternally grareful for preventing him from going down the same road. .