Hi. Can anyone help with my son's 99 Dodge Diesel pickup? It won't start .... will turn over but won't start on it's own. We replaced the lift pump on Saturday. thanks, Laurie

 

Welcome Laurie. Does it ever start or is it just cranking with no firing whatsoever?
If it doesn't start at all, might check the fuel solenoid and/or the relays.

 

If it hasn't ran since the pump change you probably still have air in the lines and just need to bleed them.

You also said that it wouldn't start on it's own, does this mean you can start it with a jumper cables.

 

Hi guys. It will crank, but won't start. He can use a primer to help it start, but it won't start on it's own. Once he gets it running, it runs like a top. Someone also suggested: There is some type of diafram in your VP-44 that goes bad and causes a hard start issue. You can try putting a small pair of visegrips on the rubber part of fuel line near your fuel filter or VP-44, you want to pinch it shut as soon as you shut the engine off. If this works you can put a small check valve in the fuel line to keep you going.

I had asked where I would could go to purchase a check valve that goes in the fuel line. Any ideas? Thanks, Laurie

By the way, my son starts colts and works with problem horses, so he does alot of running in this truck. Right now, he is driving my husband's truck, so I'm quite anxious to get his own truck back on the road !!

 

What they are probably reffering to here is the banjo bolt on the fuel return line coming out of the Vp44. It has a spring controlled shutoff inside of it that keeps the Vp44 internal fuel pressure at a constant psi. If this was the problem, the truck wouldn't run right even after you get it started.

How is he priming it?

 

Sorry, I completely blanked out that the pump was changed

 

Hi. He sprays the smallest amount of starting fluid into the intake. When it starts, it runs perfect. No rpm change at idle .... runs just fine. It doesn't miss a beat the whole time it is running. Thanks, Laurie

 

Even the smallest amount of either is a vry bad thing, makes a cool bomb if the grid heater happens to kick on.

At this point I would suspect the new Lp is either bad or weak. If there is not one on the truck he needs a fuel pressure guage asap. I bet there is no fuel pressure. The truck will run whe the LP is out but it kills the injector and will be low on power.

Also check the ground on the LP. If it is not grounded it will allow fuel to flow backwards, back into the tank when the truck is shut off.

 

ok. thanks so much for your help! I've relayed this info to my husband, so hopefully they can get it working. Thanks again! Laurie

 

Be sure and keep us updated on this.