I just bought this truck at an auction and can’t get it running. I am a decent mechanic but don’t know hardly anything about diesel. Here is the scoop. Truck ran and drove fine but owner died and his wife let it sit for about 5 years. Has two brand new batteries it will turn over but will not start. Here is what has been done so far whether good or bad.

drained the fuel tanks and added new diesel. New fuel filter and cranked until fuel came from little valve on top of filter. Removed diesel injector lines at injectors until diesel came out and put it all back together. The front line is leaking were it meets the injector. Wait to start lite comes on for about .5 seconds so at friends suggestion I jumped the solenoid with a wire now it stays on for about 8-10 sec and goes out. At friends suggestion sprayed (sparingly) starter fluid into turbo (probably a terrible idea) it knocked a little but didn’t start.

The diesel spues out of the valve on top of filter about 2-3 tablespoons every crank rotation and it drips about like out of a eye dropper every crank rotation at the injector lines ( I don’t think it is enough but it has some pressure behind it). At another friends suggestion I used a wire with twelve volts to tap on top of the injector pump and it clicks slightly.

There is no smoke out the tail pipe there is some smoke coming back into the intake(very little) to me it seems to be turning over funny as if the timing were off but when I put the pedal down about half way it spins over a little better but it is not even attempting to start.

Will it not start at all without glow plugs, could the injector pump or injectors be bad, what would the pressure be on top of the filter.

I am at the end of my rope and my friends have probably f88kd up my truck with these "suggestions". Does anyone have any suggestions and where do I start.

Thanks in advance if anyone can help

 

If it still has the block heater, try plugging it in overnight. That will warm it up enough that you wont need much if any help from the glow plugs. You can also check the glow plugs with a test light. Clip one end to the positive battery terminal and touch the other end to the bullet(top) of each glow plug. If the light comes on then you know the glow plug may be ok. It's not the most accurate test but will give you a baseline and reveal any dead plugs.

You dont want to use ether unless the glow plugs are deactivated, ether plus heat means explosions. You shouldn't even have to spray it in the turbo, it's potent enough that a quick shot in the intake tube would do the trick.

It may sound crazy, especially since I saw it on youtube but a guy put a hair dryer in his intake for 20-30 minutes and was able to start his truck that way.

 

Test the glow plugs with test light but my guess would be the injection pump has laid down from setting to long. With the injection lines off if you crank it how much fuel comes out. If the pump is working it should be a fair amount.

Don't use ether if the truck will not start you have something wrong and if you spray it you stand to good chance making more problems.

Starting them with a hair dryer works I do it all the time but a heat gun works better.

 

When I turn it over a few drops at a time come out each injector line I dont know if that is enough or not. Will that motor start or at least smoke if the glow plugs are bad? I dont know.

Thanks
charlie

 

Injection pump is dead. With the lines removed it should have a large amount of fuel coming out. Good news is there not a ton of money...

 

So thank all of you for your replies I really appreciate it. I did some work on it I am still not convinced it is the injection pump. I took all of the injectors out took them apart and cleaned them and put them back in they were pretty bad. I broke one of the injection lines (does anyone know where I can find them for cheap or reasonable). I replaced all of the glow plugs, and when I turned the key on the metal strip on the GP relay got REALLY hot it even started smoking, is it suposed to do that? but stoped when the wait to start light went off. I think I am going to get a reman pump and all new injectors eventually but I would like to make sure it starts before I drop all that money on it. When I pulled the GP's some of them were wet with diesel, can a diesel flood itself out? After i get a new line what should I do, will it start with diesel in the cylinders like that.

Thanks guys
charlie

 

If injectors are worn bad enough, they can leak enough fuel to hydrolock a motor. I'm pretty sure the GP controller should not smoke. You could try disconnecting the glow plugs and see if the motor will start with a shot of ether or WD-40. DO NOT use ether with the glow plugs activating as it can have catastrophic consequences.

 

Sounds to mean injectoin pump is bad. Take it off and see if you can clean it out. And ether is a big No-No. ether could sieze your block and crack a ring. Not a easy fix eiether I've done it myself Butt had to get it home

 

if you are getting fuel and truck is a manual trans you can try to pull start it. it's how i got mine home when starter died.

 

well i got it running with a new:starter, injection pump, injectors, return line kit, and glow plugs $$$$$$. I think it runs good but it seems like it is missing a little but i duno, I am going to have it timed does anyone know what the going rate is?

And thanks agian for all your help guys.