Cummins won't start

Dale (MI)

New User
My 1996 Dodge 3500 got stuck in the mud 18 months ago and would not start afterwards. A backyard mechanic siphoned off part of the fuel and replaced it this week. He thought the original fuel in it looked kind of dirty. It will run on ether and starts to fire once in a while without it. This mechanic wants to clean the injectors next. I don't know that he has much experience troubleshooting the Cummins. What are some likely causes and solutions? Any tips appreciated.
 
The shutoff solenoid may be bad. Check that first . Should energize to run.
Stuck in the mud, how deep? Might have opened one of the fuel lines from the tank to the point it is sucking air. Or pinched one shut...
 
I second the shut off solenoid. My grandpa had one that wouldn't start after sitting for a while. I went over and tapped on it with power to it and it started right up.
 
After you check the shutoff solenoid, make sure the fuel pump is working. Also check for a crushed fuel line from tank to the pump.
 
Crushed lined from the bottom or stopped up exhaust from the mud???After that look for electric problem.Ran fine before you stuck it????????Had a friend get stuck and collapsed the muffler on the rock,never would crank,took exhaust loose and there you go
 
Hi
I heard from a guy who had problems with a few year newer one, there is a sensor on the front of some of those motors, down by the crank pulley that can cause problems, it's not the mud was so deep and it's damaged that? only guessing with this but might be a thought?.

If you got 18 month old bio diesel blend in there it probably will look like junk. That stuff don't keep!
The fuel bugs love living in there munching on the bio part, and you get black slime in the tank and up the lines plugging stuff up.
Regards Robert
 
1996 had mechanical P1700 inline pump...no electronics. I had one for 10 years, no problems with engine at all..except the starter motor.
 
Hi
so when is the first electric injection 98 or so?
Never had a cummins in a truck. older ones are good motors from what guys round here say. and how they try and beat them to death.
I know one farm had an older 90's one on seed plot work hauling equipment, with a well loaded 30 ft trailer. The hired clowns ran it a fair distance 3 times low on coolant, before it destroyed the block.
when they took it apart the temper had gone from the rings and could near straighten them out! but it still ran pretty well. the motors in a crate in their shop, saw it last year.
In my opinion the only thing that spoils that 5.9 is the truck they put it in. couple of guys I know love the motor but not the rest of the truck!
Regards Robert
 
"This mechanic wants to clean the injectors next."

Take that as a TIP that he is NOT a "mechanic" 'cuz there ain't a mechanic alive that's gonna "clean the injectors" (personally) from a Cummins 6BTA!
 
Probably the crank sensor..Its, right above the harmonic balancer. If you buried it in the mud, you could have torn a wire, or mudded it over so it can"t get a signal. It has to work correctly to tell the ecm the engine is turning over
 
If you were frame deep in mud you might want to pressure test the truck's cooling system before you drive it much. When some vechiles get stuck in deep snow the coolant hoses can get pulled off or a radiator tank can get cracked. Mud could do the same damage. Your truck may have skid plates to protect those areas.
 
Follow fuel delivery first. Pull the fuel filter, pump the primer, see if you get anything there. If you're getting fuel at the filter base, slap a NEW filter on there, prime, and see what you get.

If not, bump the motor over and try again few times. If that doesn't get you any fuel, look for a broken/pinched fuel line, if none, the lift pump could be bad.

Good thing you didn't try running it on ether in cooler weather. The grid heaters will ignite it. There are two cables that hook into a block on top of the intake manifold, you should disconnect them before using ether when it's cooler out.

If the FSS isn't turning the fuel on, you will probably put a pull cable on it once you see the price tag.

Try posting about it over here.
DTRF 12 valve engine/drivetrain forum
 
Thanks to all who provided tips. I have not heard back from that mechanic and suspect he figured out that he was in over his head. I will be looking for a real Cummins mechanic and checking out your suggestions on possible causes.
 
(quoted from post at 22:48:18 08/30/13) Hi
so when is the first electric injection 98 or so?
Never had a cummins in a truck. ...........
In my opinion the only thing that spoils that 5.9 is the truck they put it in. couple of guys I know love the motor but not the rest of the truck!
Regards Robert

Opinions are like something else that everyone has ...... BUT you are entitled to yours - I've got one of my own :)
 
Hi that"s correct. I just got what I heard from the guys that have them.
Some have had 4 or more and this is the last one from what they tell me.
Never had one my self, and don"t intend to. Im kinda sick of listening to them whining about their problems with the rest of the truck.
If you got one and are happy that"s all that matters really.
Regards Robert
 
98 1/2 the VP-44 came into use, electronically-controlled mechanical pump. Quality control on the circuit boards could be spotty, fair number of cold solders got through. If you buy a rebuilt one make sure it has new electronics in it too.

P-7100 was used 94-98. Price an FSS (fuel shut-off solenoid) and you'll put a kill cable on it.

89-93 used the VE-44 rotary pump, doesn't have the fuel-pushing ability of the P-pump, but a lot more tunable. Same thing as the P-pump with the FSS, if you only call Dodge, but VW has them available for about $25.

I think it was 08 when they went to the common-rail and 6.7L.
 

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