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Cummins rookie question

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KX

11-07-2003 07:50:12




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Guys, I am looking for Cummins Veterans to answer a question. This is my first winter with my 97 3500 5.9 and I have noticed in cooler weather when first starting, my engine starts fine but while idling until warm I see the Voltage meter drop at interval and hear a very slight draw on the engine like a fuel heater???? is cycling etc. Is my alt going? the voltage drops from 13-14 down to 10-11 when this happens. It almost sounds like when the air compressor kicks in in summer with AC on. After a few minutes idling, it stops doing this. TIA.

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G-MAN

11-11-2003 13:41:32




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 Re: Cummins rookie question in reply to KX, 11-07-2003 07:50:12  
Gatractorman is correct - it is the intake heater cycling on and off after start-up, to keep some warm air entering the engine. I forget how long it will cycle, but it seems like it should be a maximum of two or three minutes, depending on the coolant temperature. I don't know if the fuel heater will continue to cycle, but it certainly doesn't draw enough current to pull the engine down if it does. Those intake heaters, though - there are two of them stacked - will draw that much current. They look like toaster guts, lol.

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gatractorman

11-08-2003 03:38:32




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 Re: Cummins rookie question in reply to KX, 11-07-2003 07:50:12  
My '94 F-250 does the same thing, when I start it up on a cold morning my volt gauge wiggs out for a few seconds, it's just the glow plugs cycling till it builds some heat, you should have a heater grid at the intake manifold on your Dodge but it would work the same way as glow plugs.



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John C. (ca)

11-08-2003 00:42:29




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 Re: Cummins rookie question in reply to KX, 11-07-2003 07:50:12  
Hello,,,, This is from a Want To Be Cummins Rookie. My F250 with a 460 is on the way out, don't think it will pass smog check this month. Tired of dealing with the smoke test anyway. Need to pull 5-8000lbs on a pretty regular basis. Lookin for a Cummins. Kinda leaning toward a 92/93 350 4x4 with a 5spd, or a 96-98 4x4 with a 5spd. I know the later one will cost about twice the older first generation, at least around here. Other than being "newer" any real compelling reason to go with the second generation?

Thanks for ANY input.

John C. (ca)

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thurlow

11-10-2003 06:21:28




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 Re: Re: Cummins rookie question in reply to John C. (ca), 11-08-2003 00:42:29  
The newer ones have more power and creature comforts, but..... .my '93 dually (bought new) with 5-speed has 170,000 miles, engine and power train haven't been touched except for scheduled maintenance and still gets 20 MPG. Both of my larger trailers (32' cattle and 27' flat-bed) weigh in the range you mention EMPTY; far and away the best pick-up I've ever owned.....



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Adam B.

11-09-2003 21:15:57




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 Re: Re: Cummins rookie question in reply to John C. (ca), 11-08-2003 00:42:29  
My dad bought a Dodge in '93 to get the Cummins. I never cared for it much. He traded for another new one in 2000, and its 1000 times nicer. The newer style is a vast improvement in handling and comfort. The extra power from the newer Cummins and 6-speed trans make for a very smooth powertrain.

If you're a Ford guy, we had a '88 F-350 with the International V-8, and I really liked that truck. There are quite a few guys around here that are very happy with their PowerStroke engines (still International). Many have popped in the performance chips and are pleased.

Not too many farmers around here run Chevy or GMC trucks anymore.

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John C. (ca)

11-09-2003 21:51:20




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 Re: Re: Re: Cummins rookie question in reply to Adam B., 11-09-2003 21:15:57  
I am leaning toward the 93 also, I hope that I wont be dissapointed. but still have a mid 90s Power Stroke in mind. Don't care too much about the ride... It's a Truck....
Thanks for the input.



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Robert in W. Mi

11-10-2003 08:29:22




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 Re: Re: Re: Re: Cummins rookie question in reply to John C. (ca), 11-09-2003 21:51:20  
third party image

There's very little difference between the Dodge 92 and the 93 models. The weakest link in the drive line is the Getrag 5 speed tranny!! You can rebuild the tranny, but it just doesn't hold up to hard pulling! The best option is to replace it with a NV4500 5 speed, and throw the Getrag away!!!

There are kits built just for this exchange, and i've done it on mine. It's pretty much a "bolt in" useing the kit.

Yes, some will say they haven't had Getrag problems, but trust me, hundreds have compared to the one that hasn't!!

Yes, the NV4500 had a problem with the 5th gear nut comeing loose, but only early built models were much of a problems with that. You rarely hear about it now.

The NV5600 6 speed would be a great replacement too, but it's "very expensive", and a huge amount of work to do!! Too many thing are different for a drop in replacement, even though i'd love to have one in my pu..

I've owned Ford, Dodge, and Chevy diesels all at the same time. For me, Chevy was best for fuel ecomony (6.2 diesel) , Dodge (Cummins) pulled the best, and is easily the best design. I got rid of the Ford (Power stroke) because as it got older i had too many problems with it!! Water pump, glow plugs, relays, sending units, rear axle leaks, and other problems just made it too expensive to keep around. The power stroke is too complex to stay reliable when the miles start pileing up!!

Haveing said that, i'm going back to Chevy next time, as over the years they have been the best of the pu's i've owned!

The pu pictured has 196,000 miles on it, (origional unopened 6.2 diesel) and it's still working for a liveing!

Robert

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John C.(ca)

11-11-2003 10:23:30




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 Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Cummins rookie question in reply to Robert in W. Mi, 11-10-2003 08:29:22  
Thanks for the info, I do lurk at the TDR site alot and there is a bunch of good info there.

Thank You for your thoughts



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Joel Harman

11-08-2003 06:51:43




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 Re: Re: Cummins rookie question in reply to John C. (ca), 11-08-2003 00:42:29  
Only problem with cummins is they makle you buy the dodge with it.



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John C. (ca)

11-08-2003 13:43:09




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 Re: Re: Re: Cummins rookie question in reply to Joel Harman, 11-08-2003 06:51:43  
I agree... I would like to have one in my F250, but don't know if I want to go through the conversion, + I would have to change the front axle to handle the weight. I was leaning toward the older version, maybe easier to tinker with (no computer).

Thanks
John



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Van

11-07-2003 09:23:55




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 Re: Cummins rookie question in reply to KX, 11-07-2003 07:50:12  
I have a 2001 2500 with the 24 valve Cummins in it and it does the same thing. I asked the dealer service dept about it when it was new and it is the fuel heater cycling on and off to keep the fuel temp up until the heat switch gets warm enough it kicks it off. Nothing to worry about as it is supposed to do that.



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Jailkeeper

11-07-2003 18:50:24




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 Re: Re: Cummins rookie question in reply to Van, 11-07-2003 09:23:55  
I worked on a '95 Dodge last winter that wouldn't start. Traced it down to not getting fuel due to an air leak. Found out the fuel heater had gotten so hot it melted the plastic housing and warped it, so the pump was just sucking air. Cost about $250 for the new heater assembly.



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Robert in W. Mi

11-07-2003 13:52:06




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 Re: Re: Cummins rookie question in reply to Van, 11-07-2003 09:23:55  
It's NOT the fuel heater, it is a heater grid in the intake manifold. It preheats the incomeing air before start up, and then cycles on and off for a while after you start the engine.

I believe one grid is for preheating, and then on start up both grids come on.

This is a HUGE improvement over the "glow plugs" that ford and chevy use!!!!! !!

Robert



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Ray,IN

11-10-2003 19:47:22




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 Re: Re: Re: Cummins rookie question in reply to Robert in W. Mi, 11-07-2003 13:52:06  
Robert is correct.



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AZ Jack

11-10-2003 20:42:07




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 Re: Re: Re: Re: Cummins rookie question in reply to Ray,IN, 11-10-2003 19:47:22  
Robert and Ray are absolutely correct. Has nothing to do with heating the fuel-it is heating the intake air. It is normal to see your voltage fluctuate when you first start up.



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