DESPERATELY NEED HELP

[joecfd1]

While at a stop light the other day, my truck quit running. I had it towed to the dealer. They originally diagnosed it to be a injector pump. They replaced that and still wont start. I noticed a few weeks back it was hard starting. I pumped the primer a few times and started right a way. I put a Transfer Flow aux. tank in a few months back and seem to loose prime after sitting for a few days. Coincidence?? Any one with a no starting issue? I am trying to leave for the desert but the dealer is scratching their heads. It has the Juice but I removed it prior to towing it to the dealer. Does anyone know a diesel specialist in Los Angeles???

[James S]

Hey There,

This is a WILD GUESS! I remember a while back, there was a comment about keeping add-on fuel tanks full, in order to avoid the POTENTIAL of water gathering in the tank, and then going in to your fuel lines. I don't know if this would cause the problems you are having, but it sounds like there is POSSIBLY water, OR air in the lines. Was the truck running fine befor this starting problem?? Any smoke? Any injector problems? Any rough idling? Rough idling and smoke are signs of either bad injectors, or air in fuel lines, CORRECT?????? I am by no means a mechanic, but i am trying to spit out some of what I have read on this site. DMAXALI Tech, and Kennedy, maybe, correct me if I am wrong, and offer other ideas for this gentleman. Another though, what version of the Juice, do you have? Unfortunately, you might be forced to let your dealer know, you have it, so they can check for incorrect codes, ti might have set, ETC. It was setting some engine codes at one time, was it not??? Any other performance mods? Don't be afraid to be honest. Depending on who installed them, they might be throwing codes, if a small thing was installed incorrectly. When my friend had a performance exhaust installed, an exhaust shop, didn't tighten one of the sensors, QUITE enough, and it through a code, and caused him to have all sorts of trouble with his DMAX. I hope you get it resolved. Hope I was of SOME help, and keep us up to date. Good Luck!

James

[joecfd1]

James,

Thanks for the input. Tje Juice is the only mod to the motor with exception to the gauge sensors. No rough idle, no smoke except for the smoke from the right pedal. The truck has 17000 miles. The Juice is 4.61.

Thanks, Joe

[Kent Tuttle]

Try MK Smith Chevrolet in Chino.

[Kennedy]

Not sure if you are the one who called today, but I guess I'd go for it. If pumping the primer gets you going, should be simple air entry. Try a new fuel filter, and check all hoses/switching valves. My other suggestion would be to plumb directly back to the OE tank, and just suffer with more frequent fuel stops until the problem is located.

[joecfd1]

John,

Yes, that was me you talked to today. The aux fuel tank fills into the filler neck of the factory tank. Not sure how an air leak on the aux tank anywhere would introduce air into the system?? Wouldn't this be the same as a vented gas cap?? I told the dealer to replace the fuel filter to rule that out. Hopefully they did that.

Thanks, Joe

[Idle_Chatter]

Joe, the air leak that JK is talking about is in the fuel system somewhere between the fuel pickup in the tank and the injection pump. The DMax has a "sucker" fuel pump that pulls fuel under vacuum all the way from the fuel tank. Any air inleakage in a connection or component between the tank and the fuel pump can cause a loss of prime and stall/fail to start.

[Ira Chandler]

My 2001 had a SMALL pinhole leak in the rubber fuel line that they say was caused by the robot that places the alternator (?) during assembly. Similar symptoms, a few primer pumps, and all was well. Especially bad when air temp hit freezing. Replaced the rubber fuel hose atop the engine, no problems since. Took them a week to find it...