I just bought a 96 Dodge 2500 with a Cummins, mileage is at 149000. When I start it in the morning I let it pre-heat and it fires right up. But on the second/third start I let pre-heat and it won't start the first attempt, it may take a second or third time. It always start by third attempt. Any suggestions? I am going to change the oil and fuel filters next week after I get paid. Is Shell Rotella 15w-40 alright to use or should I use something else. What do you recommend as an oil change interval? This is my first diesel and I'll probably have lots of questions to come.





Thanks,


Bob

On the left side of your injection pump you will see a solonoid that pulls in the upward direction when it does not start turn on the key and pull up on that shaft coming out of the end of that solonoid. If it is not already pulled up you have found your problem. That is the fuel shutoff. If it does not pull up it will not turn your fuel on. If it is this check the wires on the drivers side battery cable and clean them well also there is a relay pack right above the brake booster on the firewall that could also keep this from turning on the fuel. Hope this works but it is hard to explain.

You will notice that solenoid has three wires running to it. One is a ground and the other is for two coils within the solenoid. One is to energize the unit and the other is to maintain it in the run position. What usually happens is one of the coils will get weak, and cause this problem. Replacing it will correct the problem. You can test to see if it is the soleniod by manually holding the shut off shaft in the run position and then trying to start it. If it starts on the first go you know it is bad.