can someone please help me with this. Our '93 Dodge Ram 3500 Cummins Diesel won't start. We can hotwire the thing, so we know it isn't the starter. Any suggestions?

 

Did it run out of fuel? may need to bleed the injectors lines (just crack 'em at the head) to get fuel up there again. Otherwise could be a bad fuel shut-off solenoid, I believe on those things there is a manual override that will at least let you test if that's your problem, should be able to follow the fuel line back toward the tank from the filter. That's about all that come to mind for now.

 

Yeah, a little more detail on what it will and won't do and how it came to be stuck on the side of the road would be helpfull.

 

there is power to everything. redid monster startercable(cleaned, new terminal,sanded connections shiny). pulled starter, checked ok. replaced clutch pedal safety switch, no go. found one corroded wire on fender well, mended it. the motor will not crank. can start it easily across starter. any relays under dash? parts store says no. no fuses either for ignition that I can find. maybe the key switch because otherwise I'm stumped. I can hear the fuel heater and other things clicking under hood as normal while "waiting to start" then turn key and NOTHING.

 

I think that there are 2 relays mounted together on the left side of the firewall. 1 is the fuel shutoffrelay and the other is the starter solenoid. Again I think this is correct. I will do some more research for you when I get to work tomorrow. Look for 2 relays side by side on the fire wall. The smaller of the 2 is the started relay I THINK. Been a long time since I worked on a 93. If you do find these relays, unbolt them from the firewall. Unplug the smaller one, turn it so that you can see the male terminals on the relay. Look for the #'s 87 and 30. Use a jumper wire and insert the jumper wire into the plugwhere the female connectorsfor #'s 87 and 30 would plug in. This straight wires the relay. Again I will look for more info tomorrow at work.

 

I'm agreeing with Dave there. . .your starter solenoid is probably shot.

 

Does your key feel "normal" when you turn it? or does it feel like there is no spring to return...