i have a 04 dodge and ever since i got back from vacation it has been very hard to start and getting worse. i just replaced the fca last month and the pressure sensor and crank timeing. could the fca be going out again or could it be the fuel pump this time. i have 160000 miles on it now. i just got it started so im going to leave it run all night so that i can get to work tomorrow but i could realy use some help. thanks everyone

 

Leave it run all night? Yikes.

Typically if your fuel pump is going priming it will allow it to start easier, it would also start easy if it was just shut down as there is still fuel pressure in the system at that time. Typically a fuel pump that is causing hard starts is due to it releasing pressure in the system as it sits, which is why priming it before starting would result in a faster start. To prime just turn the ignition to on, wait 5 seconds, back off, then on, do this 3 or 4 times.

 

i have tried that several times and it didnt seam to help any. im starting to lean more toward the fca because with out any extra power turned on (chips) it runs way to good for being stock. rail pressure with no extra juice is running around 22k. and at a idle i can hear some fuel knock. but it didnt run all night it just quit so i need to figure it at fast. right after it quit i went out and tried to restart it and rail pressure was only getting up to around 100psi.

 

the new fca didnt work anyone have any other ideas

 

maybe your CP3 gave out... what is the fuel pressure on the inlet side of the CP3?

 

i am also getting a 0251 trouble code no i havent check fuel pump pressure. i went to advanced auto to buy a gauge and for some reason they cant sell me the right stuff ( ha ha) imagine that. once it is running it seames like it runs real good too good for having all the extra power turned off. but if it is the fuel pump i have a fass just waiting to take its place.

 

well i took it to a shop. and i got the bad news today. there telling me its injectors.

 

P0251-CP3 PUMP REGULATOR CONTROL

The ECM detects a discrepancy between the PWM supplied to the
Electronic Fuel Control Actuator and the PWM returned from the Electronic Fuel Control
Actuator.

 

I dont buy it... if it runs fine one minute, then wont run the next, it is something common to all cylinders... CP3 or lift pump...

are they trying to stick you for 6 new injectors? if so, I'd get it back & find another shop...

if you can measure the fuel pressure before the CP3 and it's good (check the specs in the book) then find a way to measure the output of the CP3 and go from there. When it runs real good when it's running, that is telling you that injectors should be fine, your intermittantly loosing fuel pressure IMO.

 

I could buy injectors. Had a gasser that did the same thing once, very hard start, sometimes needed a little starter fluid in the TB. Ran fine once started.