I have a chance to pickup a CTD 3500 QC for a good price. The only problem is the truck will not start on it's own. If starting fluid is sprayed in it fires up and runs fine until it is turned off. Does anyone have any ideas. Lift pump?,injector pump? or what else coud cause this?

 

what year is it? does it smoke while starting/running? does it run smooth? does it start like this all the time, or only after sitting for a while?

 

STOP USING STARTING FLUID....YOU WILL BLOW SOMETHING UP......If it gets cold enough and the grid heater cycles on with the starting fluid in there, very bad things will happen.

 

The truck , as told to me, runs fine and does not smoke once it starts. It never starts without help and I know ether is not good for an engine but this is not my truck right now. It is an '03 with 160K miles. I think I can get it pretty cheap but don't want to put several thousand dollars into it to make it run.

 

pass on it. You don't know what they have done as far as using starting fluid the motor could be crap if they dumped a can in to start it one time that stuff melts pistons they took it away from us at work. (we use brake clean no shhhh)
As for whats wrong with it Its got a common rail so It could be the lift pump. MAYBE???? A injector???? cp3 (high pressure pump) ????? Piston rings are wore out and there is no compression left in motor!!!!!!! <----- that one lol
And for you to go to Cummins and get a RE-MAN $$$$ 7300 with no fuel system. But not saying the motor is junk you have to check the compression
since you have to have a MONOMITER <-----misspelled word to check blow by thats going to be tuff. When the engine is running if its chucking oil out the blow by tube most likely its the rings. Not in all cases though!!!!!! BUT if its running for three mins and leave a big puddle on the ground forget it.
If you could get more info on it would help US out alot more........ THANKS Pizzo

 

Well, here's my take on it.

If it's not starting, but runs once it is fired, I'd be looking for leaks around the HP fuel lines. It sounds like it's getting air in the lines AFTER the CP3.

Check all the nuts on those fuel lines and make sure they're all tight and that all the hold down clamps are in place.

Also, place a piece of cardboard over the driver side of the engine while it running. If there is any misting on the carboard, you know it's got a crack in one of the lines or the connections.

160K is too soon for the rings to be shot in one of these......unless the previous owner ran it out of oil.

 

Thanks for the input guys. I guess I will drive the 100 miles to see this truck today and maybe I will be getting back with more questions. Other than not starting it sounds like it may be pretty nice. I think I can get it for around 8K so it might be worth it. Thanks again for the posts.

 

i have seen that before on a CR engine, it was the rail relief valve had blown out, not allowing enough pressure to build at cranking speeds, also as stated before, dont use starting fluid, he's lucky he hasent blown the entire intake system out of the truck

 

Yeah, but usually when the relief valve goes it's exactly opposite.

It'll start and idle, but as soon as you tap the throttle it dies.