So I was just running my 1999 Bluebird TC/2000 5.9L Cummins Diesel Engine this afternoon to refill my air brake reservoir and it just suddenly stopped.
Now it cranks but just isn't catching. So I started started just charging the batteries while also did 4 key rotations and have done tried to crank it twice every day since Friday the 28th when it just stopped running.
I have hooked up the batteries to a charger that is always running of one of my generators that is powering my AC, the Transmission/ Oil/ and Coolant are all topped off and good. I have looked in my electrical panel for the Vehicle itself and don't see any fuses (that I can tell) that have been tripped.
Will answer any questions / take pictures of any things that is suggested etc.
Open your fuel filter and fill it with diesel. Try starting it, if it runs for a little while then turns off, the pump probably isn’t working. I’m not a mechanic though. Hopefully more knowledgeable people will chime in. Probably to shoot down this theory. Good luck
not surenifnyou can scan for codes but that helps too. like a high chance its a fuel issue if your engine shit off on itself and sounded fine and wouldnt turn back on.
its hard for me to tell in this pic, but that big pipe on the right in the pic, follow it and see if it goes to an air filter then air. if thats the case, thats the intake
If it is a 12 valve there should be a fuel solenoid on the left side of the engine about halfway back from the front of the engine. That solenoid should click when the key is turned to the run position if it doesn’t check the wiring to it. If it clicks it is probably a fuel supply issue. Items to check no fuel in tank, air leak, plugged fuel filter (there should be two) or a bad fuel pump or damaged hose.
Find the air filter. Remove the cover and spray it on the filter while cranking. Not constantly just 1 second sprays every other second. If it pops then it's a fuel issue.
In general when troubleshooting a starting issue remember that any combustion is like fire, it needs 3 things: oxygen (air), fuel, ignition source (spark).
Ignition on a diesel engine is actually from hot compressed air. You have enough battery power to turn over the engine so you have the compression, coming from moving pistons (on a gasoline engine you also need to check spark plugs). So I think we can rule that out.
So then we move on to fuel and air like the fine folks here are suggesting.
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u/gambits13 1d ago
Could be a bad fuel pump. That happened to me. The filter holds like a gallon so it would crank then die.