Community Forums

moisheh · 03-12-2013, 06:23 AM

We have purchased a new to us 05 Bounder with a C7. I take delivery next week. Yesterday I went over to the PO's house and fired it up. I waited for the wait to start light to shut off and turned the ignition key to start. Seemed to take a long time to start. I have looked at 3 other units with the C7 and one of them was the same. Is that normal for a C7?. I am used to my 425 ISL or even my old 3208 Cat. They jump to life right away. Anything I should check? Thanks

jdoc · 03-12-2013, 06:45 AM

You may have to cycle the heat grids more than once. Especially if it is very cold. I live in west Texas and on the rare occasion that it gets really cold here that is what I have to do. Just turn the ignition switch off for a few seconds and then turn back on and wait for the wait to start light to go off and try again.

Jerry

1ciderdog · 03-12-2013, 09:27 AM

My C7 seems to take an eight count turning over before firing up. That is after the wait to start light goes out. Seems I read somewhere on this forum that the oil pressure has to get above a certain point before it will start.

TQ60 · 03-12-2013, 10:35 AM

It may be that, our superduty has to build oil pressure for the turbo, there is common problem with a $5.00 part on the 6.0 that is a $900.00 repair, when part fails oil pressure to turbo too low, computer will not allow engine to fire to protect turbo.

Your C7 may be same, could be something needs to reach a pressure point to satisfy a safety point.

Our superduty cranks for a few seconds (seems like forever), the 3208 on a cold day when have not run for months starts instantly, cannot hear it crank, turn key and it runs.

moisheh · 03-12-2013, 05:02 PM

I did some searching in this forum and apparently it can take up to 10 seconds. Has to do with oil pressure and the injectors. Thanks

Steve Ownby · 03-12-2013, 05:23 PM

The small Cat, both 3126 and later the C7 use oil pressure to fire the injectors. For that reason the engine ECM does not monitor oil pressure because if you lose pressure the engine shuts down. The starter must spin the engine enough to build oil pressure before it will start.

rogo88 · 03-16-2013, 08:02 PM

This is a typical characteristic of this engine...nothing amiss.

moisheh · 03-16-2013, 10:01 PM

I spoke qwith Caqt and they explained it the same as was posted here. Just normal. I did time it today and wited a little longer than normal after the wait to start light went out. About 3 to 5 seconds. All is good. Thanks

FIRE UP · 03-20-2013, 09:37 PM

Gang,
This is really interesting to me. As some of you may have seen, I had a recent event in which I changed a fuel filter and lost prime to entire fuel system which, included every inch of fuel line from the tank to the filter, (the only filter, a single stage filter at the back of the radiator as many C-7s have) and all the way up to the base of the HEUI pump which, is called the transfer pump.

I had to learn the hard way, and a ton of trial and error stuff to get this monster to start again.

Ours too, takes a bit of cranking, AFTER the wait to start light goes out, before it actually fires off. I've notice a friends Cummins, even dead cold in the morning, fires right off without 1/4 of the cranking my C-7 does.

So, my question here is, to those that may know where to look or, may know where to point me, I'd like to learn more about this C-7 so that I know how it's supposed to operate, start, idle etc. The fuel system, the HEUI pump and any thing about this engine. Is there something on line on the "life story of the C-7" and how it' works, what it's all about? I'd appreciate it. Thanks way in advance.
Scott