An engine starting hiccup-

[Max Hubrich]

Well, were on the road after 4 months parked.

Things were going well until we stopped to eat lunch at a Kangroo/Krystals in Collins MS- Hwy 49. We love those sliders, kinda like "White Castles" up North-.

I guess the beautiful weather (68 degrees), good food (we don't like to eat anything that's healthy for us ) and an uneventful trip so far (120 miles), was too much for the 'ole 8.1. When we got saddled up to leave the Kangroo the engine would fire off and then die. It did this for 30 minutes or so- . I never got any RPM to speak of. I was getting ready to change the fuel filter when I rolled up my sleeves and pulled the "dog house" cover off. I "yanked" off the #3 spark plug wire at the coil and I had spark when cranking the engine over. Next, I took the cap off the Shrader valve on the engine fuel rail. It has a Shrader valve similiar to a tire valve stem. As I was cranking the engine I depressed the Shrader valve with my ball point pen, and got a delayed fuel spurt. I then hit the engine start again and the the 'ole girl fired right off- . We then put up for the night at a nearby RV/Camper water park . I assume I had an air bubble in the fuel system.

As we progress toward Eastern NC (home), further updates will follow on two other pending items soon. One is the "black soot" in the tailpipe issue and the second is an update on the "cruise control rapid/aggressive downshift problem". I haven't gone far enough to evaluate the C.C.(since the ECM was reprogrammed recently).

Stand by for more exciting news-

[George Z]

Hope it's a dull and enjoyable rest of the trip Max.

[Dr4Film]

Don't rule out possible clogged fuel filters. I got into a bad tank of fuel in the Yukon, and maybe 300-500 miles later the engine would buck or hesitate a little only on steep uphill grades and got much worse many miles later. I finally changed the P&S fuel filters well after that bad fuel tank and it solved my problem.

The engine was starving for fuel.

Dr4Film ----- Richard.

[Full-Timers]

I had a similar problem. Motorhome was running great, stopped for lunch, tried restarting and it took 3 tries before it would fire. Ran great to the next destination then same thing. I pressed on the shrader valve and got little to nothing until I cycled the key on and off 3 times. Turns out it was the fuel filter. Took 3 key cycles to build up enough fuel pressure to start.

As far as the soot in the tail pipe, that is normal for this setup. We all got it.

As far as the CC aggressive shift. The 2002 chassis had an issue with the program in the Alison Transmission. There is a new program that will make the shifting less aggressive.

[M&EM]

I had similar low pressure at fuel rail. Turns out the fuel pump check valve is leaking down pretty fast. If you don't crank soon enough after key on, the pressure falls away and hard start results. There are other causes for this such as leaky regulator or injectors. In my case I know its the fuel pump.

Marty

[DriVer]

I don't know if the action you applied to the fuel rail was instrumental or coincidental. My most recent gradual onset for "failure to start" was attributable to the fuel pump which as of today is 100% resolved.

I feel confident in suggesting that it's not the fuel filter.

[bdaball]

Max,
I wouild be surprised if you don't already have a spare fuel filter on board. But given that you have a few miles ahead of you, if you don't, I would be looking for a NAPA store real soon,...just in case. It's pretty cheap insurance!