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mbtrapp · 05-10-2014, 05:57 AM

My wife was coming back from a weekend trip in our 95 safari which has a 5.9 cummins. While i was one the phone with her she observed black smoke. Temp gauge hit 220. Long story short the water pump went out. The second it happened she pulled it over and shut it down(was running fine). Had it towed home but it will not start back up. Engine turns faster like there is no compression. I have been told that even the older cummins have a safety feature that prevents them from cranking/ running when it overheats or looses coolant or oil pressure. Ideas please!!!!! Ive noticed when we try and crank it diesel drips near the fuel pump area. Im thinking (praying) that there is a fuel pump cutoff that was triggered with low coolant and that with no high pressure fuel maybe the compression from engine is just going back through the pump. But again this happened the sound of the starter has changed as if it not under much load.. please help

MnTom · 05-10-2014, 07:39 AM

I have not heard of a safety feature like that. On the side of the injection pump there is a shut down solenoid. Try to start the engine and leave the key in the on position. Check the solenoid to see if it is in the up position by lifting on the linkage. If it is not up you would be able to lift it and it should snap and hold in the run position. Turn the key to start (don't shut the key off) and see if it will start. The black smoke is strange. That is an indication of either the air filter is plugged or the turbo failed (neither one seems likely).

deandec · 05-12-2014, 09:04 AM

I have had a coolant loss shut down my Cummins mechanical 8.3L while driving.

There was no hesitation in restarting the engine immediately after the shutdown.

The shutdown was probably triggered by temperature sensors tied into the ignition process. (My wife was driving when it occurred and did not observe the gauge.)

The advice above on the shutdown solenoid is very worth checking since its failure would create your situation. But its failure would not likely be caused by your shutdown event. (I just replaced my solenoid this past weekend.)

Fuel leaking could indicate you have air in the fuel system. My engine has a priming pump mounted on the passenger side of the engine to use to eliminate air. Or you could loosen an injector and crank until fuel came out to remove any air. It would be good to trace and correct the fuel leak.

BFlinn181 · 05-12-2014, 10:30 AM

I also have not heard of such a feature. Make sure transmission is in neutral. Since you had a new water pump put on, are you sure a wire didn't get disconnected during the work? A mechanical 5.9 only needs air and fuel to run, definitely check for fuel shut off since air is never shut down or controlled.

Skip426 · 05-12-2014, 10:48 AM

Dodge/ Cummins 5.9l, of that era didn't have a shut down feature for overheating. I'd focus on the fuel leak, finding and fixing, if the injector pump is getting air, you're not going to get it started.
But the faster spin when cranking is scary .

mbtrapp · 05-12-2014, 11:03 AM

Yea im scared to death.. General translation no compression-faster starter

Skip426 · 05-12-2014, 11:27 AM

But; no fuel in each cylinder = less to compress = faster spin.
I'm hopeful that that's the case here.
In 14 years of Dodge / Cummins repair , I can't recall any engine being damaged by a quick overheat cycle, so I've got my fingers crossed for you.
And lots of members report these engines running way hotter than 220 on a regular basis, due to cooling fan malfunctions and plugged rads.