I'm currently looking at a 97 3500 dually w/a Cummins/auto combo. I need to know what the symptom(s) of an injection pump going bad. Truck runs pretty good down low, but above 1800-1900 RPM it flattens out pretty bad. What could it be? Truck has 160K miles on it, but rides, drives pretty dang good. Any help would be much appreciated.
dodge_em
09-13-2002, 09:52 AM
Really only two things to look at as far as a diesel goes. Air and fuel. If it is falling flat at higher rpm's, could be it is not getting of one or both of those. Injection pumps are pretty expensive, and am not sure how to test if one is going bad. But the problem may be as simple as a dirty fuel filter. Bad diesel can plug a filter very quickly. Won't really affect it at low rpms, because there is still enough volume getting through, but at higher rpms, the volume may not be enough. Could be a dirty air filter as well. I know this isn't a lot of help, but is a couple of quick areas to look at before writing it off, or spending money on an expensive repair that may or may not be the source of the problem.
Good luck!!!
--dodge_em
PSiemens
01-02-2003, 11:26 PM
If you have a heat gun, measure temperature of each cylinder. All should be equal. While engine is running and at operating temperature, slowly crack each injection line at the injector. All should cause an equal drop in RPM. If one cylinder doesn't drop in RPM, swap injector with another and retest. That will tell if problem is cylinder, injector or pump.
brydodge40
08-28-2003, 09:15 PM
Sounds like you don't really have a problem,especially if you have been changing filters on a timely basis. The 97 Cummins with Automatic Trans. only put out 180 Horsepower. Torque is not bad with 425lb's ft. My power always fell off considerably past 2000 rpms.
dodgeram
08-31-2003, 07:49 AM
sounds like a nromal 12 valve to me .........they only rev to about 2600 if I remember right and peak power comes in at 2000
change your air and fuel filters to be sure .............you could hook a boost guage up to see if your getting full boost(stuck waste gate can cause boost trouble)
CrazyCooter1978
09-21-2003, 12:16 PM
A way to cure the lack of "pull" is to change out the gov springs in the injection pump. www.Piersdiesel.com has all the fun stuff to take care of this. The 3000kit is only about $150. Piers is a great guy that will answer any question you might have.
The injection pump on the 97's is very tough. So tough infact that the military still uses them over the electronic pumps available today.
