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Why My Diesel Truck Won’t Start?

A truck is one of the greatest inventions of mankind. Life would have been so much more difficult without cars and trucks. But, with such great features, comes great maintenance. If not maintained properly a truck might give you a hard time driving. A truck not starting instantly can be very irritating. Sometimes in summers, no matter how hard you try your diesel truck won’t start. Do you also have a similar problem? If yes, then this article is going to be very helpful.

Why My Diesel Truck Won’t Start?

A vehicle not starting can have various causes and finding the exact one is not always easy. The most common causes for this are the following:

1. Faulty Fuel Delivery:

A faulty fuel delivery system can delay a car’s start. If this system is malfunctioning the engine would not get enough fuel. The EVAP system would also start to malfunction as they are related. A problem like this can cause the fuel tank and the engine to even collapse.

 

2. Faulty Fuel Injectors:

The injector pressure in a diesel engine is higher than injectors in a gasoline engine. Pressure too high or too low will result in a delayed start. Test the opening pressure to check this issue. If the car when stationary rattles, it is pointing toward a faulty fuel injector. The performance will also be low, and white smoke coming out of your exhaust would mean a dirty injector and black smoke would mean a leaking injector. You should also check the temperature of the cylinders and the resistance of the glow plugs.

 

3. Contaminated Fuel:

A diesel engine is much warmer than a gasoline engine which is very ideal for bacteria growth. The warmer the temperature outside the more bacteria grows. A sulfuric odor and or a black/green coating on the fuel tank would indicate a contaminated fuel tank. The fix for this is quite simple. You just have to clean all the contaminated parts using a fuel tank cleaner. After cleaning make sure to add some cleaner to prevent future growth of any kind of bacteria.

4. Faulty Electrical Components:

The battery powers the engine and other components such as the starter motor which fires up the engine. If the electric system is faulty, the Electronic Control Module (ECM) will not receive any power.

How To Start A Diesel Truck Which Isn’t Starting?

There is not much we can do about a car not starting as it is quite complex and there is a high chance something is wrong with a component. There is still something we can do. We could try a push start as this will start the car without using the battery using push force. This method will only work if there is some charge left in the battery. Also if your car starts make sure to drive it for at least 20 minutes. This will charge the battery. Remember, this method will only work if the battery is still working but it has died out.

If the battery has completely malfunctioned, the car will not start with a regular push. You would have to jump-start your car using another vehicle. You will require jumper cables for doing and another car with a charged battery. Simply connect the jumper cables to the negative and the positive terminal of the car batteries. After connecting, start the other car. You will notice in a minute, that the headlights will start flickering and it will light up eventually. After charging for another minute try starting the engine. Your car will most probably start.

If your car still does not start there is something wrong with the car components which will be very hard to fix for an average person.

Video Tutorial:

To make your task easier, watch the below video to understand how you can fix the problem.

How Much Would It Cost To Fix A Diesel Truck Which Isn’t Starting?

The cost can vary from anywhere between $50 to even $1000. Sometimes, only a clogged filter can be causing this issue, and sometimes your car would require a battery replacement. In any case, the price can vary depending on the issue and also the car.

1. What Could Cause A Diesel Truck Not To Start?

Diesel engines that won’t start even when they are cranking normally have low compression or a fuel delivery problem, either of which could be the cause. Make sure the fuel filters and lines are not blocked. A faulty solenoid might be the cause of the injection pump not pushing fuel through the lines to the injectors.

2. What Would Cause A Truck Not To Start?

If your vehicle won’t start, it’s usually caused by a dying or dead battery, loose or corroded connection cables, a bad alternator, or an issue with the starter. It can be hard to determine if you’re dealing with a battery or an alternator problem.

3. Why Won’t My Diesel Start When It’s Cold?

Metal cylinder walls become very cold when the temperature drops, so most vehicles are harder to start in cold weather. Because diesel engines require much higher temperatures to fire the fuel, they’ve always been harder to start in cold weather than gasoline-powered vehicles

Conclusion:

A diesel truck won’t start, can have various reasons and the fix would depend on the reason. It is a very complex problem and fixing it is also very complex. I’d suggest not try fixing it without proper knowledge. Rather, go to a certified repair shop. This problem cannot be ignored as a car that cannot start is just useless. I hope this article helped you know what to do with a diesel truck that won’t start.