CRD in Distress!

Rixram · **Posted:** Wed Sep 08, 2010 9:40 am

On my way into work this morning. Stopped at a long stoplight, so I shut off the engine. I was angled downhill.

On restart, I was in neutral, and let the brake off while the engine was restarting. When running, popped the engine in drive. Noticed a little odd shudder when I did this.

Noticed that when rpms were under 1,000, it was very rough running and seemed to not totally disengage the TC (but that is a guess).

While at a stop, I pressed the accelerator. Revs went to 1,500 - 1,800, but no more.

Started thinking the OEM hoses.

But doing the same in gear, once above 1,100 rpm, the engine smooths out and seems to run normally.

I did a restart at another llight, this time not shifting while rolling, but the erratic behavior continued. Still smooths out above 1,100 rpms. No CELs, but I have the GDE CEO tune, so I'm not sure if that would entirely kill all CELs.

H E L P!!! This is my daily driver!!!! :shock:

Rixram · **Posted:** Wed Sep 08, 2010 4:46 pm

Any ideas?

Anybody?

e_poirier2004 · **Posted:** Wed Sep 08, 2010 5:55 pm

HI, don't panic, it can be fixed. Diesel need 3 things, compression (not the problem), air and fuel. Can be many things but the most common are the fuel head letting air in the system through the heater plug. Another thing causing erratic behavior is the flow control valve. My jeep hesitated, shift erratically with no cel. Finally, 2 weeks later, the cel came. Some gear break and the air is limited. Check your maf sensor, could be really dirty. Give us as much info as possible.

stoutdog · **Posted:** Wed Sep 08, 2010 6:53 pm

Totally just throwing this out here, but maybe your fuel filter? How long since you've changed your fuel filter and your air filter?

geordi · **Posted:** Wed Sep 08, 2010 8:45 pm

Sounds like a fuel starvation issue to me too. Change your filter... Maybe think about a lift pump if you don't have one.

AZ CRD · **Posted:** Wed Sep 08, 2010 8:54 pm

Yes. Air in fuel and/or clogged fuel filter.

And, stop turning it off at stop lights you freak.

reka12 · **Posted:** Wed Sep 08, 2010 9:10 pm

Hypermilers. Jeeze. Probably saved a cc or two.

The PO of mine told me of a time he had issues similar to yours. He got a new filter head under warranty and that solved the problem. Good luck.

No braking!

Rixram · **Posted:** Wed Sep 08, 2010 9:13 pm

AZ CRD wrote:

Yes. Air in fuel and/or clogged fuel filter.

And, stop turning it off at stop lights you freak.

Actually, AZ, I think you nailed it with the latter part.

I went to leave work today, and it was running perfect. I think starting it while it was rolling and putting it into drive so fast made it freak out a little. When I restarted it a minutes after the initial fault, it continued because it was only off for a few seconds and still rolling in neutral.

My bad...
:dizzy:

geordi · **Posted:** Wed Sep 08, 2010 9:25 pm

No, I've rebooted mine at highway speed numerous times to get it out of limp mode. Starting it at speed while in neutral doesn't mess with anything. That is unrelated to the problem, the engine did not have enough power for the requested operation (acceleration) because it was not getting enough food to make that power.

e_poirier2004 · **Posted:** Wed Sep 08, 2010 9:36 pm

Your CRD is hungry, feed it the good stuff! Clogged filter or air in fuel! Check your fuel heater plug for burn marks or any sign of discoloration. If there's anything, go for the racor fuel head. No more prolems.

Rixram · **Posted:** Wed Sep 08, 2010 9:46 pm

e_poirier2004 wrote:

Your CRD is hungry, feed it the good stuff! Clogged filter or air in fuel! Check your fuel heater plug for burn marks or any sign of discoloration. If there's anything, go for the racor fuel head. No more prolems.

I've had it for 9K miles, so I've no idea when the last fuel-filter change was. Air filter is fine, however.

Is the procedure for changing the fuel filter linkable here? If so, could one of you please do me the honors? Thank you.

Rixram · **Posted:** Wed Sep 08, 2010 9:48 pm

geordi wrote:

No, I've rebooted mine at highway speed numerous times to get it out of limp mode. Starting it at speed while in neutral doesn't mess with anything. That is unrelated to the problem, the engine did not have enough power for the requested operation (acceleration) because it was not getting enough food to make that power.

I will add that once it got above 1,100 revs while in gear, it drove completely normally. Under that, it was funky. At idle, it was as if the tranny wasn't letting go from the engine. Kept wanting to stall out.

geordi · **Posted:** Wed Sep 08, 2010 10:39 pm

Low RPM is where the engine is looking for the most fuel, for the most torque development. At the same time, your fuel supply is marginal because of the clogged filter, and the pump can develop stronger suction at higher RPM. But that is not a situation you want to continue - Insufficient fuel flow is a fast way to kill your pump.

Napa has the filters for about $27, changing them is easy - Reach down the front of the filter to the bottom, feel the connector for the wires plugged into the drain at the bottom (plugged in vertically) and unhook it. Then just unscrew the filter from the fuel head. If you want, unbolt the head from the fender and pull it up first (you might want / need to unhook the rubber lines) and have a look at the connector at the bottom.

SAVE THAT BOTTOM CONNECTOR!!!! and transfer it to the new filter, replacing the drain plug on the new filter.

e_poirier2004 · **Posted:** Wed Sep 08, 2010 11:00 pm

I know what you're talking about. First, check the easy stuff. 1- check the fuel heater plug. 2- change the fuel filter. 3- More nasty problem, the fcv is acting erratic due to some teeth broken on the actuator gear between the torque motor and the butterfly. When you shut your engine, does it shake and stop or stop smoothly? My fcv was causing all these problems before I changed it. I even had the f37 done because I was sure it was the transmission. Believe me, it feels a lot like the fcv.

stoutdog · **Posted:** Thu Sep 09, 2010 12:09 am

Rixram wrote:

Is the procedure for changing the fuel filter linkable here? If so, could one of you please do me the honors? Thank you.

Here you go: viewtopic.php?f=98&t=35702

It's not a difficult job.

Rixram · **Posted:** Thu Sep 09, 2010 8:05 am

stoutdog wrote:

Rixram wrote:

Is the procedure for changing the fuel filter linkable here? If so, could one of you please do me the honors? Thank you.

Here you go: viewtopic.php?f=98&t=35702

It's not a difficult job.

Didn't think it was, but didn't want to "Helen Keller" my way through it.

Thanks, that procedure looks quite detailed!
:BINGO:

papaindigo · **Posted:** Fri Sep 10, 2010 10:04 am

The link for changing the filter is fine but please note that the filter head shown is the early style with the small black fuel heater plug on the right (as viewed from the front) side. That filter plug has an unfortunate habit of overheating and causing air leaks. If you have this style filter head I'd recommend ordering the new style filter head and fuel heater wiring harness, it's $80-90 or so from Mopar Parts America which isn't too bad when you consider the new head comes with a new filter. If you already have the new head the fuel heater plug will be large and bright blue.

The filter head swap is easy - pop the plug at the bottom of the filter; undo the 2 fuel hose clamps; push don't pull the fuel hoses off the filltings (it's handy to have a dowel to plug the hoses to keep from dripping fuel); remove the 2 wire plugs at the filter head; unbolt the assembly from the firewall and remove. Installation of the new head is the reverse but you will have to cut the 2 lead wires to the fuel heater plug to splice in the new one (best do this with the battery disconnected). I spliced the new fuel heater plug wires using a marine grade butt splice with built in heat shrink tubing and a small piece of larger diameter wire cover to make it look factory.

The new style filter head cured by air in the fuel line problem.

CRD in Distress!

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