Hard starting CRD (seemingly after filter change)

ChadA · **Posted:** Wed Sep 01, 2010 1:11 pm

It's kind of vague, but it seems to have started after I changed my fuel filter a while back. Let me explain.

I had wanted to switch to B75 from B5, and it was due anyway, so I switched it. Since then, it seemed to have gradually had a hard start issue, progressing to 3 good cranks to get her going, and billowing smoke upon start.

I thought maybe it was the filter getting clogged and having a hard time pulling the diesel from the tank (and I'd found B99 even cheaper) so just to see what would happen, I changed the filter again. No change in the pattern of starting.

It seems as though if tried to start after I do finally get it going, it acts normally, then, if left alone for a little while, it seems to have a hard time starting again. I've tried opening the bleed valve and repriming it with the button until no air came out, just the fluid, and closing the valve again. When I do open up the valve, it sounds like a good amount of vacuum is released.

What should I be looking for? And how can I test it? Thanks for any input.

I should say that my CEL is always on, due to the sensor being unplugged for the ORM ( I know, I need to get the GDE tune but don't have that much money laying around at this time). So, it could have a code that is new and I might not know it.

Joe Romas · **Posted:** Wed Sep 01, 2010 1:22 pm

When you put the new filter on did you make sure you removed the original center (smaller) gasket?

ChadA · **Posted:** Wed Sep 01, 2010 1:59 pm

Might go and pick up another filter and check it out to see if an old gasket is buried up in the housing. I saw the one on the previous filter, but doesn't mean that there isn't one left from the previous change before.

Might have to stand on my head with a flashlight to get up in there and see. :lol:

warp2diesel · **Posted:** Thu Sep 02, 2010 8:25 am

Add a lift pump yet, got rid of my filter problems long ago.
Having a little pressure to help your Bxx flow through, is only going to help.
Having a little pressure also eliminates vacuum leak headaches at the filter head, a very common problem.

papaindigo · **Posted:** Sat Sep 04, 2010 3:16 pm

Had nothing but air in the fuel filter headaches after I did my first filter change. Bought the new filter head and fuel heater wiring from Mopar Parts America (ca. $80 but it comes with a new filter) and haven't had a probem since then AND no worries about fuel heater shorting. You can easily tell if you have the old filter head as the new one has a bright blue electrical plug on the front drivers side for the fuel heater and the only one has a small dark plug. No big project to swap just remember to push the fuel lines off the fitting; if you try to pull it's like the kid's chinese finger cuffs that tighten when you pull. I used marine grade wire splices with heat shrink tubing to join the wires without solder. Also if you look around on the Lubrication Specialist site on the Liberty CRD tab in their online store they have a nice little assembly to replace the bleeder screw.

flman · **Posted:** Sun Sep 05, 2010 6:57 am

ChadA wrote:

Might go and pick up another filter and check it out to see if an old gasket is buried up in the housing. I saw the one on the previous filter, but doesn't mean that there isn't one left from the previous change before.

Might have to stand on my head with a flashlight to get up in there and see. :lol:

Did you open the bleeder, and bleed it again, sometimes a bleeding after you have run it for a week or so is all it needs. But be sure to check for the O-ring, with a mirror.

bakersoil · **Joined:** Fri Jul 23, 2010 5:43 am **Posts:** 68

B75 is harder to ignite than B5 and the engine has to crank more before sufficient heat is built up to ignite the fuel. The white smoke is raw fuel pushed out the exhaust. Its very important that you have a good strong battery. The faster the engine spins over the quicker it will start. My jeep got where it had to crank for like 10 seconds before it would start. I didnt know why at the time because it sounded like it was turning over fine. Shortly there after the battery went bad and when I installed the new battery it starts up quick.

ChadA · **Posted:** Tue Sep 28, 2010 10:24 pm

Thanks for all the replies. In the meantime, I'd put some teflon tape on the bleeder screw to see if that would help and really made sure the filter was full before venturing on. Seemed to help a little bit at first, but then to the same-old.

I was going to get a Racor to see if that would help, but the dealer had a new fuel head down the street, and a time crunch is at hand (have to leave for a road trip this coming Friday). I installed it this morning; seems like it still has a little hard time starting, but as someone mentioned, it might be harder to start the B99-B75 I've been running. The battery seems to crank along just fine, but maybe it could be spinning slower; can't tell, but it's the original battery with about 81,000 on it. Hever have replaced it, as it's performance has never seemed to wane even a little bit. S'ppose it's time to get a new one.

As confirmed, the new fuel head is the new style with the blue plug clip.

If it has a hard time again tomorrow, I might reprime it again and see if that improves; failing that, next tank I'll go back down to B5-B20 to see if that has an effect. Stay tuned, and thanks again for all the responses.

orionpps · **Joined:** Wed Sep 08, 2010 4:31 pm **Posts:** 54

Its your filter head housing..I had the same probs..replace it...

TJ2 · **Posted:** Thu Sep 30, 2010 1:57 am

I ran B100 this summer with no issues whatsoever. Good bio doesn't cause problems.

Hard starting CRD (seemingly after filter change)

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