Restarting Reefer after running it out of fuel

That's all I've had to do with most Carrier units. I love finding trailers that ran out of fuel at a shipper or our drop yards. Get $75-100 for a few minutes of work depending on who's working in dispatch when I call it in. They like to pay drivers who can skip a trip to the shop.

 

Still works then lol, it has been some time since I pulled a reefer and back then it sounded like a rattle box getting ready to explode so the newer units I am not familiar with.

 

If it is a Thermo-King the bleed screw is actually a banjo bolt with a brass washer under it just above or below the primer,(can't remember)
But you will see the metal fuel line going to it.
This is about a 3/4 bolt. Crack it open with a wrench,pump bleeder until fuel runs out,tighten bolt and start it up.

I had one with crud in the tank and had to do this daily for about a week because behind that bolt is a screen that gets plugged up.
They put it before the fuel filter....genius design!

 

The screen is a pre-filter. WD40 does a good job of cleaning it out.

 

a very valuable lesson learned.I used to pick up trailers at general mills where the yard dog was to lazy to turn them off after they emptied them.pump pump pump! winter is a really bad time to do that

 

I know this is an old thread but it may help someone today who could use this info.. I've got a 2010 Carrier 2500A X2. Did a service on it and changed out the fuel filter today.. It got enough air in the system that it wouldn't start and so I pumped and pumped and pumped and pumped (no kidding, probably 600-700 times) but it still wouldn't start.. I finally found this manual online (https://www.carrierdealer.co.uk/serviceeng/techpagepdfs/62-10601 RevG OM ULTRA US.pdf ).
On page 39 it states how to prime the system and it says to pump only once per second and it may take up to 200 pumps.. That is THE KEY to this whole thing.. If you pump it too quickly, it doesn't give the air time to escape so you can pump it 2000 times until your arm falls off and you will have accomplished absolutely nothing.. I started over again and pumped it once per second and after about 170-185 pumps it started building pressure. I pumped it about 20 mores times, flicked it on and boom, she started no problem.. She ran a bit rough for a minute or two but smoothed out.. The point is that I followed these directions to the letter and it worked perfectly.. Good luck out there,all..

Just in case the link won't work, here's the pasted version..

PRIMING FUEL SYSTEM The mechanical fuel lift pump is mounted on the engine next to the injection pump. This pump has a manual plunger for priming thefuel system when the fuel tank has been run dry. To prime the fuel system, use the following steps:
1. Turn the bleed valve (Red) counter-clockwise until fully opened.
2. Turn the top of the manual fuel pump plunger counter-clockwise to unlock it. S-L-O-W-L-Y (up/down once per second) pump the manual plunger until positive pressure (resistance) is felt. This may take up to 200 strokes. This will indicate fuel flow.
3. Continue to pump S-L-O-W-L-Y (up/down once per second) approximately 100 more strokes to fill the filter and bleed the air out of the lines.
4. Start engine. It may be necessary to continue to pump until the engine starts.
5. Depress and turn the top of the manual plunger clockwise to lock in place.
6. When engine is running smoothly, turn bleed valve clockwise until fully closed.