Kw w900 won't start up after 2 days of sitting.

Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by Bigrigmayo93, May 31, 2017.

  1. Bigrigmayo93

    Bigrigmayo93 Light Load Member

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    Chicago Illinois
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    i have an 03 kw w900l with a c15 (mbn) I've been driving the truck for about a month now. I bought it from an uncle but the truck was sitting for about a year but it was hooked up to the electric & started up at least once a week.
    First question, what is the average voltage the gauge should show? I'm getting about 13.9 when lights are on & about 14.9 with no lights on. (I'm thinking that's too high)
    The problem I am having is the truck won't start or It'll start really rough after 2 days of not starting the truck. For example I don't work sat & sun so Monday morning the truck starts really rough like a cold start. But during the rest of the week I have no trouble starting it up every morning.
    This past weekend since it was a long weekend I didn't start the truck fri or Sat but i tried to start it Sunday night (not even 3 full days) but the truck didn't start.
    When I first had this problem about two weeks ago I checked the batteries. 3 are newer & were changed at the same time a year ago. The only different battery was much older & had a lot less voltage when I got them all checked so I changed it. So now I have one new battery & 3 older batteries. The new battery shows about 12 volts & the 3 older batteries show about 10-11. I also had the alternator checked but that's showing about 14-15 volts.

    So I wanna change the 3 older batteries so they can all be new but just want to make sure it'll fix the problem.

    Sorry for the long post but I will really appreciate any help.
     
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  3. boneebone

    boneebone Road Train Member

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    Changing the batteries won't help the situation.

    Is the truck losing prime after sitting for a few days or does it sound like the starter is straining when you try to start it?
     
  4. Bigrigmayo93

    Bigrigmayo93 Light Load Member

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    How exactly would I notice it losing prime? The starter doesn't make any different or weird noise. It just won't crank over.
    I connect the jumper cables to my pickup truck but it's usually not enough so I spray some starter fluid by the air filter hose
     
  5. country29

    country29 Medium Load Member

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    13.8-14.2vdc is normal operating voltage, regardless of lights/load on system. Does the engine just spin over but won't start like it is not getting fuel or does the starter not spin over at all after sitting? Since you mention ether, I'm guessing it spins over but won't start immediately, this is a losing prime condition. On a Cat, this could be 1 of the check valves in the filter head is bad, an injector leaking down, etc. After it starts and runs does it smoke real bad?
     
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  6. Ridgeline

    Ridgeline Road Train Member

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    Wtf is with you guys and starter fluid, let's blow a head gasket.

    Do not use starting fluid.

    It's an air leak in the fuel system, and the lift pump doesn't help it, so I would get it into a dealer and have them go through the fuel system.

    The lift pump by the way is the electric pump that is used to push fuel from the tanks to the engine.
     
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  7. Bigrigmayo93

    Bigrigmayo93 Light Load Member

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    Chicago Illinois
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    That's exactly what it does. It spins over but won't start like it's not getting fuel.
    Not much smoke after it starts. Maybe a cloud or so when it finally cranks over (a lot of the black smoke particles fly out of the tip of the exhaust.
     
  8. Bigrigmayo93

    Bigrigmayo93 Light Load Member

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    Chicago Illinois
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    I was told to do the starter fluid thing to get it started. Didn't know of the harm it could do.

    I actually ran out of fuel the first week I drove it. The gauge wasn't working the best & I checked inside the tanks but still looked like enough to get 35 miles down the road to my parking. A local mechanic got the truck started again but I'm guessing it still has air in the system then.

    Also I don't let the fuel go under a quarter from now on.
     
  9. daf105paccar

    daf105paccar Road Train Member

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    Did you change the fuelfilter (s) after running out off fuel?
    May have picked up dirt from the tank.
     
  10. 062

    062 Road Train Member

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    I'd start with replacing the check valve in the bottom of the filter head. Should be cat part # 281-2725 you'll also need the bottom o-ring. The last one I bought didn't have the bottom o-ring
     
    Bigrigmayo93 Thanks this.
  11. Bigrigmayo93

    Bigrigmayo93 Light Load Member

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    No I did not but I will change them now. Thanks
     
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