Cat 3406 won't start

Discussion in 'Heavy Duty Diesel Truck Mechanics Forum' started by BobHjr, Oct 10, 2021.

  1. BobHjr

    BobHjr Bobtail Member

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    Oct 9, 2021
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    A friend has a Freightliner tractor with a Cat 3406 engine. I'm not sure what series it is but the serial
    # is 1LW24868 and the tractor is a 1998. It was running and starting fine but last week it wouldn't start after sitting overnight. It cranks fine and has fresh fuel but will only start on starting fluid.
    I am not familiar with this engine and can't seem to find the fuel solenoid and am not even sure if that is the problem.
    Any help is well appreciated, thanks.
     
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  3. Judge

    Judge Road Train Member

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    I’d say losing fuel prime, does it have the davco fuel filter, the little butterfly valve can turn a hair and cause it.
     
  4. BobHjr

    BobHjr Bobtail Member

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    It only has one filter, a large clear inverted bowl over a separator. the bowl has a cartridge and also a cap to add fuel. It has a standard hand prime pump. We have pumped the prime up several times, the bowl is full and we can hear fuel returning to the tank when we pump.
     
  5. Cattleman84

    Cattleman84 Road Train Member

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    That is a davco style filter... It may be suckimg air past one of the o-rings. Take the bowl off and check the o-ring, if its not torn lightly lube it with clean oil and reassemble. Then fill it with fuel to top of cartrige, when you put the cap back on lube that o-ring aswell.

    Ive had davco filters suck air like that before.

    If doing that getts it to start let it run for an hour or 2 to make sure it will stay running and not still suck air.

    Edit: oh never mind... I see that it is full so it's not sucking air.
     
  6. BobHjr

    BobHjr Bobtail Member

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    Oct 9, 2021
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  7. BobHjr

    BobHjr Bobtail Member

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    Oct 9, 2021
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    It ran after the filter was changed, it started fine every day for a week, then just wouldn't start. I see no evidence of leakage or such.
    Do you know where the shutdown solenoid is. I think the engine may be an early E series but not sure.
    Also the engine was washed a few days before the problem occurred.
     
  8. Slowpoke KW

    Slowpoke KW Road Train Member

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    E models don’t have a shutdown solenoid, the ecm simply quits firing the injectors to shut it off. Since fuel seems to be ruled out it is an electrical issue may be a timing sensor or wiring. May or may not be related to the washing.

    Look at the other threads in the section this is posted you’ll find the wiring diagram for this engine.
     
    Caterpillar Cowboy Thanks this.
  9. TJB15

    TJB15 Light Load Member

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    If it starts on ether and stays running after I would guess loss of prime. There is a check valve on filter base on driver side of block that likes to go bad. Hard to imagine an emodel not having this filter on it but I have no clue. Good luck trucks that won't start are some of my least favorite ones.
     
  10. AModelCat

    AModelCat Road Train Member

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    Get it plugged in and see if the ECM is getting speed and engine position signal.
     
  11. BobHjr

    BobHjr Bobtail Member

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