Hi,first post,I've been just a browser for a while but need some help,so joined today.I have a 2003 Dodge 1500QC 4X4 SLT Hemi that has recently decieded it doesn't like to start when it is left outside overnight when it's below 0* I have to crank it forever and pump the crap out of the accelerator pedal. I would like to fix this myself but just can't get anyone from the dealer or local repair shop to give me any input! I would guess it could be a fuel pressure regulator problem possibly,but again thats a guess,and apparently the fuel pressure regulator is inthe tank with the fuel pump and is pretty expensive to replace just going off a guess.Anyone else have any trouble like this and willing to help a guy out? The truck has 100000 miles on it and the only thing I have altered is I have the Superchip downloaded and taylor shorty wires,I tryed putting back the stock program but that wasn't it. Any help would be greatly appreciated,Thanks.
yea it's my understanding that my '05 sends one spark to the exhaust stroke of the previous cylinder. The shorty wires look good and if they have the power to form a good spark could produce better combustion. But the question I have is, do the stock coils have what it takes to make that spark? not just when the plugs and wires are brand new either... I'd like to hear what CJD comes up with..
That is the correct question, and the reason for the long wires. The stock coils on the 03-05, did not have the power to fire two plugs under compression, with the specified plug gap under high cylinder pressures. U may read the long wires were done to help emissions, but that is BS. Just use a little common sense. That plug fires on the exhaust stroke, with next to no fuel to ignite, and under no compression. No way it's going to burn anything! As the coil technology got better, (06-up), the long wires were unnecessary. If u have problems with the short wires on the earlier motors, close the plug gap, or install better coils. (MSD)
Well,I have to say that I had a hard time believing that the shorter wires were the culprit,but this thing starts so quick every morning now, it's like a brand new truck!! If you read back I did indeed close the gap to around .020" on the plug the short wires went to, when it was suggested that this could be the problem.but that did nothing. So I guess IMO you need to have the better coil packs to run the shorty wire. And even though this was only a problem for me in the winter it makes me wonder if for the past two years having less spark in the summer, somehow didn't hurt the performance and gas mileage too? Hope this helps someone else down the line as well,it's been a frustrating two winters but I'm a happy camper now!! BTW have a set of red Taylor shorty for sale CHEAP" sure they will work for the "06 and up!Carl
if it gets cold here like say -10C and below i plug my block heater in and next morning no issues...but i got an 08 without the wires so guess that helps.
OMG!! I posted this issue a few weeks ago, and no one mentioned this post. Just, replace TB. Guess I should have searched harder for this post. Im having the same problem on my 2005. I just installed my second starter this morning. It was 3 months old, and I smoked it. I also blew the muffler open like a grenade from the rich condition. I thought my truck blew up. Im running shorties, and just got a new box of plugs and wires to install. Guess im headed toward new msd coils, as im not going back to the long wire mess.
Just want to make sure i get this correct, cause i'm having this issue as well now, also running the shorty wires on my 2003.
I will check my fuel pressure and if its in the 48psi range, I will look into new coils. My question is, do I need to do the 05+ coil mod and valve covers from like 3rd strike or can i just get some factory style msd coils from somewhere?
I never had an issue with the factory coil packs on my '05 after installing my shorty wires. A while back I changed to the MSD coil packs primarily because I like the looks. Of course it doesn't get as cold here as it does a lot of places and my truck is always garage kept.
Speedmaniac: It appears that the factory coils 06 and up (not 05 and up) have a higher output and don't have the cold start problem. MSD makes both styles of coils, Avdoc above said they solved the problem on his 05. I just bought a good set of MSD long wires and problem solved, for a fraction of the cost of coils.
From the way that my starter is sounding this winter, I think Taylor should buy me a new one...
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