2011 Ram 1500 hard starting (cold)
#3118543
02/03/23 11:05 AM
02/03/23 11:05 AM
|
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,022 Morningside
AdventurerSport
OP
waaaay out there in left field
|
OP
waaaay out there in left field
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,022
Morningside
|
Good morning, friends, and Happy Friday!
I'm having some minor issues with my 2011 Ram 1500 5.7L starting hard recently. It has been VERY cold lately (last few mornings, 5 degrees, 7 degrees, and -5 degrees). I have a 3 car garage but 6 cars, so my daily driver (the aforementioned Ram) sits outside. I've had this truck since new (11/04/11) and no issues so far. 154,727 miles this morning. I have had regular service, oil changes, Valvoline Full Synthetic 5W20, transmission serviced, etc. Before I take this into the dealership, what do you think?
-truck is equipped with "tip-start", FYI. No remote start. I step in, pop in the key and hit the start and she usually pops off on the 2nd crank. Last week, she just cranked and cranked and cranked 7 or 8 times before I stopped the key. Then, I tried again, and she started on the 2nd crank. Drives perfectly. This happened a couple of more times (wouldn't start on the first attempt, cranked 7 or 8 times, then stopped, and tried again, started right up). I figured that it's because it's so cold.
This morning, getting ready to go to work, she does it again. Cranks 7 or 8 times, no fire. I stop, try again...and she still won't start! I tried 4 or 5 times and on the 5th time (or so) she fired up. What does everyone think? Injectors? Fuel Pump? Fuel Pressure Regulator? Any ideas appreciated, I'll have her go to the doctor (Dealership) next week for a diagnosis, just thought I may get some ideas here.
Thank you!
JS
76 Dodge Adventurer Sport Power Wagon W100 318, 727, NP203 Fulltime 4x4 Russet Red 06 Jeep Commander Ltd 4x4, 5.7L Hemi, QuadraDrive II 06 Chrysler 300C AWD 5.7L Hemi 10 Mopar 10 Challenger R/T, #483/500, 5.7L HEMI 10 Jeep Grand Cherokee Ltd 4x4 5.7L HEMI 11 Dodge Ram 1500 LoneStar Quad Cab, 5.7L HEMI, Fulltime 4x4, Deep Cherry Red 16 Jeep Cherokee Limited 3.2L Pentastar V6, 9 Speed Torqueflite, 4x4, Black
|
|
|
Re: 2011 Ram 1500 hard starting (cold)
[Re: AdventurerSport]
#3118551
02/03/23 11:26 AM
02/03/23 11:26 AM
|
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 43,603 Round Lake Beach, Illinoisy
Rhinodart
Rhinotruck
|
Rhinotruck
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 43,603
Round Lake Beach, Illinoisy
|
When was the last time you changed the plugs?
The funny thing about science is that if you change one miniscule parameter you change the entire outcome to the way you want it.
JB Rhinehart, Realist
A-Body's RULE!
|
|
|
Re: 2011 Ram 1500 hard starting (cold)
[Re: Rhinodart]
#3118553
02/03/23 11:28 AM
02/03/23 11:28 AM
|
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,022 Morningside
AdventurerSport
OP
waaaay out there in left field
|
OP
waaaay out there in left field
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,022
Morningside
|
Been awhile, probably due (changed around 80,000 miles)
JS
76 Dodge Adventurer Sport Power Wagon W100 318, 727, NP203 Fulltime 4x4 Russet Red 06 Jeep Commander Ltd 4x4, 5.7L Hemi, QuadraDrive II 06 Chrysler 300C AWD 5.7L Hemi 10 Mopar 10 Challenger R/T, #483/500, 5.7L HEMI 10 Jeep Grand Cherokee Ltd 4x4 5.7L HEMI 11 Dodge Ram 1500 LoneStar Quad Cab, 5.7L HEMI, Fulltime 4x4, Deep Cherry Red 16 Jeep Cherokee Limited 3.2L Pentastar V6, 9 Speed Torqueflite, 4x4, Black
|
|
|
Re: 2011 Ram 1500 hard starting (cold)
[Re: Sniper]
#3118728
02/03/23 09:46 PM
02/03/23 09:46 PM
|
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,810 Sobieski Wi
bee1971
master
|
master
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,810
Sobieski Wi
|
2011 every 35,000 miles on the Spark Plugs Factory Copper
However I like the fuel pressure thinking
Last edited by bee1971; 02/03/23 09:51 PM.
1971 Dodge Charger Superbee 2011 Ram Sport 1500 Quad Cab Deep Water Blue Loaded Siberian Huskies
|
|
|
Re: 2011 Ram 1500 hard starting (cold)
[Re: poorboy]
#3118762
02/03/23 11:28 PM
02/03/23 11:28 PM
|
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 1,408 Central Pa
moparjim79
pro stock
|
pro stock
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 1,408
Central Pa
|
How old is the battery? Or how close is it to the end of its warranty time? I ran into something very close to this, found out the starter draw was too high. Replacing the starter resulted in a noticeably faster cranking motor. The starting problem went away. It took a few cold days in a row before the slow cranking created a starting problem, didn't realize it was cranking slow until the new starter was on the truck. I can second this, a free, simple, autoparts chain test determined the cause of our weak start battery killing spree was the result of a crap starter......
|
|
|
Re: 2011 Ram 1500 hard starting (cold)
[Re: Dcuda69]
#3118905
02/04/23 05:28 PM
02/04/23 05:28 PM
|
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 21,456 It's a dry heat
gtx6970
Too Many Posts
|
Too Many Posts
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 21,456
It's a dry heat
|
Extended crank times are almost always caused by fuel pressure issues. Agreed, next time. just crank the key to start / on position, back off, then back to on again. ( dont actually crank it over ) See if it makes a difference This primes the fuel system
|
|
|
Re: 2011 Ram 1500 hard starting (cold)
[Re: gtx6970]
#3119086
02/05/23 02:24 PM
02/05/23 02:24 PM
|
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 19,521 north of coder
moparx
"Butt Crack Bob"
|
"Butt Crack Bob"
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 19,521
north of coder
|
i am no familiar with this year ram, but early minivans had a regulator in the fuel lines mounted on the engine[s] that would go bad, causing the [fuel pressure] issues described. just throwing this out there. is the regulator integral with the ram pump ? if so, just disregard my comment.
|
|
|
Re: 2011 Ram 1500 hard starting (cold)
[Re: moparx]
#3119951
02/08/23 01:44 PM
02/08/23 01:44 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,022 Morningside
AdventurerSport
OP
waaaay out there in left field
|
OP
waaaay out there in left field
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,022
Morningside
|
Thanks, everyone!
Spark plugs were changed around 70,000 miles with Platinum replacements (dealership told me they were good for 100,000 miles) Only happened on the super cold days. As soon as it started to warm up, she starts/runs perfectly. No issues now. At 5 below zero, hard starting. Above zero starts just fine. Will likely do plugs and fuel system cleanup this Spring.
Thank you for all the responses!
JS
76 Dodge Adventurer Sport Power Wagon W100 318, 727, NP203 Fulltime 4x4 Russet Red 06 Jeep Commander Ltd 4x4, 5.7L Hemi, QuadraDrive II 06 Chrysler 300C AWD 5.7L Hemi 10 Mopar 10 Challenger R/T, #483/500, 5.7L HEMI 10 Jeep Grand Cherokee Ltd 4x4 5.7L HEMI 11 Dodge Ram 1500 LoneStar Quad Cab, 5.7L HEMI, Fulltime 4x4, Deep Cherry Red 16 Jeep Cherokee Limited 3.2L Pentastar V6, 9 Speed Torqueflite, 4x4, Black
|
|
|
Re: 2011 Ram 1500 hard starting (cold)
[Re: poorboy]
#3121190
02/13/23 03:13 PM
02/13/23 03:13 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,022 Morningside
AdventurerSport
OP
waaaay out there in left field
|
OP
waaaay out there in left field
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,022
Morningside
|
UPDATE:
to answer a few questions from above;
factory battery (truck built 11/04/2010) lasted until 07/05/2018 at which time it was replaced with a NAPA Legend (last one on my 76 W100 lasted me 10 years) Cranks, spins fast, so the battery is just fine.
Last week, started normally/just fine. This weekend, Saturday had to cycle the key to get it to pop, but ran fine after that. Sunday morning, did not want to fire. Cranked and cranked but no start. Cycled the key, started for 1 second and died. Tried again, started for 1 second, died. Cycled the key some more, and she finally fired and ran normally. Then, I made some runs around town and once she was warmed up, started normally. This morning, called my dealership and explained the problem. They are thinking fuel pump losing it's prime from sitting (2011 Ram with 155,000 miles). They are getting her in next Monday, 2/20 and will do spark plugs, transmission service and check the fuel pressure as well. Max Care Warranty with this one since I bought new, so fuel pump should be covered, plugs aren't but she's due, and one of my key fobs stopped working to boot, so I'll get this all fixed at once.
Thanks for all the replies!
JS
76 Dodge Adventurer Sport Power Wagon W100 318, 727, NP203 Fulltime 4x4 Russet Red 06 Jeep Commander Ltd 4x4, 5.7L Hemi, QuadraDrive II 06 Chrysler 300C AWD 5.7L Hemi 10 Mopar 10 Challenger R/T, #483/500, 5.7L HEMI 10 Jeep Grand Cherokee Ltd 4x4 5.7L HEMI 11 Dodge Ram 1500 LoneStar Quad Cab, 5.7L HEMI, Fulltime 4x4, Deep Cherry Red 16 Jeep Cherokee Limited 3.2L Pentastar V6, 9 Speed Torqueflite, 4x4, Black
|
|
|
Re: 2011 Ram 1500 hard starting (cold)
[Re: AdventurerSport]
#3121238
02/13/23 05:40 PM
02/13/23 05:40 PM
|
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 6,291 nowhere
Sniper
master
|
master
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 6,291
nowhere
|
Cranks, spins fast, so the battery is just fine
Not a valid test or conclusion especially on modern vehicles with computers very sensitive to low voltage during cranking. If you had put a meter on the battery and measured voltage during cranking that would have told you what you needed to know.
|
|
|
Re: 2011 Ram 1500 hard starting (cold)
[Re: Sniper]
#3121244
02/13/23 06:18 PM
02/13/23 06:18 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,022 Morningside
AdventurerSport
OP
waaaay out there in left field
|
OP
waaaay out there in left field
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,022
Morningside
|
I tested the voltage and battery is fine, but thanks for the advice.
JS
76 Dodge Adventurer Sport Power Wagon W100 318, 727, NP203 Fulltime 4x4 Russet Red 06 Jeep Commander Ltd 4x4, 5.7L Hemi, QuadraDrive II 06 Chrysler 300C AWD 5.7L Hemi 10 Mopar 10 Challenger R/T, #483/500, 5.7L HEMI 10 Jeep Grand Cherokee Ltd 4x4 5.7L HEMI 11 Dodge Ram 1500 LoneStar Quad Cab, 5.7L HEMI, Fulltime 4x4, Deep Cherry Red 16 Jeep Cherokee Limited 3.2L Pentastar V6, 9 Speed Torqueflite, 4x4, Black
|
|
|
Re: 2011 Ram 1500 hard starting (cold)
[Re: AdventurerSport]
#3121261
02/13/23 07:41 PM
02/13/23 07:41 PM
|
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 21,456 It's a dry heat
gtx6970
Too Many Posts
|
Too Many Posts
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 21,456
It's a dry heat
|
I tested the voltage and battery is fine, but thanks for the advice.
JS ck amps no load and amps when cranking ?
|
|
|
Re: 2011 Ram 1500 hard starting (cold)
[Re: gtx6970]
#3121474
02/14/23 03:17 PM
02/14/23 03:17 PM
|
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 19,521 north of coder
moparx
"Butt Crack Bob"
|
"Butt Crack Bob"
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 19,521
north of coder
|
another area to look at, is the fuse/relay box if located near the battery. battery outgassing will play havoc with connections and wiring in that box, or any part of the harness that is close, or runs under/around the battery. i have repaired many vehicles of all makes because of this. just something else to ponder. please let us know what the dealer finds.
|
|
|
Re: 2011 Ram 1500 hard starting (cold)
[Re: moparx]
#3123455
02/21/23 04:29 PM
02/21/23 04:29 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,022 Morningside
AdventurerSport
OP
waaaay out there in left field
|
OP
waaaay out there in left field
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,022
Morningside
|
Got into dealership yesterday. Today, they called with a diagnosis;
Fuel pump relay is failing intermittently. They are replacing (covered under extended warranty) Water pump is leaking coolant, they are replacing water pump and hoses, along with a couple of lines, and coolant flush (covered under extended warranty) One of my key fobs went bad (not covered, but they are replacing at my cost) Replacing all 16 Spark Plugs at my cost. Everything else checks out, should be done tomorrow. Meantime, I'm driving a 2020 Jeep Compass Limited 4x4 as a loaner. So, all is well. Thanks for all the replies!
JS
76 Dodge Adventurer Sport Power Wagon W100 318, 727, NP203 Fulltime 4x4 Russet Red 06 Jeep Commander Ltd 4x4, 5.7L Hemi, QuadraDrive II 06 Chrysler 300C AWD 5.7L Hemi 10 Mopar 10 Challenger R/T, #483/500, 5.7L HEMI 10 Jeep Grand Cherokee Ltd 4x4 5.7L HEMI 11 Dodge Ram 1500 LoneStar Quad Cab, 5.7L HEMI, Fulltime 4x4, Deep Cherry Red 16 Jeep Cherokee Limited 3.2L Pentastar V6, 9 Speed Torqueflite, 4x4, Black
|
|
|
|
|