Ok, we have been through the ringer with this truck.. 2006 - 3500 cummins 4wd mega cab

1 - it doesn't start very well, if you use starting fluid (I know, not the greatest solution, but we need to get it started) it fires right up, but if not, it will turn over and turn over. It will eventually fire.. been told it could be a fuel line? Also, when you do get it to fire, the battery gage fluctuates a lot and the lights will be really bright and then really dim a few times over.

2 - We have tried getting the codes off of the truck, but when you turn the key 3 times nothing happens? any suggestions?

3 - Occasionally when the truck does start, it will sound like it's completely flooded out, like it's not getting enough fuel.. then when it does it has a surge of power..

4 - Sometimes the radio will just quit or the trailer lights will quit working randomly?

Any suggestions would be great, THANK YOU!

 

the lights dimming over and over on start up is your grid heater thats all good mine and everyone else that has a grid heater it does the same thing.
Hard starts on these trucks is usually fuel related if no codes come up id be suspect of bad injectors you can pull have them tested doesnt cost much right now im going through the woos of bad injector and am putting new rings in my truck right now

 

How do we get the codes off of the truck?

We were told could possibly be a small crack in the fuel line?

 

having bad seats in an injector wont throw a code only if the truck can sense an issue with the injector selonoid. If you had a fuel leak you should be able to smell diesel or see a leak somewhere

 

Not on a cross over tube. Hows the oil smell?

 

Lights dimming is typical in cold start conditions. Was this during below 50 degree weather? Does the voltage read normal? Needle Straight up about 14v or does that fluctuate down? I had my rig shut off on me driving and wouldn't start (cranking but wouldn't fire) after cleaning terminals and tightening connections I have had no issues- they are picky about battery voltage.