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Well as the subject discloses I have a Dodge Ram that will just not start! It’s a crank no start issue. I’ve replaced fuel pump, distributor cap, spark plugs, spark plug wires, the only thing I haven’t done which will be done tomorrow is the Crankshaft sensor (praying this is the issue). It’s been sitting about 8 years now, I flushed the gas out and had it power washed out (tons of floating stuff, rust?). So tank is all clean. The spark plugs are getting spark (Shocked myself..) , I would just really appreciate any help, or any ideas. Thanks for stopping to look at my post 🙂
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Before you throw money at it, go through the basic no start diagnosis:
Confirming you have fuel to the engine and compression should be first, since you already stated you had spark. Check your fuses. All it takes is a little tiny spike to blow a fuse.
I’m sorry I didn’t say this earlier. Yes it’s sat 8 years, but just 6 months ago I got it running. I installed a new fuel pump and boom she ran fine for a few day’s maybe even a week. Then I was driving to the bank, no problem, (7 mins away) but driving back it ran real hot the started making a knock sound. It died so I pushed it home. Got it back to running, and it was super rough, didn’t even hold a stable idle, if not for me revving the engine, it would die from not idling. Then the next day nothing, crank no start, yes spark. Tomorrow I plan to do what EricTheCarGuy said in one of his videos and hold the gas pedal down and crank for about 5 minutes and flush the gas out.
your 2nd check should be fuel. check the fuel filter for clogs (Prolly be best to replace as it would been long overdue anyhow). Even if you replaced the pump and cleaned out the tank you gotta remember there was prolly fuel sitting in that filter for good long time. Cause It sounds like to me it’s starved for fuel. Also if its running hot. You might wanna also flush out the coolant and put new coolant. And a new thermostat for good measure.
I believe the fuel filter is attached to the fuel pump, as it’s not separate like normal. The new fuel pump came with the new filter, it’s a unit.
Unless there’s something else? Because I notice inside the engine bay, left side there is a filter looking object.(I’m sorry..)
(Sorry for the terrible photo’s.. it’s what I could find on Google.. It’s too dark (2am) to take a good showing photo)
I am not 100% on the 318’s(Which is what the 5.2L is in mopar nut speak) and that era of Dodge trucks but I do remember sometimes there was on the frame rail too. Sometimes it would go up into the engine bay too.
I had the truck running without even messing with a fuel filter, just by replacing the pump. Could it randomly have gotten clogged? Also if there is no filter besides the one on the pump itself, would there be a way to test to see if it’s getting fuel? I hear the fuel pump prime. My father told me to take out a spark plug and smell for fuel or look and see if there is any fuel on the spark plug. Also with my Crankshaft sensor I see no real damage(like a crack) on it, but half the metal was covered with oil it appeared.
you might need to look and see if you got spark !! if you have spark your crankshaft position sensor is working / this truck does not have but one filter and that is the one in the tank. Have checked compression since it quit running the second time ? after you ran hot
Well I unscrewed a spark plug today and attached my compression gauge. I had a fellow crank the car, it would jump super super high for a split second, then it would drop super fast to zero and stay there. Any ideas? Maybe a bad gauge ?
Possibly. They should hold the pressure until you release it. I think most of the use standard tire size schraeder valve. I think most parts stores have them for rent.
I’ve dealt with a lot of cars that have sat for years. I’ve also owned a lot of Dodge trucks. The gen 2 RAM is the worst of the lot. FYI, the Dodge ram forum on the Dodge forum page has some great techs as well. The second pic you took was part of the a/c system.
First, check all fuses in all fuse panels, one at a time. While sitting, small critters can and will chew threw wires and hoses. Maybe some were not chewed thru completely, but driving it for a while finished shaking some half chewed wires loose. The crank sensor and the neutral park safety switch will keep it from starting. Get under it safely and look at the wire loom leading to those components.
If a fuse is out, inspect the wires on that circuit very completely. Fuses don’t just pop because they’re old.
My 2001 RAM was tech owned, never modified and well taken care of, and still went thru 4 trannies by the time the odometer reached 46k miles. You will find more than a few on Dodge forums who have similar tranny stories.Well some good news, I got a new gauge, and I’m getting great compression (180psi). So I can narrow that out. But I went out with a multimeter, and tested my ground wire to the crankshaft sensor and it read 0.24 v (tested at 20k ohms) . And this video I was watching told me it should be 0.00 or super close to that (ie 0.02). He said it would be a bad ground wire? Is there possibility it could be a bad sensor not making the truck start?
Also I’m just wanting to get this truck started to get it out of my drive way and sell it. As of now the most someone offered for it was only $600. So I considered if it’s running it’ll be more.
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