Suddenly stopped won’t fire back up

[hfaber329]

Hey guys, I have an issue I’m stumped on. Little history: 89 d100 5.2 auto. 2wd that I recently rescued from a life of rotting in my father in laws woods about 3 months ago. It sat for just under 20 years and a new fuel pump and Hall effect pick up got her running. It’s been running like a top for 3 months and just this past weekend I put headers and duals on it and took it for a spin and its sounded great so I stepped in on it and it went into passing gear just fine. I let off and let it coast for a second then hit the gas again and it sputtered and shut down. I pulled into a side street and figured it’d turn right in and nothing. Just cranks but won’t even act like it’s firing up. And every 5th or so turn it will get really hard to turn. I got it home and checked all the usual suspects and I’ve got fuel and spark but no ignition. I even though the advance would be an issue so I just slightly adjusted the timing and still nothing. Any tips would be greatly appreciated.


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[dale197338]

You only need 3 things for a engine to run you checked 2 of the 3 fuel and spark next is air (compression)

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[hfaber329]

I’ll have to pick up a compression tester. I’d have to lose compression in every cylinder though right? Or would one cylinder cause the engine not to run?


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[dale197338]

I'd personally go through the ignition system make sure every plug was firing. I had a old 86 f150 that wore a cam lobe and truck wouldn't run.

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[Sherman Bird]

Hey guys, I have an issue I’m stumped on. Little history: 89 d100 5.2 auto. 2wd that I recently rescued from a life of rotting in my father in laws woods about 3 months ago. It sat for just under 20 years and a new fuel pump and Hall effect pick up got her running. It’s been running like a top for 3 months and just this past weekend I put headers and duals on it and took it for a spin and its sounded great so I stepped in on it and it went into passing gear just fine. I let off and let it coast for a second then hit the gas again and it sputtered and shut down. I pulled into a side street and figured it’d turn right in and nothing. Just cranks but won’t even act like it’s firing up. And every 5th or so turn it will get really hard to turn. I got it home and checked all the usual suspects and I’ve got fuel and spark but no ignition. I even though the advance would be an issue so I just slightly adjusted the timing and still nothing. Any tips would be greatly appreciated.


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So..... it sat in a field or the harsh outdoors.... for 20 years. That fuel system is where I'd go back to. Is that one TBI or MPFI?

 

[dale197338]

Yes very true. But he did say it was getting fuel. But is it enough

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[hfaber329]

It is getting fuel and it is TBI. I even sprayed carb cleaner in the barrels and nothing not even a flinch.

I’m thinking it’s the ignition system. My coil was ohming out at over 7 well outside the range I changed that and nothing. I checked the distributor wire harness and I get battery voltage. Again I’m getting a solid spark. I feel like it’s a sensor or open circuit somewhere. Even with a wiped lobe it would start wouldn’t it? How do you diagnose that?


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[Sherman Bird]

It is getting fuel and it is TBI. I even sprayed carb cleaner in the barrels and nothing not even a flinch.

I’m thinking it’s the ignition system. My coil was ohming out at over 7 well outside the range I changed that and nothing. I checked the distributor wire harness and I get battery voltage. Again I’m getting a solid spark. I feel like it’s a sensor or open circuit somewhere. Even with a wiped lobe it would start wouldn’t it? How do you diagnose that?


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Mine did that..... and I beat my head against the wall using my cookie cutter diagnostic info system that I use in my shop.... and got an inkling as to it's problem. I finally ordered a good used Factory manual and was able to finish pin point diagnostics and it was the computer... got a reman from O'Reilly's for 140 dollars or so.

 

[crazykid1994]

It is getting fuel and it is TBI. I even sprayed carb cleaner in the barrels and nothing not even a flinch.

I’m thinking it’s the ignition system. My coil was ohming out at over 7 well outside the range I changed that and nothing. I checked the distributor wire harness and I get battery voltage. Again I’m getting a solid spark. I feel like it’s a sensor or open circuit somewhere. Even with a wiped lobe it would start wouldn’t it? How do you diagnose that?


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If it’s turning over and you’re getting fuel and spark it should run. Even on low compression. Best bet is pull the valve covers and hand turn over the engine to make sure your cam is operational. Wondering if you broke the timing chain/belt on it. Also pull the cap and watch the dizzy to make sure it’s spinning since it spins off the cam if I remember correctly.

 

[hfaber329]

Sherman I was thinking the same thing but the Haynes says if you turn on the key and get an engine longer or oil light your pcm or scc should be good to go. I’m going to have to see how to diagnose the computer and see if it’s failed.


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[hfaber329]

Crazykid, thanks I’ll also check those things to make sure everything is turning.


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[hfaber329]

An engine light


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[Sherman Bird]

Sherman I was thinking the same thing but the Haynes says if you turn on the key and get an engine longer or oil light your pcm or scc should be good to go. I’m going to have to see how to diagnose the computer and see if it’s failed.


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Mine is all gauges, no lights for oil, fuel, charge, temp. Haynes has been historically, junk to me. I used the FACTORY manual that I paid way too much for on EBAY and went straight to the problem.... the PCM. It made the expenditure and the wait worthwhile. Wanna buy a FACTORY manual?

 

[hfaber329]

Mine is all gauges, no lights for oil, fuel, charge, temp. Haynes has been historically, junk to me. I used the FACTORY manual that I paid way too much for on EBAY and went straight to the problem.... the PCM. It made the expenditure and the wait worthwhile. Wanna buy a FACTORY manual?

Changed out the pcm and still no fire. I just ordered the cd rom for the dealer factory service manual. I’m hoping this will help. Very perplexed.


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[Skatulaki]

I had a Ram of that Era and had a similar problem. What it was, was what we called the coffee can. There is what looks like a coffee can on the fender, that had failed and clogged the carburetor with a bunch of little black beads. I don't know if that is the problem your having, and the truck wouldn't run right without the coffee can device. So bypassing it is useless. Gas will squirt when you look in the carb to see if getting gas, but when you try crank it up it sucks the beads back into the jets. Might not be your problem but definately worth checking.

Also I don't know how much help this will be, but the starters in the 70's and 80's on all Chrysler
vehicles had to really nenenenenenenenene or they wouldn't start, The Chevys of the time
could ruh, ruh, ruh, rooooom and start. Not Chryslers or Dodges. The electronic ignition boxes were notorious for failing.

Another old trick ( you dont get to be old unless you have a few tricks up your sleeve ) pour some gas, not a lot into the barrels and see if it lights up ( be prepared though for possible fiery backfire and flames burning your hoses if you use too much ) You might have water in the gas after sitting all that time, you might have to drain the tank and fuel lines and reprime See above trick.

 

[Dodge 1500 4X4]

Is there a Ballast Resistor on the firewall, they go bad and no spark, or you jumped timing, take the cap off and crank the engine to see if the rotor is turning, also take valve covers off and make sure the rockers are all functioning properly, I put a breaker bad on the crank and rotate it back and forth you will se if the rotor isn't turning with the crank.

 

[hfaber329]

I had a Ram of that Era and had a similar problem. What it was, was what we called the coffee can. There is what looks like a coffee can on the fender, that had failed and clogged the carburetor with a bunch of little black beads. I don't know if that is the problem your having, and the truck wouldn't run right without the coffee can device. So bypassing it is useless. Gas will squirt when you look in the carb to see if getting gas, but when you try crank it up it sucks the beads back into the jets. Might not be your problem but definately worth checking.

Also I don't know how much help this will be, but the starters in the 70's and 80's on all Chrysler
vehicles had to really nenenenenenenenene or they wouldn't start, The Chevys of the time
could ruh, ruh, ruh, rooooom and start. Not Chryslers or Dodges. The electronic ignition boxes were notorious for failing.

Another old trick ( you dont get to be old unless you have a few tricks up your sleeve ) pour some gas, not a lot into the barrels and see if it lights up ( be prepared though for possible fiery backfire and flames burning your hoses if you use too much ) You might have water in the gas after sitting all that time, you might have to drain the tank and fuel lines and reprime See above trick.

Thanks for the pointers. I appreciate the input. I figured out that the main harness along the firewall where right above where the header turns down had gotten stuck to the header and burned through the injector wires in the harness and was causing a short. Got it running and just rebuilt the front end.


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[Skatulaki]

Awesome, Now that you mention it, my dad's 76 Monaco shorted out the main Harness, fried half the wires in in. Spent half the summer replacing all the wire harnesses when I was 15. Needless to say I was dissapointed when he wouldn't let me have the car when I turned 16. Figured I earned it. It was top of the line Dodge at the time, real pretty metallic blue, big old boat. Guy he sold it to crashed it. Best of luck to you, nowhere to go but up with it , and it will now gain value.

 

[hfaber329]

That’s it. A keepsake for my wife and kids. My wife learned to drive in this truck. It sat for 20 years hadn’t ran since 01-02.


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[Jeff Strader]

Basically you have an LA318......Check the distributor. Make sure the Rotor Bug's tip did not break off inside the cap. See if the condenser has failed. If you have a single Coil, see if it has failed. Pull a plug wire off and see if your getting fire (i'd do that to all 8 cylinders)