Need help! At wit's end.

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CWdaGreat

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Okay, I have been trying to figure out why my 2013 Ram 1500 5.7 is cranking but unable to start. I have replaced Battery, Alternator, Starter and multiple sensors (Camshaft, Crankshaft, MAP and ECT). Oxygen Sensors have also been replaced. I have fuel pressure as gas can be smelled when trying to crank. No fuse is blown (i.e. Starter, PCM and Fuel pump). CEL lights up after I clear codes, P0340 - Camshaft Position Sensor Circuit. I have looked at the wiring and connector and no visibly worn wires. Local garage is over 25 miles away and they want to charge $300 for a tow. Has anybody come across this?
 

Dean2

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So, do you have spark at the plugs? If so, will it fire if you spray fuel into the throttle body. If you have spark and atomized fuel won't make it fire you have a good starting point. Fuel, spark and air, are still the basics. If you have all three it will fire.
 

Jeepwalker

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Like mentioned above, could be a bad cam sensor ...even if new, if you're getting that code. I thought there was a way to back-probe the sensor with a multimeter and test it. Might want to youtube that. Or get a different one. The fuel pump relay problem was/is well known on those years, but if you think you have pressure ....
 

Dean2

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Like mentioned above, could be a bad cam sensor ...even if new, if you're getting that code. I thought there was a way to back-probe the sensor with a multimeter and test it. Might want to youtube that. Or get a different one. The fuel pump relay problem was/is well known on those years, but if you think you have pressure ....
Just becasue he can smell gas does not mean it is actually getting into the cylinder. It seems to me like he has done a lot of parts swapping without doing the basic diagnostic work first.
 
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CWdaGreat

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I tested the spark plugs with a spark tester. Was getting good spark on number two cylinder. Used multimeter to test camshaft sensor connector, used paper clips and alligator clips to test. I think the ground wire is in the middle. The connector has two dark blue wires and one yellow. Middle wire is dark blue (Ground) and yellow wire is the constant. BUT, just to be sure I'll be getting another sensor this afternoon. New camshaft sensor was by Delphi will go with Duralast this go around.
 

GTyankee

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When the trouble code P0340 is set, the ignition spark and fuel injector timing fail due to the engine not knowing when to fire these components.

What are the Possible Causes of the P0340 DODGE Code?​

  • Faulty Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor
  • Camshaft Position Sensor harness is open or shorted
  • Camshaft Position Sensor circuit poor electrical connection
 

Mister Luck

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Sensors Did I hear the word sensors ?

CTS (coolant temp sensors) and ACT (intake air temp sensor) readings should be compared when dealing with a cold start problem make sure they are within 10 degrees of each other when the engine is cold.

Crank shaft sensor or ignition system.
RPM is the only input that the PCM cannot substitute.
RPM is the most important input to the PCM, without it the engine will not run.

On some manufactures the rpm will display on the scanner while in the crank mode this, can be a useful tool when diagnosing no start problems.

If there is an RPM signal while in the crank mode, the crank sensor and or ignition module must be sending distributor / coil
reference so don't look there for the no start problem.

The PCM uses RPM to pulse the injectors and make the ignition coil fire.
 
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jws123

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Just a thought because I have seen it happen Guys truck wouldn't start replaced tons of sensors like you and the whole time the timing chain blew off so of course they wont get a signal.
 

10 Break

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DiagnoseDan's Youtube channel just showed a new Bosch CPS sending an inverted signal to the ECM...
 

crash68

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The battery is sounding weak in that video, definitely give it a good charge.
 

KeepRight

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Okay, I have been trying to figure out why my 2013 Ram 1500 5.7 is cranking but unable to start. I have replaced Battery, Alternator, Starter and multiple sensors (Camshaft, Crankshaft, MAP and ECT). Oxygen Sensors have also been replaced. I have fuel pressure as gas can be smelled when trying to crank. No fuse is blown (i.e. Starter, PCM and Fuel pump). CEL lights up after I clear codes, P0340 - Camshaft Position Sensor Circuit. I have looked at the wiring and connector and no visibly worn wires. Local garage is over 25 miles away and they want to charge $300 for a tow. Has anybody come across this?
Wow, you've changed out quite a few items, some of which are unrelated to your issue.

Not necessarily related:
Battery - if it's trying to start and turns over, it's not the battery.
Starter - if it's turning over and without any audible 'clicking, it's not the starter.
MAP and ECT - are not necessarily related to the CEL.
O2 Sensors - why change those, they are unrelated to the CEL.
CAM/Crank shaft sensors - ok, now you are getting somewhere.
Fuel -- just because you smell fuel, does not really mean much, other than your fuel pump is probably working well.

The CEL is telling you what's wrong with the truck. Stop buying aftermarket parts and go with the OEM. My Ram is so picky toward anything other than OEM...I know it sucks with the additional cost. Earlier in the post, you mentioned Duralast -- my suggestion is to quit wasting your money and time. Go buy OEM Camshaft POS...check all wires and connectors.
 

Dean2

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I will be very interested to hear what finally solves this problem and what the actual cause was.
 

GTyankee

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I think someone now has a box of perfectly good used parts, sure hope that they did not go into the trash bin

I still have perfectly good used parts on a shelf in my garage, some from my mistake of believing a part was bad & then after replacing the part, finding the change did not fix the problem. But there are even more parts on that shelf, because of incompetent garages that just switched out parts, because they were guessing.
I always ask for the broken parts, when i have to take my vehicles to a shop.
I make sure that it is so stated on the Repair Work Order
 

PoMansRam

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Here is a little snippet of what I'm dealing with.

Sorry if it's been mentioned, but the sound/cadence of that hemi being cranked over by the starter doesn't sound right at all.

Sounds like you've got some dead holes where cylinders should be.

Does the cadence change if you crank it over in clear flood mode? (Hold the gas pedal to the floor while cranking).
 
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CWdaGreat

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Update: I order some OEM parts including Cam and Crankshaft sensors. Still waiting for delivery. I have checked wiring on the cam shaft and TIPM areas, no visual damages or kinks of any kind. Went ahead and bought a new OEM relay. Checked each fuse in the fuse box and non are blown. Slowly taking parts off after work to look at the Timing chain. Will eventually get to it this weekend. One other thing is when I see my live data frame from the scanner, the Spark Advance is -64!!!
 
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CWdaGreat

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Sorry if it's been mentioned, but the sound/cadence of that hemi being cranked over by the starter doesn't sound right at all.

Sounds like you've got some dead holes where cylinders should be.

Does the cadence change if you crank it over in clear flood mode? (Hold the gas pedal to the floor while cranking).
No difference. What I noticed was that when I crank with a boost, it seems to want to start but doesn't kick in.
 

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