Inconsistent startup

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Calkept4

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Hello, this is my first post on this forum. I have a 2000 Dodge Ram 1500 with the 5.2L V8 Magnum.

Trouble started one cold morning when I attempted to move my truck a bit forward. I tried turning it on and it would not. I assumed it was just cold and the battery was dead (had a brake light switch issue that I fixed recently), so I left for work in another vehicle. Coming back later I charged the battery and it would crank but not start. The check engine light had come on so i checked the codes which read P0340 Crankshaft Position Sensor. I installed a new sensor later that week and after a bit of troubleshooting due to another error of mine, I was able to get it to turn on and run. The sensors connections seemed to be a bit stretched but it would still turn on.

I went on like usual yet the same code came back. Not sure why but when the car would start seemed inconsistent. Often it would turn on with no problem but sometimes it would not, even if I had just turned it off. Today it was particularly strange as the code had disappeared and then come back, I turned off the engine and tried turning it on but it would only crank. I tried reconnecting the sensor, but that didnt seem to be the problem (even though the code was the P0340). After trying to turn it on in park, I switched to manual and it turned on with no issues. I drove it for a while before parking it and turning it off again and now it would turn on just fine in park.

Looking online, it seems that a problem with the crankshaft position sensor would have been accompanied with more issues than just trouble starting (such as poor acceleration, rough idle, ect) but I never witnessed any of those faults.

Any advice would be much appreciated. Also happy to answer any questions.
 
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Dredger

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Important to note P0340 is for Camshaft Position Sensor - not Crankshaft. Hopefully something like this can assist you in trouble shooting.

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Calkept4

Calkept4

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I see. Thank you for clearing that up for me. Embarrassing mistake on my part.
 

Dredger

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I see. Thank you for clearing that up for me. Embarrassing mistake on my part.
Absolutely nothing to be embarrassed about. Good luck with the fix and let us know how it goes. I hate chasing down electrical problems :mad:
 

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