Truck wouldn't start for the first time since I bought it new in 98

[ParrotHead FA]

Yesterday was the first time I ever had trouble with my ram. Wanted to go out with my wife and a couple friends, and went to take it out of the garage and for the first time ever, she wouldn't start. Last time I drove it was about 2 weeks ago, I had it out for the weekend, went on a short road trip and had no problems whatsoever. Ran great, got good fuel economy, no check engine light, and I parked it in the garage when I got home and everything was fine. I cranked it and cranked it and nothing. Finally the engine caught twice, but only ran about 1 or 2 seconds before dying. Then the battery was getting too low, so I put a jump starter on and tried a few more times, but nothing.
I bought this truck new in 98, and made all my modifications a few weeks after that, and have driven it all over the country and never had a single problem with it. I always keep her tuned up and regularly change all lubricants at the recommended intervals. Hadn't had time to mess with it again, I just put a trickle charger on the battery. Does anyone have any ideas what might have gone wrong, or had a similar experience? There isn't a lot of gas in it, about an eighth of a tank, and I have had it sitting in the garage for a few weeks before with about that much in it without any problems. I did check under the hood to see if anything may have come loose, or if rats or squirrels might have gotten in there and chewed a wire or something, but everything looked perfectly fine. I'll have some time to look at it more closely the next few days, so I was wondering if anyone might have any ideas.
Dave

 

[Merc225hp]

I would start by checking for fuel psi at the rail, should be 49psi. Can you hear the fuel pump for a second when you turn on the key? Also check for spark using the correct spark tester not a screwdriver.

 

[ParrotHead FA]

Can the battery being low affect the computer's performance, possibly causing it not to start? I left a charger on it for a day or so while I was busy, and it started and ran normally first crank when I tried it again. But it turned over much faster than it had previously. I think the battery is starting to show it's age, whenever it sits for more than a couple days, it will still crank, but not like when you've just driven it.
Dave

 

[Merc225hp]

A low batt very well could be the cause of your problem, have the batt load tested and see what shape its in.

 

[WhiteExpress]

A crank no start could be caused by a low battery, but it'd have to be REALLY low.

On Magnum motors, and intermittent crank no start is often caused by a bad crank or cam position sensor.

Did it kick on the CEL when it wouldn't run?

 

[jimdd810]

Start with the easy stuff put gas in it. My truck ran out of gas last week with an eighth of a tank still showing and distance to empty was still showing 35 miles.

 

[Merc225hp]

2nd gens are picky on batt voltage, ckps are suspect on these motors, cam pick not so much. Air spark comp and fuel they all must be present. I asked the op to check for fuel and spark no answer was provided, until we find out what is not present we can speculate all we want.

 

[ParrotHead FA]

Yeah, sorry guys, been afk for a few days. I was going to check that stuff, but after 24 hrs on the slow charger, the truck started normally and ran perfectly. I have driven it twice since then, and no problems whatsoever. Starts immediately first crank. Took it on a nice long drive to an out of town beach yesterday. The time it didn't start, the engine would turn over ok, but it was sluggish compared to normal. I guess the battery was low and wasn't providing enough juice for my MSD and/or the computer. Strange though that even with a jump starter on it it wouldn't start and stay running. I think sometimes what happens to the batteries in both my trucks is they get a bit low because I don't drive them all the time, and sometimes they sit for 2-3 weeks between outings, but often I have to start them and move them out of the garage to work on other ppl's cars. I think the battery might have ended up low because when I start and move the truck from the garage to the driveway a few times and back, it dosen't run long enough to charge it back up fully. The chevrolet seems to be a lot more forgiving, if you can get 3 or 4 revolutions out of the motor, it will fire up no matter how slowly it turns over.
Dave