1988 Dodge pickup won't start

mmidlam · Jan 17, 2011

1988 dodge,318 with TBI. It started yesterday morning then died when put in reverse.Spark is ok and timing light says its in time. Have fuel pressure at the throttle body.Will fire once in a while. Also fires once in a while with starting fluid. How should it respond to starting fluid? Shouldn't it nomally be able to run on starting fluid if everything was ok? a Good scanner points to no problems.

Bob · Jan 17, 2011

Have you actually CHECKED the fuel pressure against specs. (Sorry, don't know offhand what it's supposed to be.)

Does it fire if you (ignition "OFF") squirt a little gasoline down the throttle body, remove the gas can to a safe location, replace the air filter connection and then try to start it?

If it fires with the extra gas and the fuel pressure is normal it sounds like the injectors aren't pulsing which can be verified with a "noid light".

These things were famous for crankshaft sensor failures... can't remember if in that era spark stops as well as fuel injection.

Other problems could be the ASD relay or 'puter or wiring problems.

Old Roy · Jan 17, 2011

With TBI and if a fuel problem still should run on either or by pouring gas directly into carb,. I'd suspect the Crank positioning sensor not delivering signal for correct spark.

Some of those can be a bear to change. I had to get my neighbor kid to change one only because he had broken his arm in 3 places doing wheelies on his dirt bike. he could bend it enough to use regular wrenches.

mmidlam · Jan 17, 2011

Truck won't run on starting fluid so I don't think its a fuel problem. The spark is not blue-weak coil?

Bob · Jan 17, 2011

Try a few drops of gas, not just the ether.

Will the spark jump a spare plug with the gap opened to 3/16" or a spark tester?

<img src = "http://www.lawnmowerpros.com/Shop/Images/Spark-Tester.jpg">

veggiesmn · Jan 17, 2011

You may want to unplug and re connect the ecm. I believe they are on the firewall on that model. You may have a problem with one of the pin connectors.As the others said, pour a little gas down the throttle body. If it runs it's a fuel problem, if not, it will be related to the ecm.

Derek-U.P. · Jan 18, 2011

Line up the damper with the timing marks and pull the cap the rotor should be lined up with #1 or straight across from it. I think you may have jumped the timing chain. It may fire,and even sound like it will try to start. but it only takes a tooth or two.

Anonymous-0 · Jan 18, 2011

Contrary to what others have said, these engines did not get crankshaft position sensors until they went to multiport injection in 1992. The ignition reference comes from the hall effect switch in the distributor. It is known to fail. Could be timing chain as was mentioned. Fuel pressure should be 14.5 psi.

A truck that age could have wiring issues in a variety of places. You need a manual with wiring diagrams and specifications to properly troubleshoot it.

locojim · Jan 18, 2011

Could be the timing chain......

1988 Dodge pickup won't start

mmidlam

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Bob

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Old Roy

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mmidlam

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Bob

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veggiesmn

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Anonymous-0

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locojim

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