Stuck at the marina tonight, truck wont start

[Wollfen]

Hey Guys Im at a marina right now and i cant get home. The truck wont start, has no spark and appears to not have 12V at the positive side of the coil, but when I try to jump start it, I still get nothing. This truck is a 1989 dodge ram d150 with fuel injected 318, can anybody give an idea of what I need to look for? Im wondering if the ECU is snafu. Let me know if you can, cheers.

 

[Davea Lux]

Hey Guys Im at a marina right now and i cant get home. The truck wont start, has no spark and appears to not have 12V at the positive side of the coil, but when I try to jump start it, I still get nothing. This truck is a 1989 dodge ram d150 with fuel injected 318, can anybody give an idea of what I need to look for? Im wondering if the ECU is snafu. Let me know if you can, cheers.

Does the fuel pump start when you try to start the truck, if not, the Auto shutdown relay is not cycling. Check your fuses. Coil gets power from the ECM, also check the fuse for that.

Dave

 

[Davea Lux]

This is kind of a chicken and egg problem, the Hall Effect pickup module in the distributor is monitored by the ECM, if it does not get signal, it does not power the coil.

Dave

 

[Wollfen]

I checked the relays and they are clickingh, plus we bridged the ASD relay to no effect, I am wondering if the Hall effect unit could be faultyy too, but I have no tools here to cherck anything beyond, is it getting power or not. I will check fuses, but its probably not that as the truck cut out earlier in the day and died on the highway only to start up again a few mins later.

 

[bluefury361]

I had that issue with my 93 Dakota 318. Turned out to be the coil wire.

 

[Davea Lux]

I checked the relays and they are clickingh, plus we bridged the ASD relay to no effect, I am wondering if the Hall effect unit could be faultyy too, but I have no tools here to cherck anything beyond, is it getting power or not. I will check fuses, but its probably not that as the truck cut out earlier in the day and died on the highway only to start up again a few mins later.

If there is a shutdown error code stored in the computer, you might be able to disconnect the battery cable for a few minutes. In some cases that will clear the code and put the ECM back into limp mode for a awhile so that the vehicle will again start. If the computer lost contact with the crank or camshaft position sensors it will usually again start. Mopar had some issues with the cam position sensors on some of their vehicles.

Dave

 

[Wollfen]

Mm, does this year of vehicle carry a cam and crank sensor? If so where do i look for them? I hopped in the truck this morning and bam, it started, so i will go home and go from there.

 

[69 300 vert]

Yes, the camshaft position sensor is where the old pick up coil used to reside. The crank sensor is mounted in an oversized "slot" in the transmission housing, north of the oil filter. PITA to get to.

I had a similar problem with my '93 long ago, turned out to be a bad ignition switch, another PITA to diagnose.

 

[Wollfen]

I cant find any ccrank sensors or cam sensors listed as parts in the typical parts stores including rockauto

 

[69 300 vert]

I believe the name of the part is hall effect sensor. STANDARD MOTOR PRODUCTS LX127

 

[Wollfen]

Yup, thats what I am about to order, it goes in the distributor

 

[bluefury361]

I had that issue with my 93 Dakota 318. Turned out to be the coil wire.

My Dakota just stopped running at 65 MPH on the interstate and would not restart. AAA took about an hour to get there and it started then and drove onto the rollback. I still had them carry it to a shop near me and they replaced the coil ignition wire. No more issues.

 

[Wollfen]

I tried using a jumper wire from the battery directly to the positive side of the coil but it had no effect.

 

[69 300 vert]

In my experience both those sensors are VERY reliable. I had ~ 550,000 miles on two '93 trucks without those ever failing. I've replaced several ignition switches, only one for no start. Had an '80 Mirada in 1980 with a failed coil wire, ran but badly. Warranty repair deal.

 

[71Newp]

I had a similar problem on my '89 Dakota with the V-6. It was the Hall pickup. After I replaced it, I looked at it and it was very corroded where the rotor swung through. I wondered it cleaning it up would have got it running again....

 

[Snotty]

Curious, did you get it towed home or is it still sitting at the marina?

 

[Davea Lux]

I believe the name of the part is hall effect sensor. STANDARD MOTOR PRODUCTS LX127

View attachment 404421

The one in the photo is the early type. Later 318's have a cam sensor located behind the water pump housing. Not sure when they made the switch.

Dave

 

[69 300 vert]

The one in the photo is the early type. Later 318's have a cam sensor located behind the water pump housing. Not sure when they made the switch. Dave

Post 1993 for sure, probably with the advent of OBDII in 1996 2¢

 

[Wollfen]

I had a similar problem on my '89 Dakota with the V-6. It was the Hall pickup. After I replaced it, I looked at it and it was very corroded where the rotor swung through. I wondered it cleaning it up would have got it running again....

I have noticed there is corrosion on the rotor shaft so corrosion on the hall sensor is likely, i have ordered a new one and will see when i open the dizzy up properly.

 

[Wollfen]

Curious, did you get it towed home or is it still sitting at the marina?

I hit the key this morning and it started immediately, no issues, it stumbled a couple of times just above idle as i drove it home. Since then, it is showing no issues at all.