1999 Dodge Ram Van 1500 3.9L won't start

You have spark, but it didn't fire when ether was sprayed down the throttle
body?   Hmmmmm.... sumpin' sounds fishy!  Did it even "try" to fire with the
ether?

Mike

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but nothing

have replaced the

and all are

going to the

body?

No it didn't even try to fire. Checked the timing chain and things are good
there too.

Something still doesn't make sense.  I have read down the list of responses
and you indicate that everything tests good.  Please elaborate on how you
are testing and the test results.... something is missing here....

Mike

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turns but nothing

have replaced

fuses and all

spark going to

body?

there too.

and you indicate

test results....

I took the starter and the alternator to Autozone and they checked them there
and were ok. I
put a brand new distributor cap, rotor button and plugs on. I hooked one of the
plugs to the
plug wire and had sparks to the plug. I used a volt and ohms meter to check the
crank position
switch and it was ok. My neighbor came over and pulled the codes off his
computer and there
were no codes. Took the front part of the engine off to check the timing chain
and it is in
good shape. My fuses looked in good shape. I checked the coil with the ohms
meter and it showed
good. I checked with a pressure gauge for fuel pressure at fuel rails and it is
getting fuel.

Thanks for helping. I am stumped over this one after being a mechanic for over
30 years.

Dale:

As you obviously well know, three things are required for an engine to run,
fuel, air and spark and you seemingly have all three... then why no go?
That's the puzzle.  I am curious as to why you would bother to have the
starter and alternator tested if the engine cranked over though.  Firstly, I
would check the engine with an old fashioned timing light to see if the
engine is firing when it should.  Secondly, a volt-ohmeter test is not
always valid for a coil or crank position sensor but "if" you are getting
fire, then these are seemingly good.   A scan tool can show no fault codes
and there still can be a latent problem.  The only thing you haven't checked
is compression which should be done next.

Mike

Does this van have the anti-theft (code LSA) unit installed?

They have been known to fail and prevent the engine from starting. It
will still show spark but the ECM won't let it run.
There is an info sheet on it.


--
Steve W.

Even so, if it has spark, it should still fire with a jolt of ether...

Mike

Not if the spark isn't in time. Which is one of the ways the ECM
prevents theft.

--
Steve W.

Steve:

IIRC, the anti-theft system disables the vehicle thru the ASD solenoid, not
spark.

Mike

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turns but

are ok. I have

checked the

help either. I

ideas that I might

throttle body?

ether?

good there too.

and you

testing and the test

there and were ok.

of the plugs to

check the crank

off his computer

timing chain

with the ohms

at fuel rails

over 30 years.

fuel, air and

I am curious

engine cranked

light to see if

always valid for

seemingly

problem.  The

still show spark

I am sorry for not getting back sooner but have not been online due to working
long hours.

No , there is no anti-theft unit on this van.

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turns but nothing

have replaced

fuses and all

have spark going

try?

throttle body?

there too.

and you

testing and the test

and were ok. I

the plugs to the

the crank

his computer

timing chain and

the ohms meter

rails and it

over 30 years.

fuel, air and

I am curious as

engine cranked over

to see if the

valid for a

seemingly good.

The only thing

I am sorry for not getting back sooner but I have not been online due to working
long hours.

I check the compression on one cylinder and it had 120 pounds so I figured the
rest would be
the same or about the same. I had the alternator and starter checked just to see
if good and to
rule out.

but nothing

replaced the

and all are good. I

the plugs so that

Crank position sensor

--
Steve W.

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but nothing

have replaced the

and all are

going to the

I thought that at first too but that is ok too.

but nothing

replaced the

and all are good. I

the plugs so that

White spark or yellow spark?

JAM

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but nothing

have replaced the

and all are

the plugs so

Whitish yellow but more white than yellow.

If you really have a good strong spark, then the 4th dimension for an engine
to function is combustion, which is touched off with the spark at the right
moment in a gasoline engine...  Did you ever have it running or everything
before you messed with the wires & dist cap?  it is so easy to be "1" off on
the cap for the wires, I would triple check that, and if you crimped your
own...  especially if you had any running before you worked on it.  I cant
believe it didn't at least try to fire with ether, but the ether sold in
stores now days (because of the "huffers" and those that blow heads off of
cars, and flash fires up the carbs) is like 2% milk, mostly anything but
ether, just like the milk...

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turns but nothing

have replaced

and all are

to the plugs so

to function is

gasoline engine...

dist cap?  it

and if you

it.  I cant

stores now days

fires up the

I had just driven to the Meijers just a few blocks from home and when I went to
leave is when
it would not start. The van ran good until then and showed no signs of quitting.
 I had to have
it towed home. Thanks for your thoughts. I still have not figured out what is
wrong and I need
it for work.

but nothing

replaced the

and all are good. I

the plugs so that

Is it getting fuel? Might check the cam sensor, and crank sensor.

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but nothing

have replaced the

and all are

the plugs so

Yes it is getting fuel and the crank sensor is ok. I will check it in the
morning . Thanks.