Speedy Auto > Auto FAQ > Cars > Dodge

Dodge: truck wont start, crank sensor, high mileage


Question
QUESTION: took the truck to the car wash to rinse off, it stalled while rinsing it but did start back up. Headed home and as i was driving down the road it started acting like it wasn't picking up the gas, then backfired through the exhaust and quit. It wouldn't restart at all. since then it still wont start, it turns over, has good spark, good compression, I have changed the plugs, the distributor cap, the pick up in the distributor, the rotor, the crank sensor, can here the fuel pump kick on and even dumping gas into the throttle body it still will not start. any ideas

ANSWER: HEY JEANNA,SOUNDS LIKE IT MAY HAVE JUMPED TIME? WHEN IT BACK FIRED THROUGH THE EXHAUST IT MAY HAVE CAUSED THE TIMING CHAIN TO JUMP.WHEN THIS HAPPENS YOU CAN HAVE SPARK AND FUEL BUT IT COMES AT THE WRONG TIME.TRY TO MOVE THE DISTRIBUTOR BOTH WAYS AND SEE IF ANYTHING CHANGES.WHAT KIND OF COMPRESSION DO YOU HAVE? IF THE VALVES ARE OPENING AND CLOSING AT THE WRONG TIME IT JUST WONT START.JUMPING TIME HAPPENS WHEN THE TIMING CHAIN IS STRETCHED DUE TO HIGH MILEAGE.HOW MANY MILES DOES THE ENGINE HAVE? LET ME KNOW,TIM

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: it has 123,000 miles on it and the timing marks all line up with the distributor being on the one with the number one piston up and the mark on the balancer lines up. compression was at 120 to 150 in each cylinder.

ANSWER: DOES THE ENGINE MAKE ANY ATTEMPT TO START OR SPUTTER? IS THE SPARK STRONG AT THE PLUG OR IS IT JUST THERE?

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: The spark seems to be strong, does not really attempt to start or sputter but will occasionally kick back or sputter like when releasing the key.

Answer
HAVE YOU CHANGED THE COIL AND COIL WIRE. WHEN YOU SAID IT JUMPS AS YOU ARE LETTING THE KEY GO THAT TELLS ME THAT WHILE YOU'RE CRANKING IT OVER YOU MAY BE ROBBING THE SYSTEM OF VOLTAGE AND WHEN YOU RELEASE THE KEY IT TRIES TO CATCH BUT IT CANT. A BAD COIL WIRE WILL DO THIS OR A DIRTY CONNECTION.TIM