What would cause no spark and no power to the fuel pump?

BUDDHALUV79

MEMBER
1995 DODGE STRATUS
4 CYL
AUTOMATIC
200,000 MILES

I was driving my car to work and it died. It started back up and did fine. When I got to work and parked, and turned the car off, I tried to turn it back on and it would not start. It makes the "rrrrr, rrrrrr, rrrrrr" sound, it just won't turn over. I checked to see if I heard the fuel pump kicking on and did not, so I assumed my fuel pump was out. I dropped the gas tank and got to the fuel pump and it was NOT kicking on. However, I had the fuel pump tested and it is good. My problem is that the electrical connector that you plug the fuel pump into under the seats, is not putting out any electric, therefore, not kicking the pump on. The only thing that anyone has told me it may be is the ASD relay switch. But I have checked it and switched it with another switch and it is good. I was also told to try the crank shaft sensor and/or the but both of those are ok as well. Also, I am not getting any spark when I try to start the car, but was also told that the ASD relay switch would stop spark too.

I have been looking in the Hayne's repair manual and it states that the terminal in the PDC that corresponds with terminal 30 of the ASD Relay should have voltage present at all times (even with the key off), and it does. But it also says that the terminal in the PDC that corresponds with terminal 86 on the ASD relay should have voltage ONLY with the ignition key turned to the "On" position. But I tested it and it not only has voltage with the key "On" but when the key is "Off" as well. Could that be a problem?

I am completely stumped and have tried about everything I can think of. So any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

4 Replies

BUDDHALUV79

MEMBER
42 POSTS

** Should have said.I was also told to try camshaft position sensor and the crankshaft position sensor but both of those are ok as well.

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Wednesday, October 12th, 2011 AT 4:28 PM

CARADIODOC

MECHANIC
33,743 POSTS

That "rrrr, rrrr, rrrr" sounds IS turning over. It's not starting. First you have to understand how the automatic shutdown (ASD) relay works. The Engine Computer turns it on for just one second when you turn on the ignition switch, then it turns it back off. You should hear the hum of the fuel pump for that one second. That relay turns on again when you crank the engine, (turn it over). The relay sends voltage to the ignition coil pack, alternator field, oxygen sensor heaters, injectors, and fuel pump or pump relay.

The computer turns the ASD relay on again during engine rotation, (cranking or running). It knows that by the pulses from the camshaft position sensor and the crankshaft position sensor. The most common cause of a no-start condition is failure of the camshaft position sensor. The Engine Computer will also shut the engine down by turning off the ASD relay when the timing belt jumps two or more teeth to protect the valves. Either way, there should be a stored diagnostic fault code in the computer. Having those codes read is a good place to start. When you assumed the fuel pump was bad, did you bother to check for spark first or just jump on the first thing you found?