Why won't my truck start?

Tiny
BLSS1978
  • MEMBER
  • 2004 DODGE DAKOTA
  • 80,000 MILES
I was driving on the highway when my truck suddenly quit on me. I could not restart it. I was able to get some fuel injector cleaner in it and it started up and ran long enough to get it off the highway. Won't restart. Towed it to my house. I can't hear the fuel pump engage, however when it is out of my truck and tested, it tests fine. Also checked the fuel pump relay and that is fine as well. Bought a new fuel pump just to be safe and it won't work in my truck either. Bought starter fluid and it turns on as long as the fluid is spraying, but as soon as I quit the truck stalls out. No one can give me any solid answers
Sunday, January 22nd, 2012 AT 6:49 PM

12 Replies

Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Try checking if the injectors are pulsing
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Sunday, January 22nd, 2012 AT 6:58 PM
Tiny
BLSS1978
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
They are not pulsing. No power to the fuel pump. No power to the wire harness
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Sunday, January 22nd, 2012 AT 7:16 PM
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Try swapping the ASD relay and see what happens
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Sunday, January 22nd, 2012 AT 7:18 PM
Tiny
BLSS1978
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
Where is it located? Can't seem to find it
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Sunday, January 22nd, 2012 AT 7:20 PM
Tiny
BLSS1978
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
I don't have any label for an ASD relay in the power distribution center. I do have an EBL relay which no one seems to know what that is
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Sunday, January 22nd, 2012 AT 7:25 PM
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
You need a repair manual -preferably a service manual you still have a long way to go to nail this problem-Possibly the computer is not getting the camshaft input signal to snchronize the injectors-

You can't bench a fuel pump, you have to put a load on it. Any applicable trouble codes? Check for voltage and ground at the fuel pump relay, note the diagram, You have to have voltage for both the coil and load side of relay. The coil side is the squiggle lines, The load side has the line with arrow-head on it, When relay is energized, that line with arrow-head moves to the other terminal. That terminal is hot all the time. Voltage to the coil side of relay goes hot with the key on. Just pull the relay, key on, two terminals should be hot.
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Sunday, January 22nd, 2012 AT 7:39 PM
Tiny
BLSS1978
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
On my way now! I did notice two wires by the fuel pump are not getting a read on my meter. Green with a black stripe and black with a blue stripe. I checked those same two wires under the hood and they got a read on my meter. So frustrating but I really appreciate your help in this
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Sunday, January 22nd, 2012 AT 7:46 PM
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
What engine is this?
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Sunday, January 22nd, 2012 AT 8:00 PM
Tiny
BLSS1978
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
V6 3.7L
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Sunday, January 22nd, 2012 AT 8:19 PM
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Follow up to what I've suggested-keep me posted
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Sunday, January 22nd, 2012 AT 8:52 PM
Tiny
BLSS1978
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
Ok so here's what I've discovered. The light on the top of my cap to my truck never worked. I followed the wiring for the fuel pump under the truck to discover that it was snipped. Turns out the previous owner had tried to rewire the lighting to the cap and clipped the wrong wire. Realizing their mistake, they attempted to reconnect the wire with some electrical tape. Over time, the electrical tape wore off (while I was driving on the highway!) And the fuel pump lost power. What a mess! But I am glad to have this resolved. Thank you so much for your help! Sometimes it just helps to talk to a pro and know you are not losing your mind:)
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Sunday, January 22nd, 2012 AT 10:43 PM
Tiny
RIVERMIKERAT
  • MECHANIC
  • 6,110 POSTS
Thanks for letting us now you got it fixed. Closing the thread.
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Wednesday, January 25th, 2012 AT 6:55 AM

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