Cranks but will not start

Tiny
TECHINSTALLER
  • MEMBER
  • 1997 DODGE CARAVAN
  • 3.3L
  • 6 CYL
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 190,000 MILES
Vehicle ran one year ago. Has new battery and fresh fuel. Turns over but will not crank. Removed, cleaned and checked all fuses in both fuse blocks. Tried a bit of starting fluid but will not fire. Acting like something is telling it electronically not to start. OBD will not power up a working OBD tester when plugged in. Fuel gauge shows empty with ten gallons of fuel, performed instrument cluster test and gauges all work, fuel gauge works on test and only code shown is 999. Other symptom is four or five windshield washer control buttons on dash below radio are flashing.
Wednesday, January 9th, 2019 AT 5:25 PM

5 Replies

Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Good evening,

A year is a long time. the fuel is no good in the tank and most likely the pump is no good as well.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-replace-an-electric-fuel-pump

Did you test for spark?

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-test-an-ignition-system

I would start here with draining the fuel system, adding new fuel, new fuel pump and filter. check the pressure to verify there is pressure to the injectors.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-fuel-system-pressure-and-regulator

Roy
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Wednesday, January 9th, 2019 AT 5:40 PM
Tiny
TECHINSTALLER
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
I added ten gallons of fresh fuel and it sounds like the fuel pump is working. I did try a bit of starting fluid in the intake with no sign of firing. I will check for spark. One follow up question, as I am checking for the most obvious things first, should the green wire connected to the fuel block next to the battery be going to ground all the time? My red terminal has 12 volts but the green wire attached to the post with a nut does not have continuity to ground and I am wondering if the fusible link on the green wire has gone bad.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Wednesday, January 9th, 2019 AT 6:01 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Adding ten gallons does nothing for the old fuel.

My previous suggestion stands.

I have no idea what wire you are referring to, what does it control? Can you post a picture of what you see so I can see it as well?

Roy
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Wednesday, January 9th, 2019 AT 6:25 PM
Tiny
TECHINSTALLER
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Thank you so much for your quick reply. Please forgive me for not being clear. The photo below shows the fuse block next the to PCM with the red and green terminals at the very top. The red from the battery has 12 volts plus but the green post does not have have continuity to ground but I am not sure if it is supposed to be? I have started to expose the fusible link part of the green wire but stopped until I check the fuel issue you recommended. Should those two posts show 12 volts between them? As far as the fuel goes, I was hoping that even old fuel would allow the vehicle to try and at least sputter. I added ten gallons of treated fuel to the tank to hopefully dilute the few gallons of bad fuel in there (it was treated with fuel stabilizer), but what I do not know is if bad fuel will actually clog up a fuel filter or jam up a fuel pump? I appreciate any help you can offer so that I can concentrate on the most likely cause of the problem.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Wednesday, January 9th, 2019 AT 7:27 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Okay, as far as the fuel, no. There is nothing you can add to make bad fuel good. It must be removed, the lines flushed out as well and a new filter. I also recommend replacing the pump as I suggested.

Do a continuity check on the green wire from end to end. Looks like a fusible link.

Roy
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Thursday, January 10th, 2019 AT 4:52 AM

Please login or register to post a reply.

Sponsored links