Will not start again for a couple hours?

RICK HATFIELD

MEMBER
1996 DODGE DAKOTA
4 CYL
2WD
MANUAL
185,000 MILES

This truck can sit for months, or you can go every day and it will start right up and run fine for 20+ miles. If you turn it off or it shuts off it won't start again for a couple hours. Sometimes you can pull start it, but it just turns over and over without even trying to start. After a couple hours it will start right up and go for another 20+ miles or less if you turn it off it after 10+ miles.

Tuesday, March 25th, 2008 AT 12:45 AM

1 Reply

SQM

MECHANIC
6,383 POSTS

Hello,

It sounds like this could be due to a faulty crankshaft position sensor.
The crank sensor sends data of the engine revolution to the ECM. Over time with heat and vibration from the engine it could lose its internal calibration. This will lead to incorrect data being sent to the ECM. That can trigger a engine shutdown.
This can happen at any random time. After the shutdown you may or may not be able to restart the engine. Sometimes waiting for several minutes can help get it started.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/symptoms-of-a-bad-crankshaft-sensor
https://www.2carpros.com/articles/crankshaft-angle-sensor-replacement

The crank sensor is located on the lower part of the engine (see diagram below).

Please let me know if you have any questions.
Thank you.

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