Sitting at a fast food drive through and she just went dead, like I turned off the key dead.
Turns over fast but will not fire. Had to push it to a parking space then have it towed home the next day...it was late.
No garages local could take it this week.
Check engine light never came on.
It has plenty of fuel.

Tomorrow is going to be the first chance I have had to really look at it.
For now I know I know nothing about this engine. I gave up on repairing engines in the 80's. Give me a small block and a carb and I can make it run...add todays computers etc I am lost. However I am always ready to give it a good try before paying someone else.
That was a brief introduction..my first post here. Hello all

What I have found thus far in my 1 hour of before dark, after work, is:
I seem to have no spark. Grounded spark plug will not spark...engine spinning. Fluke meter on DC detects nothing at the coil or the spark plug wire. Replaced the cap and rotor today....never hurts....did not help.
Fuel pump runs.
Check timing tomorrow...but even if the belt or chain jumped it should produce a spark....right????

I simply need some advice on where to start looking or if there is a common issue. I seached this thread 12 pages
All fuses check good.
Any help is greatly appreciated.
Michael

 

welcome to df...

is your CE light coming on? its an indicator that your PCM is active. if so, the crank position sensor is responsible for timing, & the cam sensor for fuel injector timing. start there. if there is nothing obvious, check the coil... they also can go bad.

 

Hello Steve,

Yes, the computer goes through the check instument function. All the lights; including CE; come on then go off...normal

Where is the Crank Sensor on this 98 318 Ram w/ auto. I have read everywhere this is the likely problem. However I am old school so I will replace the coil too.

I smell gas slightly when trying to crank it. The air filter is off. I suspect it is injecting.

Whether this is happening at the correct time I will find out when it warms a bit. 22 now.

Thanks again
Michael

 

definalty sounds like the crack sensor, its located on the top right corner of the bell housing. theres 2 little bolts that hold it in and then it lifts straight out. kinda a pain in the *** to get to. but when mine went out i had to change mine while laying in a big leaf pile that my truck was parked over.

i would also recommend the MSD direct replacement coil. its not much more money and my truck seamed to idle much better with it. i think mine was like 50 buxs

 

yeah if your going to get a coil, get an msd.

 

I browsed all over and ran across a mr fix it; Bob Hewitt. He said if it had a distibutor it has no crank sensor.
I wrote back telling him Napa and some others sell one for my truck.
Autozone says not available for my Dodge Ram 1500 w/318 auto.

I cannot locate it though. There is a sensor of some sort on the bottom left of the tranny tail housing. those wires insultion are cracked and the wire is exposed in several places. Not touching or shorting though. I can see about 6" before the wires enter the harness.
I super 33 taped then for now. Do not figure thats it, tranny speed or whatever. I am going to Autozone to buy the Haynes book for it. They have it now; so they say; did not last time I looked. I always like to have that book for my cars....trucks.

Its been cold here 15 degrees this morn. Mack Hydralic jack has decided to not work so far. Figures.

So your saying it mounted to the transmission. I assume it has to be close to the shaft. The sensor I spoke of is.

I appreciate the help greatly guys. I am and rc plane nut so I am in those forums all the time asking and aswering, these forums are one great aspect of the net.

 

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Your truck has a crank sensor, if your standing in front of the engine reach behind the left rear corner of the intake manifold, its there.
if the sensor went bad, you wont get a spark anyway (coil will have no volts) the crank sensor tells the PCM if the engine is actually turning or not. also, check if your fuel pump went dead. you should at least hear some buzzing in the gas tank when you turn the key all the way forward. if you hear it, you need to check the pressure on the fuel rail the a high pressure fuel gauge. if no sound coming from the tank, check all relays under hood. sounds like the crank sensor, but it could be a fuel pump ($$$) good luck

 

Well, Mr Bob is wrong... the crank sensor is located behind the passenger side head and is mounted to the flange where the tranny bolts up. if your wiring is exposed, I'd say you had a short and the wire fried. wiring just doesnt get exposed like that.

 

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