My 1990 Dakota with the 2.5 and a 5 speed has just started having an issue with starting. I shut the truck off for about 5 minutes, and when I went to crank it back on, it starts, and the second I let off the key, the motor just stops running. No sputtering, no bad noises, just stops as if I cut the ignition off. I thought it could be a fuel issue, but even if I give it some gas, it still just cuts off. Any thoughts as to what the problems could be? I plan on putting new plugs and wires in in the morning, but is there anything else I should try first? Thanks in advance for the help.

 

Does the Check engine light pop on??? If so check the code and correct the issue, but if you think it's fuel pop the hood turn the truck on and push in the valve on the fuel rail and it will tell you if your getting fuel

 

Sounds like the ignition switch may be bad or something else in the wiring system not powering all systems like the fuel pump or the computer or ASD. Check for voltage at each circuit.

 

Today I got back to the truck and here's what I replaced/looked at, with no positive results. New spark plugs, new spark plug wires, new distributer cap and roter, new fuel filter. Here are my observations: First off, I'm flashing code 12(battery disconnected within last 50 starts, or possibly just a begining of sequence code) code 33 (A/C clutch relay circuit short or open condition detected) and code 55 (End of error messages) The only code that is a bit alarming is code 33, this code has thrown me for a loop seeing as my truck does not, nor has ever had A/C. After pulling codes I pulled off the air intake and cranked while looking inside the fuel bowl, nothing. No gas pouring in, and the butterflys are not opening at all. Oddly enough, I poured the gas from the old fuel filter (from the "out" end) into the bowl slowly, and the motor will run till I stop. So that pin-points my problem a bit. Its gotta be something fuel related. I'm going to go through and check fuses and all, but what else do you guys reccomend I do? I'm somewhat handy when it comes to cars, and i've got a haynes and chilton manual for this truck, so I feel confident that I can do anything and everything needed... I just need help diagnosing this problem. Thanks in advance for all the help

 

Fuel pump is getting power and pushing out fuel. Its getting spark. If I fluff the gas hard it'll stay running for a few seconds before dying. Its something to do with the fuel getting to the cylinders. I'm thinking either the injector or the fuel pressure regulator. Please help me. I'm starting to have visions of this truck at the bottom of a cliff in flames.

 

Also, if I remove the fuel injector pressure regulator and turn the motor over, it will spray fuel into the air, and actually, the fuel falling back into the TB will allow the motor to run. This leads me to think it is either the injector or the pressure regulator. Any ideas? Both of these are $75 parts, so i'd like to only have to replace one of them. Which should it be?

 

Have you changed out the ECM. It controls all the problems you state you are having. The ECM chips lift from the board. We had the same problem. If we tapped on the ECM it would start, we had taped some bottle caps to the box where the fuel chip was, never had starting problems after that. After a time we had to changed it out and never had problems again. Sometimes it would stall as we drove down the road, start one time and not the next. It was very frustrating.
http://www.autopartswarehouse.com/sk...%26+Drivetrain

 

I really dont think its the computer, I had no stalling out issues ever before, it literally failed and has refused to work since. If I bypass the injector and regulator it will run just fine. I'm going to try a new regulator first, and if that fails i'll be back with more updates. Any thoughts on this?

 

Latest update: New fuel pressure regulator, and nothing. Still the same problems. The injector is getting power, if I unplug it and crank the motor, I throw codes 13 and 27. When I plug it back in, back to codes 12, 33, and 55. I pulled the injector and it **appears** to be clean. I'm seriously at a loss here guys. If there is gas in the TB, it will run, but it cant get gas to the TB. I've replaced the Fuel Pump, Fuel Filter, Spark Plugs, Spark Plug Wires, Distributor Cap, Distributor Rotor, and done a visual inspection of all fuel lines. Gas is getting to the pressure regulator, just not to the fuel bowl/throttle body. I'm open to all ideas now. Thanks in advance for the help.

 

MAP sensor was bad... Unplugged it, and the motor ran, roughly, but ran. Replaced, and it runs like a dream... and i've got new spark plugs, wires, distributor cap, rotor button, fuel pump, strainer, and fuel filter....