She's Dead Again!
Professional
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 127
Likes: 0
From: New York
Since you have the pump wired with your own wiring, have you checked all the wiring for quality lately? - cracks, wearing etc.
I'm not sure exactly the route you took to wire the pump but you could also try checking the fuses under the hood in the black box next to the battery. Also check for corrosion in female connectors for fuses.
Have you tried "priming" the pump? I'd try turning key to on position and off position a few times before to "start" position to make sure you can get some fuel to the engine.
You could try a cheap pump connected somewhere in the regular fuel line to turn on and off quick to try to prime fuel to the engine just to start it and then see if it stays running with that new in-line pump off.
Biggest problem I've had with my dakota fuel wise was the wiring connectors and wires at the top dead center of the fuel pump, they would corrode and wear and fall apart. Finally had another mechanic fix it correctly one day a few years ago and it's been fine ever since. That was 2010 IIRC.
I didn't see it anywhere but if it's fuel injected then should be a connector at top drivers side rear of engine it's a little bigger than and looks similar to a tire valve, matching cap too. You could take the cap off and while wearing eye protection, push a pin or maybe end of a nail in there to see if any fuel squirts out. try key on and off a few more times to get fuel back there and check it again to see if getting some fuel. once you get it running again could check that with a pressure gauge to see if you are getting the right pressure.
Could also check fuel injectors. Does it run a little rough even once it finally does start? could be a bad or dying injector or bad injector connector.
I'm not sure exactly the route you took to wire the pump but you could also try checking the fuses under the hood in the black box next to the battery. Also check for corrosion in female connectors for fuses.
Have you tried "priming" the pump? I'd try turning key to on position and off position a few times before to "start" position to make sure you can get some fuel to the engine.
You could try a cheap pump connected somewhere in the regular fuel line to turn on and off quick to try to prime fuel to the engine just to start it and then see if it stays running with that new in-line pump off.
Biggest problem I've had with my dakota fuel wise was the wiring connectors and wires at the top dead center of the fuel pump, they would corrode and wear and fall apart. Finally had another mechanic fix it correctly one day a few years ago and it's been fine ever since. That was 2010 IIRC.
I didn't see it anywhere but if it's fuel injected then should be a connector at top drivers side rear of engine it's a little bigger than and looks similar to a tire valve, matching cap too. You could take the cap off and while wearing eye protection, push a pin or maybe end of a nail in there to see if any fuel squirts out. try key on and off a few more times to get fuel back there and check it again to see if getting some fuel. once you get it running again could check that with a pressure gauge to see if you are getting the right pressure.
Could also check fuel injectors. Does it run a little rough even once it finally does start? could be a bad or dying injector or bad injector connector.
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
I have the same thing happening with my 90 ram d150 3.9. Replaced all that. Had spark and would run rough. Now no spark. I have done all you have and more except replace ecm. Any updates?
Holy Thread Revival Batman......again....years later! So and update and more questions for anyone that may be new.
If you have read this thread, you can see all the things done to the Dakota I own. (1992, 3.9, A/T)
The fuel pump would not turn on last I was here. I got pissed and pushed it into the backyard. Well, I was walking by it the other day and said "WTH, let's see."
And the damn thing fired up and ran. I cranked it several more times of the next few days. Fired every time with almost no turnover. Crank...vroom.
Moved it into a different spot in the yard on its own power. Cranked and ran it a couple more days. Put the transmission through the motions. Let it run long enough for the alternator to work the battery up some.
Then go out one day and get "click, click, click". Battery, right? Get the meter out to confirm. Yep, battery. No problem. Get battery. Another $100.00. Put the battery in (yes the right way for the CPU) and the m'fer has not ran since.
It WILL NOT turn on the fuel pump. Turn switch on, hear "click" back there somewhere near the back of the truck like I mentioned before. No whir of the pump.
The pump has been replaced with a new one. Less than 5,000 miles on this new one. I took the old pump and straight wired it to the battery after going through every thing else listed in this thread and the old pump runs.
I've chased the "click" down to fuse number 7 under the dash. However, testing with a test light I get nothing open or broken. With an AMP meter I get no parasitic drain either. So should the "click" be there and is normally not heard due to the pump whirring? Or should the "click" not be there?
When I hear it seems to be the exact amount of time at the end of the pump pressure cycle.
Example of Proper function: Turn key to on-pump whirs to pressure about 2 seconds-crank-run.
Example of what I have: Turn key to on-pump makes zero noise-about 2 seconds later "click" heard-crank-no run.
So here's where I'm at. Right back where I started! Simply stated, sporadic running without rhyme or reason. Now who's got fresh ideas for my dumbass?
P.S. I now tell everyone it is my "art" in the backyard.
If you have read this thread, you can see all the things done to the Dakota I own. (1992, 3.9, A/T)
The fuel pump would not turn on last I was here. I got pissed and pushed it into the backyard. Well, I was walking by it the other day and said "WTH, let's see."
And the damn thing fired up and ran. I cranked it several more times of the next few days. Fired every time with almost no turnover. Crank...vroom.
Moved it into a different spot in the yard on its own power. Cranked and ran it a couple more days. Put the transmission through the motions. Let it run long enough for the alternator to work the battery up some.
Then go out one day and get "click, click, click". Battery, right? Get the meter out to confirm. Yep, battery. No problem. Get battery. Another $100.00. Put the battery in (yes the right way for the CPU) and the m'fer has not ran since.
It WILL NOT turn on the fuel pump. Turn switch on, hear "click" back there somewhere near the back of the truck like I mentioned before. No whir of the pump.
The pump has been replaced with a new one. Less than 5,000 miles on this new one. I took the old pump and straight wired it to the battery after going through every thing else listed in this thread and the old pump runs.
I've chased the "click" down to fuse number 7 under the dash. However, testing with a test light I get nothing open or broken. With an AMP meter I get no parasitic drain either. So should the "click" be there and is normally not heard due to the pump whirring? Or should the "click" not be there?
When I hear it seems to be the exact amount of time at the end of the pump pressure cycle.
Example of Proper function: Turn key to on-pump whirs to pressure about 2 seconds-crank-run.
Example of what I have: Turn key to on-pump makes zero noise-about 2 seconds later "click" heard-crank-no run.
So here's where I'm at. Right back where I started! Simply stated, sporadic running without rhyme or reason. Now who's got fresh ideas for my dumbass?
P.S. I now tell everyone it is my "art" in the backyard.
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 460
Likes: 0
From: Ontario, Canada
Heck of a good speech . . . and it's a ferd lol