Hi all! I am new here, and just to be honest, my issue is what has brought me to you fine folk.

My dad gifted me his '95 Dodge Dakota (V-6; 3.9L; 2WD) that he bought brand new. It had been parked for a few years due to the exhaust manifold (one bolt broke flush in the head). We have replaced the exhaust manifold and gasket. We are on our 3rd rotor. The first one had to be pried off and came off in a million pieces, the 2nd one melted. After the 2nd one we replaced the distributor (which my husband -Sam- had to pry off).

After the distributor was replaced we took her itfor a test drive to make sure that fixed the issue. It drove about 20 miles and then dies when I pulled into the driveway (didn't even make it to the house). Sam was able to get it started once it sat for a few minutes, but it dies 30 seconds later and will not turn over again, almost as though it is out of fuel (it has 60 miles out of a full tank).

We are thinking it might be the fuel pump. My dad replaced it about 5 years back with a used fuel pump, so it could very well have gone bad. He also has never changed the fuel filter. But we also wonder if it could be a sensor.

Does anyone have any insight on this? Anything would be helpful.

Thank you

 

Start with the basics. Does it have correct fuel pressure? Are the injectors spraying? Does it have spark?

One possibility is the notorious spices. FAQ in this section has a great write up on it.

 

She has spark. We can get her to start after she sits for a few minutes, but she dies within 30 seconds.

I will have to check about the fuel pressure and the injectors. I know how to check the pressure, but do you have any insight on checking the injectors?

I took a look at the FAQ and that write up, I am not sure if the notorious splice is to blame here, but we will check into that as well.

Thank you for the insight and direction!

 

definitely check the splices under the battery near the pdc, that's what it was on my truck