did you by chance check the notorious splice? i had a starting problem when i got my 91 v6 found that was the problem. didn't think 91 had it but turns out i was wrong

 

yup, ive checked the splices

 

so as the replies slow down i have a quick question, would it be worth my time and money to go pick up a ECM from the junkyard to see if that fixes the problem?

i am at a loss at what to do and have already spoken with a local scrapper and can get $250 for it in scrap but dont wanna do that, even though i need a vehicle, i would hate to see the dakota go to scrap.

i just dont know right now, like i have said before, i am strapped for cash as i dont have a job and in order to get one i need a vehicle since i am in a rural town and the closest town that i could even possibly get a job in is 20 min away.

so what should i do?

 

If the pcm is getting power from the key switch then I would say yes try a known good pcm.

 

well went to the closest junkyard and got a ECM. I have boughten parts from him before for various other vehicles and have had no problems. charged me $50 and he pulled it. got it bolted in and all hooked up and am now charging the battery. its dead from me turning the truck over so much. i will let you know how it turns out

 

got anxious and the battery had some charge so i went out and did the key dance and got codes 12 and 55 which are normal, i wasnt able to get tehm before, no matter how many times i tried

also i took the old ECM out and could here stuff in it, shook it and a tone of rat/mouse **** fell out so i think the ECM was damged some how from that, when i got the truck in the air vents i had to clean the mice nests outta there too

but batt is still charging, everything is looking up right now hopefully it all works out

 

well it all didnt work out

i first got code 11, so i switched back over to my old pickup coil and got nothing still

then i realized my beltwasnt tight and my alternator wasnt turning, so i tightened that up and now i am also getting code 41

i looked them up as to what the error is and dont know how to go about fixing it

help, at least i am now getting error codes with the key dance,

so maybe i can
hook up the computer/code reader/scanner up to the ECM and get some information

 

so got the computer/code scanner hooked up to the truck today.

it was abl;e to communicate with the ECM and it said that i had code 11 which is what i was getting with the key dance

the computer said that there was no crank reference signal

so the new pickup coil i got was bad, i tried both the old and new and neither would start the truck

so i am going to pick up another pickup coil tomorrow( well today since it is 3 am where i am) but i will install that and see where that gets me

 

got another pickup coil on it and i reset the computer codes

and no start again and i am getting code 11 AGAIN

HELP, idk what to do

 

you need to connector pin out for the pcm and the dist pick up plate. check the wires not only for continuity but also do a voltage drop test at about a 2 or 4 amp load. use a tail lamp bulb for a load.
make sure all your ckts can carry a load without more than .5 volts drop.
also check and make sure your connectors are clean. go get some small sewing pins and make sure that the connectors are able to grab em. you should feel some drag on them when you slide it in and out of the terminals.
and for sh*ts and giggles run down to the parts store and have em pull the sensors so you can see what they are calling a crank sensor.
as was already said assuming you still have the original la engine (throttle body injected) the dist pickup plate does that job as well. and check your dist while you are in it make sure there isn't anything broken.
i'm thinking rats got your wires and you have a broke wire. maybe one strand still intact. wich will test good with a meter but not carry a load.