I know about the splice but I don't think its the problem. I'm hoping to go look at this 96 318/5 speed/4wd but he says it won't start. He also says that jumping power to the coil it will start, so the splice is out then right? Then you'd have no spark OR fuel? I'm thinking wiring to/from the ign switch and/or bad switch or the ASD relay?
Any thoughts would be helpful.

Thanks.

 

check basics, do you have fuel, do you have spark? No fuel is the pump running? If not is the relay energizing?

 

I went and saw the truck today. It DOES NOT start by jumping power to the coil... It seems to have fuel pressure by depressing the Schroeder valve on the fuel rail, fuel comes out. He said he replaced the crank position sensor, he did replace the coil too. It has new plugs, wires, cap, rotor, and pickup. I tried swapping out the ASD relay and it did nothing.
Any thoughts?

 

I'd check for spark at the plug, if you have fuel, and spark you have a timing issue. Possible computer, but I wouldn't throw one at it to see since they aren't exactly cheap

 

I'd check for what codes are set, first. Check to see if there's main harness power at the coil. If you were local, I'd loan you my blue tooth thingy that plugs into the data port under the steering wheel and we could pull the codes with my smart phone.

I'm a bit envious. A 5.2 4wd with a 5 speed. OOOH I wanna 5 speed!

 

He decided he was gonna scrap it. I wound up picking it up for $400. It is rough, and still not running.




I threw my code reader on it and I'm getting "no link." This tells me its either computer wiring or more likely fried computer. Thoughts?
It also did have no battery in it for 3 hours prior to trying to check the codes. (The seller took his battery).

 

computer would be a good guess

 

What other year trucks (obviously 96 and up for obdII) can I get a computer from? And can an auto computer be used on a manual truck?

 

An automatic PCM will probably work on your 5 speed truck. It may show codes, of course, and you CEL may be on all the time.

You might check online for replacement PCM's or rebuilt ones. I got one for a GEO Tracker once and it was just fine. Check Ebay, too. I think I'd look hard for one from a truck with a manual transmission, tho.

I've never looked inside a PCM, so I'm only spitballing. But I wonder if the capacitors go bad like they do on flat screen TV's.

 

How rough is the body? I talked to the guy on the phone and he'd change the subject when I asked about the body, but told me all the same about what he replaced.

I never got a chance to look at it in person but glad to see it went to someone here who could use the parts and/or fix it up rather than scrap!

It does sound like wiring or computer, I'd give the harness a good look and check all of the grounds on the engine. The top strap between the alternator and intake on my '94 was broken and the engine acted like your's is now. The rest of the engine was so corroded (shore truck) that it had an intermittent ground at best without the strap.



I believe a 97-99 computer will work but don't quote me on that, one of those won't be cheap or easy to come by either.