Would anyone have an idea why an engine would just decide to not start? I have a 1995 Dakota with the 318 V-8 in it.About a couple weeks ago, it started giving me fits with starting. It used to crank over just fine-barely turning the key would fire it right up. But for about a couple weeks, it was difficult to do...starting took longer than it should have. I am worried because if it is something simple, I don't want to wear out my starter because of it. Then today as I was trying to leave from work, it cranked over, but it sputtered like I had no gas in it. So I assumed that my gas gauge was down, so I hiked to the local fueling stop to get a couple gallons of gas to remedy the issue. I cranked and cranked it but to no avail...it just wasn't going. Then a buddy of mine suggested that I pour some into the throttle body. That made it work for a few seconds, then it wouldn't start again. I am thinking it is my fuel pump since it fired right up if I poured the fuel into the TB, but it doesn't want to fire up with the 1 1/2 gallons of fuel in it...not to mention I think I have at least a couple gallons in it before I went to get more. Am I correct with my guess that my fuel pump is down? Any thoughts and suggestions are greatly appreciated. Is there anything else along the fuel system that would cause this problem? I'd like to get this resolved before winter gets here, I love taking my truck through the snow and I am pretty confident with my abilities to where I would rather fix it myself than take it to a shop. Anyways, thanx in advance to those who offer ideas and such

 

Kinda sounds like your fuel pump is toast, the fuel pressure regulator/filter on the pump or the fuel strainer on the bottom of the pump is clogged.

 

You were right about the fuel pump. It is shot. Had it in my brother's garage this weekend and was going through everything one last time before I started taking things apart. I would put it in start and I would hear this groaning noise. I turned it off, then back on and nothing. When I did it again the third time, I heard the pump motor making this noise like it was slinging rocks. So in my uneducated guess, I am going with bad fuel pump, and since you are echoing my guess, I would say it is definitely that. Thanks again. I appreciate the answer. By the way, would you know what size nuts hold the straps for the fuel tank in? I'm thinking either 19/32 or perhaps 15mm or 16mm. I tried a 5/8 but that was a little too big, and a 9/16 was quite small. I did not have any metric sizes as I was thinking USA vehicle, USA standard hardware. This doesn't seem to be the case. It's very frustrating!!

 

I HAVE A 1996 DAKOTA SPORT .4 CYL ..WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY IT STARTED LOSING POWER LIKE IT WAS RUNNING OUT OF GAS ..AFTER GETTING IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IT WOULDNT RESTART.TOWED IT HOME .TROUBLE SHOOTED SEVERAL THINGS ,NOT GETTING JUICE FROM THE COIL,BUT TRUCK TURNS OVER JUST WONT START..HELP..WHAT IS AN AUTOMATIC SHUTOFF RELAY?