i have an 89' dakota 3.9 4x4, when it's warm, sometimes won't start unless i turn key off for a minute, then it will usually start. sometimes i'll have to turn the key off 2-3 times. it is getting spark from the coil and spark plugs. could this be caused by a faulty relay? where do i find the fuel pump relay[&o]

 

We've got another person on this board with a similar problem. I'll just tell you what I told them:
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In the pre-1992 dakotas, there wasn't a fuel pump relay. The fuel pump just got its juice from the automatic shutdown (ASD) relay. How, you might ask, do you know if your ASD relayy is good? Well, check to see if its getting spark, because the ignition coil is feed thru the ASD.
With that being said, I believe somewheres on the back, driver side of the frame (behind the rear axle I believe) there is a connector. The positive wire for the pump should be the dark green and black wire. The negative wire for the pump should be the gray wire.
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Well, since you know its getting spark. I would just do some wire tracing.
A quick question: If you keep trying to start the truck (keep the starter engaged) does it just take a while for the motor to start (get fuel)? It could be that your pressure regulator is crapping out. Thats how it is with my grandpas van, you have to crank the motor for about 5 or 6 seconds, but after that, it runs just fine.

 

i've laid on the key for as long as 20 seconds and it will just keep crankin'. the only thing that works is turning the key back and waiting half a minute. it only does it when hot and not all the time.

 

Hmm.. interesting. I mean, as long as the ASD relay is putting out power (as I said, simple test is check for spark) than the relay is good.
I would almost belive that it would have to be an electrical connection or a failing component.
The confusing part (for me as least ) is that it, as you said, only happens when warm. I would say, "take the pump out and ops check it and check for voltage" but since it only happens when warm...
I dunno. I'll do some thinking and get back to you. Sorry [:@].

 

could it be the fuel pressure regulator maybe flooding it. and waiting and crankin' on it dries it up and it eventually starts?

 

if it floods usually you have to wait for it to dry the plugs longer than that. what i'd do is have someone crank the truck over and you look down the TB and make sure its not getting fuel if its squirting fuel then its something else if you don't get fuel then pull the gas lines off and check there. the pumps aren't the funnest job in the world to take out. what gets me is it does it when its warm. does it always fire right off when cold?

 

Could this be related to the bad solder joints along firewall between teh relay box and the PCM? Also, you can swap the ASD and Starter relays they are same part. If relay is problem then symptom will transfer to your starter. By that I mean if you have intermittent short in relay then instead of crank all day and no start now the new prob will be no crank at all... That will help you narrow it down. Also when you first turn on key but dont crank... you should see the check engine light on. Watch for that when your no start problem happens. If there is no check engine light then you have that famous corroded wire solder joint problem so many others have had, myself included... I've also had experience before that by giving a soft rap with the handle side of a screwdriver to teh pressure regulator will help un-stick it if its sticking and that would help you figure if thats the prob. tap on it when the no start condition occurs of course...

 

yeah. starts cold every time. it gets spark, but by the time i get the air cleaner off it starts up. so it's hard to say on the fuel delivery, i don't what the hell is going on!

 

is the fuel pressure regulator something i can remove and clean up with some carb cleaner or something?

 

ya know it definetly sounds to me to be electrical not fuel related have you considered maybe checking the hall effect pick up coil? sounds to me like something is getting hot and shorting internally.or if it is fuel related have you considered a fuel filter? just tryin to help any way I can