I have a 99 Durango slt 5.2l Last week when driving the truck just bucked then died and now will not start. We changed the fuel pump assembly as the fuel pressure was a little low. Now the fuel pressure is fine but still no start. Checked spark and spark seems to be a little intermittent while turning the distributor, it will lose spark and spark will come back and try to fire. Could this be a sign of a bad distributor pickup.

 

Goto Autozone have them pull the codes for you for free.. Could your cam sensor.

 

+ 1 on the camshaft sensor.

 

This vehicle has a distributor and pickup it does not have a cam sensor did you mean crankshaft sensor?

 

Under hood, center, upper engine area, rear of intake manifold, mounted in distributor

It's there for sure though! goto www.moparonlineparts.com for $45.98 for the Mopar sensor. It's listed as pickup coil there. Go to the site and put in the vehicle information, go to electrical, ignition, and you will see distributor is listed twice. Click on the bottom distributor link, you'll find pickup coil is the second one down.

Here is from the service manual,

CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR
The camshaft position sensor is located in the distributor on all 2.5L/3.9L/5.2L engines Camshaft Position Sensor - Typical (3.9L/5.2L Shown)

REMOVAL
Distributor removal is not necessary to remove camshaft position sensor.

Remove air cleaner assembly.
Disconnect negative cable from battery.
Remove distributor cap from distributor (two screws)
Disconnect camshaft position sensor wiring harness from main engine wiring harness.
Remove distributor rotor from distributor shaft.
Lift the camshaft position sensor assembly from the distributor housing Camshaft Position Sensor - Typical (3.9L/5.2L Shown)
INSTALLATION
Install camshaft position sensor to distributor. Align sensor into notch on distributor housing.
Connect wiring harness.
Install rotor.
Install distributor cap. Tighten mounting screws.
Install air cleaner assembly.


CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR - 3.9L/5.2L ENGINES
REMOVAL
The sensor is bolted to the top of the cylinder block near the rear of right cylinder head Crankshaft Position Sensor - 3.9L/5.2L Engines The sensor is accessed by removing the right front fender liner.

Remove right front tire and right front wheelhouse liner. Refer to Front Wheelhouse Liner in Group 23, Body.
Disconnect crankshaft position sensor pigtail harness from main wiring harness.
Remove two sensor (recessed hex head) mounting bolts Crankshaft Position Sensor - 3.9L/5.2L Engines
Remove sensor from engine.
INSTALLATION
Position crankshaft position sensor to engine.
Install mounting bolts and tighten to 8 N·m (70 in. lbs.) torque.
Connect main harness electrical connector to sensor.
Install right front tire and right front wheelhouse liner. Refer to Front Wheelhouse Liner in Group 23, Body.


CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR - 3.9L/5.2L/5.9L ENGINES
The camshaft position sensor is located in the distributor on all engines.
The sensor contains a hall effect device called a sync signal generator to generate a fuel sync signal. This sync signal generator detects a rotating pulse ring (shutter) on the distributor shaft. The pulse ring rotates 180 degrees through the sync signal generator. Its signal is used in conjunction with the crankshaft position sensor to differentiate between fuel injection and spark events. It is also used to synchronize the fuel injectors with their respective cylinders.
When the leading edge of the pulse ring (shutter) enters the sync signal generator, the following occurs: The interruption of magnetic field causes the voltage to switch high resulting in a sync signal of approximately 5 volts.
When the trailing edge of the pulse ring (shutter) leaves the sync signal generator, the following occurs: The change of the magnetic field causes the sync signal voltage to switch low to 0 volts.

CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR - 5.2L/5.9L V-8 ENGINES
Engine speed and crankshaft position are provided through the crankshaft position sensor. The sensor generates pulses that are the input sent to the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) The PCM interprets the sensor input to determine the crankshaft position. The PCM then uses this position, along with other inputs, to determine injector sequence and ignition timing.
The sensor is a hall effect device combined with an internal magnet. It is also sensitive to steel within a certain distance from it.
On 5.2L and 5.9L V-8 engines, the flywheel/drive plate has 8 single notches, spaced every 45 degrees, at its outer edge
The notches cause a pulse to be generated when they pass under the sensor. The pulses are the input to the PCM. For each engine revolution, there are 8 pulses generated on V-8 engines.
The engine will not operate if the PCM does not receive a crankshaft position sensor input.

 

a pickup sensor is also known as a camashaft sensor. Buy the dealer it's camshaft sensor and by a parts store it's a pickup sensor.

When was your last tune up and what part names did you use? Could be your wires or other.

 

Thanks guys i figured the cam sensor was the pickup in the distributor. I ordered it from napa will have it in tomorrow let you know if it was the problem. Did the intake manifold gasket 3 months ago and put on new wires plugs and cap and rotor engine has over 200,000 miles but was running perfect until this happened.

 

Installed the pickup, cam sensor. have spark, no run still truck will act as if it wants to start but wont run. Smell gas pulled plug it was wet. Checked tdc to see if the timing chain slipped but the distributor is pointing at number 1 cylinder tried to pull codes but scanner says there are no codes stored. Help i am about to pull my hair out. Would a bad pcm act like this?

 

It's a failed coil IMHO. Sorry I didn't chime in earlier. $50 & 5 minute fix. If I am wrong, you need a new coil anyway.

IndyDurango

 

^ First check that spark is there. ^

Make sure spark is being delivered to the plugs.


If everything is right meaning fuel, spark, timing and everything is good then it might be a Crankshaft sensor located on the back upper passenger side of the motor. First make sure everything is working.