Greetings, I have a '97 Dakota w/318. I'm going to abbreviate here as much as I can.
Over the last month has been running rough intermittently. Seemed to not screw up as much when at operating temp. One morning seemed to drop a cylinder and MIL came on. Code was for misfire on #4. Cleared code. conutinued with intermittent rough running but no MIL. Some days it would'nt miss a lick.Checked codes again...got "Random Misfire multiple cylinders". Cleared code. The other night I was idleing cold out at my shop door while airing up tires. I heard ingnition snapping intermittently and truck was running rough. Popped hood and ascertained ignition snap in vacinity of cap. Turned truck off, wiggled plug wires a bit around the cap area. Restarted, snap gone, running like a top.
Shut off truck, next morning it tried to start pathetically and now only turns over with no attempt at firing. have spark but looks a bit orange. Pulled "pending" code for misfire on #8.Can hear fuel pump run andturn off when you turn on the key. sprayed ether into intake..no fire. Pulled plug and discovered plug gap at .060. Confirmed plug is firing but again, no blue spark.
Have not confirmed fuel pressure at fuel rail but wouldn't you think the ether would have at least made it cough a bit? I'm going to do cap/rotor/plugs tonight to eliminate the weak spark possibility but this thing makes no attempt at firing at all. Remember now, I tried ether in the intake and I have spark. It was running like a top the last time I shut it off.I appreciate any thoughts on this, thanks a bunch.

 

If I were you, I would replace your primary ignition components as you stated above. Cap, rotor, plugs and wires. That won't cost very much and it will give you piece of mind with your ignition system. It sounds like a bad connection somewhere in your distributor. Might want to make sure if the ignitor is working properly.

 

Right on, I thought I needed to eliminate any possibility of the ignition wearables being the culprit.
What is freaking me out is the thing won't even cough a little and it really wasn't gradual.
I'll keep you posted.
dk

 

Id say rotor and cap too. Those can wear sometimes.. and if wears unevenly it could cause that. sometimes nicks this part and sometimes not.

 

I still think it's pretty strange that it wouldn't at least try to start, or back fire, or something.
Cap,Rotor and plugs did the trick. I put Autolite Platinums in it this time instead of the cheapy Champions. It hasnever run better than it is right now. Thanks for the replies.
Doug

 

It's nice to see that someone got there dak up and running again with the help of others, and more importantly posted back with the fix! right on boys!