Hi, I have a 99 Dakota 5.2l 4x4 with 166k well-maintained and relatively problem free miles. A couple months ago, it started to give me an intermittent no-start condition. For example, it will start right up and run fine one night, but it'll will crank and crank and crank without starting the very next morning. I leave it alone for a couple weeks, come back, it starts, but won't start the next day. There seems to be no rhyme or reason when it decides it won't start. When I turn the key on, I hear the fuel pump running. Plus it runs fine the times it does start, so I assume I have adequate if not good compression.

When it is in its "no-start" mood, sometimes it will seem like I can get the engine to fire once and then it dies instantly...almost like a little rumble.

Today, I thought I'd try holding the gas pedal to the floor to try and get it run a little longer than a single fire. I must have flooded it because it backfired through the throttle body and blew the plastic air cleaner right off.

The more I read online, I think I might just need a tuneup to get the ignition system to fire reliably. Before I start throwing parts at it, I want to get some expert opinions on my no start condition and also what kind of damage my backfire might have caused (if any).

Sorry for the long post.

 

It could be anything. Literally hundreds of possibilities. Just make sure your getting power to the ignition system, fuel pump, computer, ect!

 

I had the some problem with my 2000 4x4. It got worse.Turned out to be the crank positon sensor.Sets engine to the No.1 cylinder position.About $70.00 &$168.00 to install..They put it right beside the block heater.

 

I had the same thing happen to my truck drove it everywere the night before and it ran great then the next day I went to leave and it wouldnt start at first it acted like a dead batt so when I came back out with the jump pack everything was on in my truck so I cranked and cranked and nothing finally I got pissed and held the pedal to the floor and it started but woudlnt idle. Let it sit for a couple hrs tried it again and it was fine. Then later it acted up again I messed with the map and tps sensor and it seemed to work and hasnt acted up since I dont know if that was really the cause or just pure luck that I messed with that and it like fixed its problem.

 

im having the same problem on my 01 1500 360 ... no luck finding the problem yet.. keep in touch if you have any success and i'll do the same -Jay-

 

I have a 2001 Dakota, 3.9 v6 doing basically the same thing. I have noticed that it only happens if it's rained the night before. Will crank and crank, fire some, but takes bout 20 min. of cranking (and cooling starter) before it will finally run. Then won't idle till I remove the battery cables for bout 20 min. Then runs fine till the next rainy nite. I've replaced plugs, wires, dist. cap and rotor. Can't find any water or moisture in the engine compartment. Even driving in the rain doesn't have any effect. Just sitting overnite during rain. Have seen several others with the same problem. Bout to pull my hair out.

 

I'm guessing like mentioned "Crank Position Sensor"

 

i pulled a code on my truck today P0340 cam position sensor- circuit malfunction... its right under your distributor cap.. that should do the trick.. it controls the fuel injector firing order and runs in conjunction with the crank sensor.