hi my girlfirend has a 1999 dodge dakota sport with a v6. she got a new crv and the truck sat, but i would start every week to keep everything running but about 4-6 weeks i was busy and forgot to start it . so i went out to start it the battery was dead so i hook the charger to the battery to charge it . once it had a charge i noticed it would not start and the dash lights(digital mileage gauage ect) and the fuel, volt,and others were all jumping up and down . i went through one of those places where you ask question and pay but didn;t get anywhere other than buy new parts that didn;t help . the biggest thing i changed was the ecm on the front passenager side with a different one. also a machanic came by and went through a few thing and said it didn't have any fuel pressure and no spark. he also couldn;t hook his computer to it as it wouldn;t read anything at all. i've been messing with this truck for about a year . so i thought why not jump on here and see if any one might be able to help me before i either junk it or tow it to a shop. oh one more thing i did check is the pins to the the ecm for power and ground were good the crank sensor all read good . so so long of a post but iw anted to get everything i can remember to save everyone time . thanks in advance for any help anyone can give .

 

If you still have the old PCM, put it back in. New ones have to programmed with VIN and mileage and you won't get accurate readings from a new one until it's been in a vehicle that has been brought up to operating temperature. Once you put the old PCM back in, listen for the fuel pump to start when you turn the key to the "on" position. It'll make a whirring sound. You should also have a few lights come on in your gauge cluster showing you that it's working properly.

Sometimes a battery charger won't get the battery charged enough to fire up the truck, especially if the truck's been sitting for a long time. Just something to think about.

- miggity

 

there is a new battery in it . fuel pump tries to start . but stops cuz something is wrong somewhere . electrical the old pcm is in . he tried both of them . like i said this all started once the dash lights started flickering and the gauges started jumping . once the ignition is turned on they jump and flicker and never stop doing it . no spark , no fuel pressure , but engine cranks over fine . i used to be able to pour gas in the carb and it would run off that but now nothing .all the basic things that you would check right off the bat have been checked . even where the ground is on the fired wall has been cleaned and checked .

 

Definately a unique problem, have you gotten anywhere with it yet? where are you located?

 

no i haven't. i've been kinda stuck for the last month or so since i started messing with it again . i live in palmetto fl . i was considering taking it somewhere . but in fl everything done to your car in fl seems to cost 1000 bucks plus they just start changing parts until they find it . or in a dodges case i've seen them change stuff charge big bucks and it's still not fix

 

No good, I hate incometent shops like that. Have you considered selling it?