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1997 dakota starting issues

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Old 08-20-2018, 01:12 PM
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Default 1997 dakota starting issues

i have a 97 dakota 4wd,5.2,5spd with a mild 144k on it.
Recently it takes several turns of the key on and off to start. Once started...runs great. If I flip the fuel pump relay with another..it will fire right up...then the next time I go to start the truck it may fire right up..or we do the key thing again. It is very sporadic.
about a year ago I swapped the keg for a Hughes manifold, added k&n cold air,headers,magnaflow and Gibson exhaust,plugs,wires,high amp alternator,180 degree thermostat,fuel pump,and coil.
any feedback is greatly appreciated.
 
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Old 08-20-2018, 09:06 PM
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Test fuel pressure. Trouble is, I think the 97 magnum engines was the ONLY year for the plastic fuel rails, that did NOT have the pressure test port.... so, gonna have to get creative.
 
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Old 08-25-2018, 08:14 AM
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Haven’t had the chance to figure a way to test fuel pressure yet.
i did realize that this is somehow related to outside temperatures. We had a couple cool days ..70 to 80 degrees.. and it fired right up with no issues. Once it got into the high 80’s and 90’s I had to do the relay swap thing again.
is there such a thing as vapor locking in a fuel injection system?
 
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Old 08-25-2018, 08:16 AM
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Not at those temps. If the engine were hot, maybe......
 
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Old 08-26-2018, 02:25 AM
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Probably a fuel pump ready to take a crap, or, the wiring going to the pump, when you turn the key on you should be able to hear the pump
 
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Old 09-02-2018, 06:33 PM
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Ok...I am not understanding how it could be the fuel pump when,once started, it runs great. Will figure a way in the morning to check fuel pressure. I checked wiring for problems and found nothing. The fuel pump kicks on every time I turn the key and the relays are kicking in as well.
 
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Old 09-02-2018, 07:53 PM
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just because you can hear the pump, does not mean it is pumping. More specifically, the louder the pump is, the less likely it is pumping.
 
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Old 09-03-2018, 12:40 PM
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How are the plugs? Also, are you losing a bit of coolant now and then? My 4.7L did that when it developed a slight head gasket leak years ago. Pulled the plugs and #5 was super clean (steam cleaned) with perfect gap. The rest were worn as they were supposed to be at that point with over 30K on em. Never felt any loss of power or stumbling, but it went from firing immediately to a 2 sec crank as first indication of a problem.
 
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Old 09-03-2018, 05:53 PM
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Fuel pressure is good, plugs are good.
now when I do the relay swap thing it fires up..hits about 1100 rpm..stumbles sputters and dies.
Won,t start back up now.
Brain?
 



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