My 2000 Dodge Dakota is backfiring and wont kick all the way over when I try starting it. What could it be? I know a little but not a whole lot about engines. Need some input. Fluids are good. Plugs are good. Has individual coil packs per plug. Needs brand new manifold gasket which I have. She floods out when she doesn't start. Has great fuel pressure. Has no catylitic converter. Other than that it runs great when she does want too start. Need help plz. This truck is my money maker.

 

Runs great when started, but doesn't want to start sounds like a failing starter solenoid or a failing battery. Does the starter sound normal or are you getting a rur rur rur type sound? Have you checked the battery voltage? Should be 13.2 if it's good, if it's close to 12 the battery's bad and it may be killing your alternator. Quickest way to check if it's battery or starter is get a jump start. If it starts fine it's the battery, if it acts the same it would be the starter.

While checking the battery, check to see if the wiring is corroded. If you see a greenish white residue on the posts or the cables, you'll need to clean them. This residue can prevent the battery from making a solid contact with the terminal posts, so you don't get a good connection every time. They make an actual cleaner for this, but you can also use a can of Coke on it. Pop the top, have a sip, pour the rest on the battery and cables, leave it a bit then rinse it off. While the acid in the Coke cleans the corrosion off the battery and cabling, it will also be cleaning the enamel off your teeth.

The flooding is not a problem unto itself at this time, it is a normal response to the no-start situation. Each time you turn the key the injectors will shoot a little fuel into the cylinders to get it started. If it doesn't actually start, this fuel doesn't get burned. Next time you try, it shoots a little more in. After enough failed tries, you're flooded. This is not something you want to keep doing though, it will wash down the cylinder walls, thin the oil and cause other problems. Once you resolve the no-start, the flooding problem will no longer exist.

 

Battery is good. I did find out that not all my coil packs have the bolts needed to keep them in place tho. Could be starter tho. But i was told it sounds right when trying too start it up.

 

Does it start OK first thing in the morning, then have problems when you shut down for a short time and try to restart? Does it start fine if it's sat more than an hour?

 

Starts maybe once a day wil start back up after its been started right away that is. But if you leave it sit then it wont start again till it wants to pretty much. (Nick name for truck. Red headed Ruby) if you try starting it after sitting then it backfires.

 

Was wondering if it might have an injector bleeding down, which would flood the engine after sitting a short time, but after an hour the fuel evaporates out. You should get the fuel pressure checked at this point, you may have a fuel pump on its way out.

Next time it acts up, you can try priming the fuel line. As soon as it doesn't start right up, turn the key off. Then turn it on without starting, wait 5 seconds, turn it off. Turn it right back to on again. Repeat 3-4 times, then try to start it. If it starts right up, I'm going to say that the fuel pump is going to be the problem.

I also missed the bit about needing a new intake manifold gasket at the start of this. I'd go ahead and replace this as soon as I could. Extra air in the intake may be an issue.