I have a '98 Ram with the 360 engine in it and a 4x4 if that matters. It currently WON'T start. When it's been cold down to the sub-zero temps it's been hard starting to where it floods itself out and then takes some time and holding to pedal to the floor to get it going. Well the last time this happened it foulded the plugs out bad so I installed a new 1000cca battery and new plugs. Started up great and drove home. It hasn't started since! You can smell fuel so that's working, but it doesn't seem to be getting a spark at all as it doesn't spit, cough, or anything as it did before when hard starting. I haven't had the chance to put my spart tester on it to see if there spark beyond the both coils or not. I was thinking it was either the computer or pick-up coil. It's been running pretty lean(too much fuel if I have it right as I never remember rich/lean)for some time now as I'm only been getting 10mpg at it's best under normal drivng so it has made me thing more the computer. Sometimes in the past I would disconnect the battery to reset to factory settings and it would start easier. What's your thoughts on this? Anything would help. Finding a computer at a salvage hasn't happened as of yet and I know that the dealer is going to be an arm and a leg and my first born. Please help if you can ASAP. Feel free to email me at gbart@mwt.net if any easier for you.

Thanks in advance!!!

**UPDATE** I just checked for spark and NO spark before or after the ignition coil. Is there a way to test the pick-up coil or computer before replacing them? These 2 items are the ONLY items that I know of that control spark. PLEASE HELP if you can!!!

 

try the simple stuff, like dry gas... might be some moisture in there somewhere.

 

It has a full tank of gas along w/ a bottle of "heat" so I would have to rule that out completely. Thanks though.

 

Well I just checked spark, and NO spark before or after the ingnition coil. Is there a way to check the pick-up coil before replacing it and/or the main computer? These are the ONLY two things I can think of that would control the spark. PLEASE if you can.

 

This is the first time that this forum wasn't any help to me. I FIXED it!!! It was the ignition coil after all. A nice an easy fix for once. Thanks anyways on this one forum.