I have a 99 1500 4x4 AT with the 360. I was driving off the beaten path through the woods (so going at a slow rate of speed), when it all of a sudden just sputtered and died. It will crank but doesn't sound like it might be getting spark?

-Nothing wet
-Wires and plugs seem tight
-Fuses under the hood and in cab fine


One person suggested distributor issue and one suggested ignition coil?

Any ideas on what I should look for? what would cause sudden failure when things seemed to have been running fine?

Any input and suggestion on the subject would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

Check the fuel pressure with a gauge and check for spark.

 

do you have power to the coil, power after the coil?
You need to find out some more info so we can help you

 

Can you hear the fuel pump running when you first turn on the truck?

 

thats what mine did a few days ago. i added gas, and wiggled spark wires, it cranked for like 10 seconds then finally caught, sputtered, then a loud backfire and it was running fine agian. I believe it may be the CAT, which could be your problem, or fuel was the issue, which may be your problem. How much gas do you have? i know my dads 96 5.2 ram would run out of gas at 1/8th of a tank for some reason.

 

-Full tank
-New ignition coil Sept. 09
-Spark plugs fairly new ( october 09, drove for about a month then TC case broke, truck sat for about 3 months)
-Previous owner had aftermarket dual exhaust put on, welds didnt hold, pipe broke off after the cat. and then about half way down the Y pipe coming off the manifolds. I have the cat connect to the Y pipe right now with flex pipe haha and no pipe after the cat. I have the upstream O2 sensor plugged in but not the downstream as it is in the section of pipe that came off.
-Fuel pump does come on when i turn the key

When I first bought the truck it was the EC1 (engine control) fuse under the hood that kept blowing and I would have a very similar effect, but after a few times of replacing them it just stop blowing. The fuses were fine this time.

-It very much seems that the truck is getting fuel but I will do a check on the fuel pressure.

The only major tune-up thing i havent done since getting the truck is the plug wires, but would they cause a sudden failure? I would think it would still run but just not so good?

-Any sensors that might cause this issue? TPS or MAF?

 

-Got air, fuel, no spark.
-Resistance was low on the ignition coil, so i replaced

Still not starting.

How would i be able to tell for sure whether i broke a timing chain or that my cap and rotor were bad?

 

How much fuel??? Did you check it with a gauge?????

 

A faulty cam or crankshaft position sensor will cause the ECM to not send any signal to the coil. One of these sensors failing is often the cause of a sudden no start condition.

 

mine did that a few months ago. Drove it to work, dr. office and just fine. Stopped at the bank and it died. Got it started after close to 20 seconds of cranking or more caught and died. It would not start unless I held the petal down. Replaced battery to combat suspected IAC issue and haven't had a problem since.

Will it start (temp) if you use starter fluid?