I was heading out to get some speedo bulbs for my wifes motorcycle. Been doing some mods to her bike. So I jump in my 2001 Ram 5.2 and I get nothing but engine cranking, no start. The engine would keep cranking... and at the end when I release the key it sounded for a split second like it would start. I kept trying it till finally I gave up. I pulled a plug out and checked for spark. Yep there was spark but no real continuance spark. Went to Autozone and got the bulbs and picked up a set of Autolite spark plugs. So before I start working on the Rammie I tried to start it again. It would crank and I kept cranking it and it would want to start as long as I kept cranking ...it till finally it started!!!! idle was ok. So why after being such a reliable daily driver did I have a problem. I will install the plugs and go back and pick up cap wires and rotor and keep my fingers crossed. Appreciate comments.
Thanx

 

After my truck sits for a couple of days I usually turn the key on a couple times to prime the fuel system.

Did you hear your fuel pump turn on when you turn on the key?
It should sound like a whining noise for 3 seconds then stop.

If you dont hear your pump check your fuses... If they are all good then your fuel pump is dying

 

Possibly an ignition coil if your truck has weak spark

 

Slap a pressure gauge on fuel. Should be 45-50 right away. If that is good, then as backwoods mentioned, coil may be breaking down. And you won;t get a continuous spark. It is very fast, but should be strong. Check gap on plugs....it may be way off, but they are usually pretty forgiving and do not crap out all of a sudden.....but a coil can get flakey.

 

What was the temp outside? Moisture in the fuel system could have froze, blocking fuel. Temperature rose and well you get the idea. Run a fuel stabilizer.

 

tap on the gas tank in the middle directly below where the fuel pump sits on the bottom of the tank with a hammer about 6 times and I bet it will start right up, that always works when the fuel pumps go bad in these trucks

 

Shouldn't you check the cheapest stuff first? Test the tps and iac. When I had a no start problem I replaced both and that fixed it. No point in replacing a fuel pump if it's not needed.

 

I guess thats why one of the first suggestions were to check fuel pressure without replacing anything to rule it out... I would also agree with checking the essantials first like tuneup.... rotors and caps can behave funny when failing... dry gas doesn't hurt either.

 

I would use Champion spark plugs. It makes my truck happy.

 

I had the Exact same thing happen to me about a year ago in my 97, ended up it was the Cam Sensor in the dist. Changed it out and it fired right up.

Larry