Hey all, been awhile since somethings gone wrong but signs of winter tell otherwise. Left work today and truck started fine sitting out all day. Drove all the way home and parked in the garage. Left to go out 3 hours later and truck would't start. Nothing wrong with the battery and its getting spark because I could hear it starting to fire but wouldn't fully start. I ended up draining the battery so the charger is on it. I'm leading to a fuel problem.

I changed the plenum about 10000km ago. I did notice a fair bit of oil in the intake when I looked. First time i've looked since changing the plenum plate. I never changed the spark plugs since I did the plenum. Could they be so oiled up that it wouldn't start? I don't know where to start because it ran like it always has coming home from work today. Any help guys i'd appreciate it. Thanks.

Btw, 98 Dodge Ram 1500 5.2L

 

Check the fuel pressure with a gauge.

 

is the engine cranking at all? if it is then it shouldn't have anything to do with your battery. I could be 3 things..fuel, air, or spark. You should of replaced your spark plugs but if one of them was bad it should still start just misfire. I feel like not everyone would be so bad it wouldn't start but i could be wrong so take those out and inspect, change them anyways. Could be your fuel pump giving you no pressure..or could even be something simple like your fuel relay switch went out. i always say check cheapest solution first. Finally it could be your getting too much air(vacuum leak) or not enough air try opening your tb up a lil.

 

If you got oil in your intake and you have a fairly new dealer-bought pcv valve...you messed up something when doing the plenum. Happened to me, just did a second time about a month or two ago.

 

Check the plugs... Too much oil and they won't spark.

 

Check the plugs and check for fuel pressure. You can listen when you turn the ingnition on for the fuel pump kicking on. There's also a port on the driver side fuel rail you can check pressure with.

 

Get down near the gas tank and have some one turn the ignition on, if you don't hear the fuel pump whine for a sec or 2 you lost the pump. Happened to me, drove to town just fine, came out after an hour in the store and would not start. Took my handy pump handle and smacked the tank a couple times and it started. Next stop required a tow truck. Check the pump.

 

Okay, thanks for all the tips. I've narrowed it down to the fuel pump. Sometimes it comes on sometimes it doesn't. Sounds really weak though.

Done my research to do this job. I think I'll drop the tank instead of the bed. The only thing is how far do you have to go in to syphon the gas out? Filled up 3 days before it went. It's 3/4 full. I have the tank supported with 2x4 and a sheet of plywood on jacks so I can lower it but I need to get that gas out. Is their baffles in the way?

 

I noticed a little in their. It's not a huge amount. I did torque all the plenum bolts to spec. When you say dealer Pcv valve, is there is a difference between an auto value one because I did replace it with a new one?

 

No baffles in the way that I know of. I was able to syphon gas out of my 98 with no problem. Hopefully my 2000 is just as easy, as I'm going to need to do so here shortly for my generator. LOL 50 mph gust's my azz. There are trees falling all around my house in the woods. I can't believe I actually still have power.