I have a 2001 dodge ram 1500 5.2l V8 4x4. been running really well till last month when I was heading to town it backfired on me a few time then sputtered to a stop and will not crank up . I have check the fuel PSi , checked the coil and distributor seems to be firing good . drained the gas and put new gas in it. changed all the spark plugs. still nothing , when I get home from the rig I will try pulling out the o2 sensors and see what happens . other then that only thing i can think of is the timing jumped or broke have not checked this yet. Any other ideas . wife told me to sell it or take it to the shop (yea right no one else is touching my baby) , she just doesnt understand the bond between a man and his truck.

 

Any rude noises before she died?
Any codes or CEL?
What was your fuel pressure?
Have you confirmed good spark at the plugs?

I doubt a bad O2 sensor would cause it to not fire on you. Run rough and rich? Sure. But it would at least turn over for you at first. (I know because I'm currently chasing an 02 problem in my 01 318.)

To me it sounds more like a timing issue, assuming the above check out fine. Chain jumped a tooth (or two), or it could be a crankshaft position sensor, maybe a camshaft position sensor that don't agree. Those sensors usually throw codes though...

Someone more experienced than me should chime in here shortly.

 

I changed the spark plugs and used a test light the are getting fire. There was no codes and no tattle tales , running good started backfiring and died . Replaced the camshaft position sensor about year ago.

 

Getting injector pulse? You can test that with a test light as well. PCM controls the ground for injectors. clip one lead of the test light to positive battery terminal, stick probe into ground lead for any injector, crank the engine. Test light should flash.

 

Well, if you know you're getting spark and fuel psi was 45-55, and you're sure it's not a sensor, then either the timing jumped (causing spark when the valves are open) or you have compression problems (fuel is getting to places it shouldn't be and igniting.) O2 won't keep it from running, and I can't imagine a scenario where injectors could fail so catastrophically that you'd die without warning.

My only two tricks I have left are to check the timing and do a compression test.

Still could be a crankshaft sensor though.

 

I had coil on 97 360 giving me spark would not start spark was weak replaced coil took right off