My 97 ram 1500 ran great all winter besides the poor heat. Truck would start up right away every time I turned the key. Towards the end of winter the truck would start up then wouldn't hold idle without my help which I believe I have to clean or replace the iac again. The last snow storm I went to start my truck in the morning and it just cranked and cranked but would not start. I replaced the fuel pump last fall right before winter. When the engine does start it runs great. The engine is a 5.2 with 235,000miles.

 

When it doesn't want to start, do you hear the fuel pump prime?

 

Yes I do, and I also checked fuel pressure both when it starts and doesn't start and there's no difference.

 

So it's either spark, or injector pulse. Spark is easy to test. See if it's there.

 

everytime I went to start it the past couple days it fired right up, once it fails then I will check spark. whats the easiest way? connect a spark plug directly to the distributor lead from the coil?

assuming I have no spark where do I go from there? bad coil? bad crank sensor?

 

Just pull a plug wire of number 2 or 4, right there easy to reach.

First suspect would be crank sensor.

 

Well it's been a couple weeks now and it seems my truck will start great every time until it rains. Once it's damp outside it is just wont start. Monday after about 15min of on and off cranking it fired. Ran super rough and stumbled for a couple minutes then ran like a charm. Once it started to warm up it ran excellent. When it was just cranking I stopped and listened for the fuel pump every time I cycled the key and I could clearly hear it running. I'm starting to just get irritated.

 

Next dry day you get, take a spray bottle, with water, mist the plug wires good, see if the truck starts. If it doesn't, replace the plug wires.

 

Finally had a chance to do this today, truck started right up, I misted some water on the wires and sure enough 1 of the wires near the distributor cap started arching to the nearest hose. Then I opened the throttle slightly while the wires were still soaked and 3 or 4 of the wires arched and the truck died. It didn't start until the wires dried. So I ordered a new set of wires. I didn't even think of them as being a problem since they have less than 30,000 miles on them and are only 3 years old. Thanks very much!

 

I love the easy ones. Glad ya got it fixed.