99 dodge ram 1500 5.9 Truck wont start had to drive thru a flooded part of road and the truck shut down wouldn't start back up. When I turn the key it cranks but will not fire up Towed it home I assume some water splashed up under the hood and stalled it so I checked spark plugs, starter, distributor cap and battery all checked out to be good. So I had a friend come check it he said its not getting any fuel to the engine checked fuel pump when I turned the key it would not kick on so checked fuses all good so bought a used fuel pump still didn't turn on so bought a new fuel pump plugged it in still not working so check wiring from pump to engine found a wire that had been spliced at one time and the connector had separated put it back to together and the pump works but truck still won't start he put 2 sprays of starter fluid to it and it started for just a second then shut off I'm out of options on what it could be any suggestions?

 

What is pressure with the new fuel pump? You might have a dud out of the box. It's still not getting fuel if it starts with a couple shots of fluid. Or there something else wrong with the wiring as you said you could here the old pump prime.

 

Wait.

You said the pump kicked on when you cycled the key, so you bought a new pump? That doesn't make sense.

To me it sounds like it's not firing the injectors.

Check fuel pressure, check for injection pulse, and check for codes first.

Did you get a bunch of water in the tank?

Check your diffs and other fluids too.

 

Hey MLocke.

If the motor runs on starting fluid for a few seconds, take a huge sigh of relief. thats a good sign you didnt hydrolock it, burn up a PCM, or fry a coil.

there should be a little stem valve on the fuel rail on the driver side of the motor. it looks like a valve where you would air up your tire. (memory serves me it has a green lid, not sure) but its on the pipe running along the valve cover about a inch thick with the braided fuel lines going to it. take the lid off and press the little metal rod inside the connector with a screw driver or tooth pick. make sure you cycle your pump a few times. if it squirts fuel across the engine bay, you have fuel pressure. the next step would be to check your pump. ive seen many many new pumps be defective out of the box. sometimes the motor spins and it does not build enough, or any pressure at all. the markup on these pumps are HUGE, because they know you cant drive without it. If replacing the pump, fuel filter, and wiring does not help, and you do have fuel pressure, you might have a PCM thats not sending signal to the injectors. (highly unlikely) nice thing though is these pcms are not vin sensitive and can be swapped with any truck with the same motor and model year.

My advice is:

Check fuel pressure. If yes, have a mechanic check pressure and see if it holds it.

If no pressure, replace pump and rewire. make sure your fuel tank is clean! this is critical!

Good luck!

 

Ok so I had bought 2 different fuel pumps used and New after connecting wire they both worked and tried both fully installed what I tried the pressure valve on the fuel rail line it shot out fuel did discover had no spark and that the piece of plastic inside distributor had broke and the metal tab on it had fallen off I'm on the way to but that piece and I'll post to let know if it starts

 

thatll do it..

if it still does not start the coil on the front driver side of the motor is a common fail point and i almost promise you thats why you arent getting spark

 

So got the truck started but now it won't stay started when I get off the
gas it shuts off could this be my alternator considering I've been trying to start it multiple times is the last few days

 

Nope! this is normal! it needs to relearn its idle.

Step 1: Unplug battery for 5 minutes with key turned OFF

Step 2: plug battery back in

Step 3: start truck and keep it running by holding the pedal down.

Step 4: hold at 1000 RPM for 5 minutes and let off. the truck should idle again. if it doesnt repeat.

Step 5: when the truck idles on its own, turn the AC on and move the wheel. if it dies restart it and keep it running until it idles on its own


if this doesnt solve it (it always solved mine when i changed something) check your connectors all around the engine and get back to me.

 

Or clear memory and then clean the throttle body and/or idle air control, whatever it is that Dodge uses to control idle air flow on your truck.

When the keep alive memory gets erased, it forgets everything it has learned - including idle mixture.

Over time, grime can build up in the idle air passages and the PCM adapts by opening the valve more. When the KAM is cleared, it doesn't know it needs to open the passage more. Without the KAM, it thinks everything is factory new and clean.

I'm a subaru/ford mechanic, and it's been quite a number of years since I've messed around with Dodge gas stuff.

 

Got it running had to keep it idling for a few mins did the battery steps works good now thanks for help guys