Here's what I've got going on: about a month ago I purchased a 99 dodge ram 2500 5.9l 4x4 at an auction for a very reasonable price. As a preface I'd like to add I'm no mechanic. When I got it, it was throwing several codes and I've been whittling those down as my pocketbook allows. Last Wednesday, after several rainy days, it would not start after work. I scanned the codes and came up with a camshaft position sensor fault. I cleared it (without recording the code number ) hoping maybe it was a glitch in the matrix. no such luck. I did some research and it did seem like it was a possible fix, and the computer said it was broken, so I replaced it. I could smell gas, so it seemed that spark was the issue. This was not the fix to my problem. Next I tried a spark check off my coil wire- nothing. I did resistance measurements on the coil wire and came up 5 M OHMS. I then figured the coil wire was the culprit and replaced it. Again, no such luck. My next action was the coil, R&R with no results. I swapped the starter relay with a suspected good one. Nothing. I'm now fearing the pcm or some other expensive part is at fault. I don't know how to check the computer and I'm unsure where to proceed. does anyone have any suggestions? Any help would be appreciated.

 

Failure to start after a lot of rain tells me the spark plug wires are worn. Is it even turning over?

The "computer" said something was broken and you replaced "it"? What exactly did you replace? No spark from the coil sounds like the coil isn't being told to fire, so there is some more digging around to be done.

 

it was turning over and there was the smell of gas, seemingly ruling out a fuel supply problem. I replaced the camshaft position sensor. research stated that it could cause individual cylinder misfires, an issue I was dealing with. I ruled out spark plug wires because it was working fine in the morning and in the afternoon there was no spark. it did not seem to me that all the wires would fail in 9 hours. and no spark was coming from the coil. I agree that the coil isn't being told to fire. haven't tracked down why though. thank you for the response.

 

Cam sensor controls injector timing. If it is off, the engine will run, maybe, if it does, it will run like dog poo. Need to see if the coil is being told to fire. Test light across the terminals for the coil connector will tall you that.

 

copy. i'll give that a shot. should I be looking for a flashing light?

 

Yep.

 

Also note that timing on these trucks is controlled by the PCM and cannot be adjusted.

 

no flashing light at the coil plug. does anyone know where I can find the coil output from the pcm?

 

I assume the input to the ignition coil comes from the pcm. is that even close?

 

PCM controls ground circuit for the coil. You should see 12 volts at the coil connector for about three seconds after the ignition is turned on, or, while engine is cranking.

Begins to sound like the crank sensor took a dump. It's behind the passenger side head, and reads from the flexplate. (or, flywheel, if manual trans.)

You can download the service manual for your truck from this thread.