New 1997 1500 owner needing advice on getting it running. Bought the truck today from a original owner. Been parked under a shed about 10 years. Drove it under shed and never touched it. Put a fresh battery in it and it turns over but won’t crank. Is there any thing obvious I can check to see if it will fire off? Gas gauge shows all the way past e but I gave it several gallons of fresh fuel but didn’t help. Just spins over.

 

When you turn the key to "on", do you hear the fuel pump run for about 5 seconds? Can you check the fuel pressure at the port on the fuel rail to see if you have adequate fuel pressure?

 

Mice are you biggest enemy, the last truck i revived from the tree line, the mice had chewed through the cam sensor wiring, coil wiring and several ignition wires, replaced those three things and it fired off,

I'd pull a couple plugs and see if they're wet to indicate fuel is entering but no spark, check spark with an inline tester or other, did you verify the intake was clean of mice nests or anything else that it might suck in. theres always that huff of starting fluid too

 

I wasn’t able to hear the fuel pump but I’m going to have someone turn it on for me so I can hear. Intake was clear. I’ll try a few shot of starting fluid and hopefully that will help eliminate anything spark related.

 

If the old fuel is still in there, it likely isn't going to start.....

Check fuel pressure, and check spark. Make sure you have both.

 

Does it even HAVE fuel? You don't mention where the truck is but in the hotter sections of the country, like south Texas, Arizona and such, the fuel may have all evaporated.

 

The truck is in Mississippi. I put 3 gallons in it but the gauge didn’t move. Looks like the fuel gauge may not work. I’m sure it had been evaporated or drained out. Truck currently isn’t at my shop. Picking it up this coming week but was just looking for some ideas to help load it up vs. having to winch it onto the trailer. Never had and dealings with a dodge and didn’t know if there are obvious things that go wrong from sitting up.
I personally know the original owner and the truck was well took care of but just like anyone else he got a new one and wasn’t interested in the old one anymore.

 

Ole Miss is the heart of squirrel and mouse country. Then again, 3 gallons into a completely empty tank isn't much. I'd shoot some ether or brake cleaner into the intake and see if it'll start. I suspect you might be dealing with a mouse or tree rat (squirrel) got up on the fuel tank to get away from dogs and may have gnawed the wires. I would go prepared to winch it onto the trailer. If you can get it to drive onto the trailer, great. If not, you're ready to deal with it.

It's also possible someone snagged the fuses or relays out of it. A missing fuel pump relay will stop one really quick.

 

Considering where the truck is I was more surprised it had a battery in it. Them meth squirrels is what I was afraid had gotten into it. I appreciate everyone’s help on getting this thing running. I’m definitely gonna have a lot of questions cause I have plans for this one. It’s one I’ll be hanging onto and building up. Just gonna be a commuter truck but I can’t leave anything alone. I’m going to keep updating this post as I dig deeper into it.

 

Myself, I need another truck like I need another hole in the head. There's a '93 W150 that has popped up. If I can clear some room, I'll head up there with a trailer. My '96 has been a good back up vehicle, but I get the itch for older stuff.