I just acquired a 2nd gen 1500, 1996. 5.9magnum. guy said it was running fine then lost spark so he put in a cam position sensor. No help. So he took out the crankshaft position, and for reasons I don't understand, cut the plug out of the loom and spliced in one for a cam position sensor. I don't know if he installed one. But when I changed it back there is still no spark. Can I use a OBDI CODE READER without it running. Should I change the computer module.any suggestions

 

Fix the wiring for the crank sensor. Make sure you have one installed, and it works. See if you get spark.

 

For a '96 Dodge Ram, you will need an OBD2 code reader to retrieve codes from it. Regardless, as HeyYou mentioned, you MUST have a crank sensor installed and working for the engine to run at all.

 

Perhaps take a look at coil..

 

The connector changed after 96 so possibly the previous owner tried to make a newer crank position sensor work. The wire colors didn't change so double check the wires at the plug (pin1 violet/white, pin2 black/light blue, pin3 gray/black). If the crank position sensor is working you should have a "tach bounce" when cranking, meaning the tach needle comes off its rest position.

 

Chrysler didn't use a reader most of the time for OBD I. I always used the key dance. An OBD II reader will let you know if you have a code stored. More deluxe ones can even read some systems. Make sure the proper sensors are in place. Then I would pull the distributor cap and make sure the rotor hasn't broken. The scanner will tell the tale. You MUST have the proper sensors in place.

 

Key dance will work on a 96 to get codes.
No tach bounce on a 96. I think that started when they went to the can buss dash.

 

on a 2000 dodge Dakota pick up 2.5 where is the location of the crankshaft position sensor

 

Please create a post in the appropriate Dakota forum with this question..

 

my name is Thomas. I have a 2000 dodge Dakota sport with the 2.5 18000 miles on the truck six months ago. The truck started intermitting dying and running and it wasn’t that bad at that time and I didn’t think nothing about it that time as time went on it started doing it more and more one time it took three hours to go 10 miles sometimes it was worse. Sometimes it wasn’t. I was getting a P0302 code what is a misfire on number two so I replaced the spark plugs, spark plug, wires, distributor, cap, rotor button the cail I thought something was wrong with the ECM. Found a used one online and purchased it while I was waiting on it to come. I got the PO 320. The truck hasn’t ran in a week. I’m heading out no problems replace the clutch and that’s the only problems I’ve had with the truck when I got the computer in the mail I put it down the only code I got P0601 I did not say anything about the P320 what’s the PO 320 is the crank sensor cam sensor and then the 601 is a bad ECM i’m real puzzle wrong what I should do can anybody suggest what I need to do the truck hasn’t ran a week ago. Last Sunday was the last time it ran and that’s with me with the computer still in it because the the code the three out the P320 will go away and then when I turn it over it comes back now with the other computer it never come up with the P320 so I was just wondering what ya think in this proposal. I paid someone else to put the clutch in a matter fact it’s been quite a while since I had a clutch put in