Hi all, I'm having an issue getting my 1996 Ram 1500 to start. Before letting it sit for about 6 months, it ran and drove not perfectly but fine. I got a new battery for it, and it sounds great and so close to starting, but it never actually starts. I wasn't getting any spark so i got new plugs, wires, ignition coil, and distributor rotor and cap.

It still wont start because it's still not getting spark. Cold compression looks great and I believe I am getting fuel, but now also I found out my scanner cannot communicate with the obd2 port. I used the same scanner on it before.

So now I'm wondering what potential issues could cause both if any, I am leaning towards possibly the ECM but I don't know enough to try and confirm that. Any help and advice would be greatly appreciated.

1996 Ram 1500
5.2L Magnum
NV3500
4x4

 

Possibly as simple as a blown fuse..... Check them ALL, both in the block on the side of the dash, and in the PDC under the hood.

 

I'm generally hesitant to condemn the PCM until everything else is checked. If you don't get spark and the PCM can't communicate I suspect some sort of power and/or ground issue (rodents, rust from sitting). I'd think the fuel injectors don't work either but that's easy to check with a sniff test on a spark plug.

 

I the asd relay working? Can check codes using the key dance on a 96.

 

I'll look up the key dance I have never had that before, I'll check the relay

 

ASD is working I checked voltage to constant and ignition, and the ground pin has continuity. Also switched the ASD relay and starter relay and starter still worked

 

All fuses are good and ASD relay is good.

 

It is hard to tell for sure from the sniff test so I am thinking maybe I'm not getting fuel either after all. Checked resistance and continuity between negative terminal and body/engine. Looking into the crankshaft position sensor being the culprit as well. There is evidence of rodents hanging out in the engine bay but I can't find a single wire that seems messed with. I just don't understand if it turns out to be the PCM or CPS why they would go bad just from sitting for 6 months or so.

 

Key dance: Cycle the ignition On, Off, On, Off, On, then the check engine light should flash codes. it'll flash a bit, pause, flash some more. Codes are two digit, so, write 'em down, post 'em here, and we'll tell ya what they are.

So it triggers the ASD at initial ignition on, does it KEEP it on when the engine is cranking? (that's a fun one to test...)

 

Well this truck has analog mileage, I dont think it would have any sort of screen to display the codes you're talking about.
Hmm thats a good point, I got help to crank it while im testing the ignition section and it was still getting 11V or so