I have a 96 ram 1500 with the 5.2l engine 5 speed tranny 131xxx miles. I just got the truck and the guy I got it from said he had almost got to speed (70mph) and truck just died. He had just did a tune up (plugs,wires) and the coil wire had fell down onto the ignition coil and melted and I'm assuming shorted something out. Have replaced the coil, fuel pump, plugs, wires, cap, rotor crankshaft position sensor, pick up coil, timing chain and gears, idle air control, all fuses and relays have been replaced, I have 12volts going to coil only when cranking the engine over and not when key is in any other position. I've tested the ASD relay wire going to the PCM at the PCM and it is sending power to the PCM. If truck sits for a while or I turn the key on and remove and replace the ASD relay and hear the relay click then try to start the truck it'll fire up strong for about 3 seconds or so then dies and won't do the same but try when playing with gas peddle while cranking. I've tested 5 of the 5v reference wires coming from PCM all test as they should little under 5volts I also tested the TPS and it's working as it should I believe 4v or so with throttle wide open and 1. Something volts closed. I've also put a different PCM from a 96 ram same truck just automatic tranny and it does the same thing I'm at a lose of what to do please help me if anyone has any idea of what to test or replace next id really appreciate it. Also I have been working on cars, trucks anything with an engine for 25+ years some say I'm the best they've known but this truck has got me losing sleep and getting more grays on head NEED HELP!

 

Have you scanned the PCM with an OBD2 scanner for any pending or stored codes that may point to your issue?

Did you use a high quality crank sensor (dealer sensor preferred) when you replaced your existing crank sensor?

Lastly, did you set the fuel sync after you changed the timing chain and gear set, as you could possibly have moved the position of the distributor? This is usually done using a quality OBD2 scanner..

 

I did scan the PCM and got nothing. Crankshaft position sensor is one from AutoZone, no I did not do the fuel sync.

 

The ASD is shutting something off after 3 seconds of running on first start after it sits for a while. I'm going to test the crankshaft position sensor with a multi meter while someone is cranking the engine and see if it's doing anything at all and do the same with the pick up coil as well

 

I found possibly the issue.. oil pressure sending unit was broke off I'm replacing it now will update if that was the problem and if it starts and runs or not...

 

Still not fixed? Starts and dies

 

Swap the ASD relay with another one, see if anything changes.

 

I've done that. I've even replaced them with all new ones. I'm lost here on what to do next and I know there's someone out there that has had this issue and hopefully solved it please help me with the info or solution you found to be wrong

 

If it actually starts, the crank sensor is working.....

 

Yea it starts for a split second the dies and won't start like it did unless I unhook battery then hook it up again.. It's almost like it dies when I let off the crank position with the key.. is the coil supposed to have power going to it when key is in the on position or only crank position?? Could it be the distributor me maybe?