97 Ram 1500, 3.9L V6, Auto Trans. 49,500 miles. As you can tell, I don't drive my truck all that much. Over the past few weeks, it has stopped starting as quickly as it used to. It became so it was taking two turns of the ignition switch to get it started. Once started, it ran fine. The other day, I was driving about 35-40 mph, when it just stopped running. The engine cranks and cranks, but will not start.

From reading other posts, I'm guessing I should start by looking at the fuel pump and its related wiring. I really don't want to blindly start checking everything that could possibly be wrong. I'm looking for the most likely culprit(s).

Am I right, or should I look at something else first?

 

quick check for this, roll your window down, turn the key forward and listen for the fuel pump, if you dont hear it, it should buzz for like 2 seconds when you turn the key to the on position, if you dont hear it, get a friend to turn the key while you get back by the tank and listen, if you dont hear it, you need a fuel pump....my .02

 

Have you replaced the fuel filter ever? Is it due to be changed? Check for gas leaks along the lines. The truck is 10 years old. I redid all the lines on my CTD at 11 years. They were close to rupturing.

Good luck.

 

I dont want to step on any toes but I'm pretty sure that the 3.9 is the same as V8 Rams in that the only fuel filter is an in-tank unit. So I guess if you were going to check the fuel filter, which would mean dropping the tank or removing the bed(this is the easiest way I have found) and you might as well get a new fuel pump. If you cant here the pump running turn the key on then go under the hood and find the schrader valve on the fuel rail, push on the center and if gas come out you know you are building some pressure but the right way to check that is to use a fuel pressure gauge. Also you might have a friend turn the key on and off while you put your hand on the fuel pump relay to see if it clicks.

 

I'd check the usual. See if your getting spark first. Ever do a tune up? Low miles but its still 10 years old. Next I'd check for fuel, very well coucld be the pump. After that the next thing might be sensors like the Crankshaft Position Sensor (CKP) but check for spark and fuel first

 

Thank you for the replies.

According to my Hayne's manual, the fuel filter is part of the fuel pump module, installed in the gas tank, so routine repacement is out of the question.

The truck belonged to my father until he passed, and I "inherited" it. I believe he maintained it properly, but I'm not sure. I have not done a tune-up, but was preparing to do one at 50,000 miles. I don't believe a tune-up would be an issue as it was running fine (other than the starting issue) and was running fine until it suddenly died as I was driving it. The tune-up has been put on hold until I can correct the non-starting problem. If I can't get it running, I may try doing the tune-up, although right now, I'm not convinced that is the problem.

I've got to try the listening for the fuel pump procedure, and was going to try that the other evening, but my neighbor's heat pump was working, making enough noise that I figured I'd never hear the fuel pump. Fortunately, I don't desperately need the truck, and I have other things in my life, right now, that have a higher priority than getting the truck running. In a day or two, I plan to dedicate some time to it.

 

My truck just flat out wouldn't start one day not shortly after I got it. Tune up and I was good to go

The long cranking is most likely because of the presure valve in the fuel pump. When you turn the key the pumps kicks on the presurize the system, it also keeps presure in the lines when you turn the key off. So this valve is probably leaking a bit and letting the presure back out, its a very common problem on these. I really doubt the hard start actually has anything to do with the no start. The valve is in the fuel pump, but all it does is hold the presure when the pumps off, doesn't do much when the truck is on the pump is running.

 

TRY THE 49 PSI FROM THE VALVE UP FRONT FOR THE FUEL AND SEE WHAT IT READS......IF IT IS OK THEN I WOULD TRY THE CRANK SENSOR, LIKE SOCHA SAID!!!!!!

 

Well, I finally happened to be outside when the neighbor's heat pump wasn't going. Tried turning the key to see if I could hear the fuel pump. Didn't hear anything that I thought was the fuel pump, althought I did hear a single click each time I turned the key, that I thought was coming from under the hood. Kind of hard telling where it came from while sitting in the driver's seat, but it sounded like it came from the area of the Power Distribution Center. Relay maybe? What does the fuel pump sound like?

Guess I'm going to have to get the wife to turn the key while I listen. With her work hours, and the stress she gets from her job, don't know when I'll be able to get that done.

 

Take the gas cap off and stick a funnel in the whole then get your wife to cycle the key for you while you listen through the funnel. The pump will have a sort of hum to it, it is pretty much un-mistakeable. Did you check the relay? Also did you see if the schrader valve had pressure after turning the key on?