I would agree with the Baconater that it is more than likely your PCM as my 2000 B3500 is doing about the same thing but will crank after wiggling the 3 plugs going into the PCM.

 

Anybody check these guys out for computers?
All Computer Resources, Inc.
They are listing a replacement for $225

http://store.allcomputerresources.co...025003500.html

 

Got it back from the shop. It was a bad connection at the ASD fuse. We are pretty sure anyway.... Seems to be running normally. Apparently it was killing other gauges as well such as the temp and battery. He said it also wasn't giving the engine spark which after being clarified that the starting fluid was prob igniting just from the cylinder pressure when I tried to troubleshoot that...

 

Did you have a no bus message on the odometer??

 

Looks like 2 different problems to me,I believe there is a TSB for the loose connection at the fuse for the auto shutdown.But I know my problem is the PCM,no start,I mess with the PCM connectors,then my guagesw work and then she fires and runs,then dies.Restart after messing with the PCM again,then it seems after she warms up,runs fine.Not going to drive it like this.Seems what ever is cracked in the PCM is a temp issue,after it warms up,the heat expansion reconnects the broken solder of the cracked board.I think I will wait till the money tree starts to bloom before I purchase a PCM,may be a long wait????

 

Yep. Just tried to pick it up, no startin. No gauges either, so he came out and wiggled the right connector and started for a couple seconds then died, then it had gauges but no start. So I think you are right baconater.

What's a TSB?

 

Technical
Service
Bulletin

Basically it's an updated repair procedure or an acknowledgment by the factory for a recurring repair.

 

Ok, sorry for the noob questions, and I have heard of TSBs I guess, but I don't know where to go to find these. Are they on the manufacturers site? On this message board somewhere? Thanks in advance.

 

buy PCM from rockauto around $250 and they have it.

 

These should pretty much apply to your 96: http://dodgeram.info/tsb/1996-index.htm