Last night, my 99 ram van 2500 with 130k stalled while driving, and wont start, this happened once before and i noticed a blown fuse, replaced it, and van ran fine for over a year, this time fuse is fine. After reading many forum post last night, i suppose i should start today with the trouble code trick, - the 3x on + off and reading odometer, i read also to check coil, cap, rotor, fuel at fuel rail, spark at plugs, etc. Right now the engine basically cranks over, but wont start, i'm not a mechanic, but mechanically inclined, any advise much appreciated, and i will be back to update. thanks.

 

It's a 5.2l gas engine btw.

 

update, getting no codes at odometer with the on/of 3 times then leave on thing, pulled a spark plug and layed it close to exhaust manifold, getting no spark, i see what i believe to be the coil near the front of the engine, down halfway, with a 2 wire connector i think coming off the alternator, btw i didnt dis-connect the fuel line, because it appears to be a "push-on" connector and the tubing appears rusty, but i do smell gas in the cylinder.
any ideas on how to test the coil?, i have a multimeter. thanks

 

When you turn the key to on, not start, can you hear the fuel pump run for about 2 seconds?

If not investigate the ASD relay. There is a sticky up top this forum about it.

It controls power to the fuel pump, injectors and coil.

 

yes, when i turn the key on, not crank, i can hear the fuel pump run for like 2-3 seconds, i'm trying to locate what the resistance in ohms for the ignition coil should be, for a test on that next. anyone know?

 

removed ignition coil, and did a resistance test on it, the readings were zero on the primary, and fluctuating all over the place on the secondary. went to autozone, purchased and installed a new coil, and started right up. I'm just hoping this is the only problem, and that's what caused the engine to stall dead while driving.

 

A bad coil will do what happened to you. I think you can be quite confident that you've fixed the problem.