New to this forum. Have a 1995 Dodge Ram Van 318 and I had trouble starting it one day. Changed out the crank sensor, didn't help, changed out the coil fixed the problem. While I was at it, I changed all ignition pieces including the pickup in the distributor, plugs wires, cap and rotor. Now it stops running, let it sit for a few minutes and it starts again, does that a few times and sometimes it does not stop running at all. I am lost, any suggestions?

 

One of the sensors you replaced is failing when hot.

 

Any trouble codes? If it's an aftermarket crank sensor then that could be your problem. How about the pickup coil (cam sensor) inside the distributor, has that ever been replaced? I went through 3 crank sensor before I got one that worked correctly. The other possibility is the ECM is failing.

 

Yes, the crank sensor was aftermarket as was the cam sensor. I kept the old ones, the problem the first time was the coil, but I changed the crank sensor before the coil with no change. I am going to try and switch back the crank sensor first and see what it does. Thanks for the help guys!!

 

Looks like my problem is solved. Went back to the old crank sensor and fixed my stopping problems, brand new part failing right out the box!! Thanks for the direction guts!!

 

As far as the crank sensor, I'm hearing at this forum that the OEM aka original manufactures part i.e. MOPAR is THE one to get. I dunno' about the cam sensor. Any recommendations on the cam sensor from anyone at this forum????

 

I would stick with Mopar on the cam sensor as well.

 

Mine was doing this so i changed the crankshaft sensor. fine for about a week. today it stalled out and once i pulled the doghouse off and wiggled the wires at the connection, it made a buzzing noise. once that stopped and wiggled a little more the van started right up. Im thinking i need to replace the other connecter. I know **** all about cars/vans, but what is a coil? should i replace that as well. Im not getting a check engine light either. i was before i replaced the crankshaft sensor, but not today. (96 b2500 van)

 

Don't worry about the coil just yet, fix the bad connections, then drive it for a while, and see how it goes.

 

You need 20,000+ volts to produce a spark across the spark plug electrodes. The Ignition coil is what coverts the 12 volts to the 20,000+ volts required to do this. If the coil fails or if it's weak then the spark might not be strong enough and you'll get a misfire or a non-running engine.