Well as it turns out there is no crank sensoron the 1989 model. So i popped the distributor cap and found severe corrosion on all the contacts and the rotor. I cleaned up the cap and rotor as much as i could and it has helped.

Today i'm going to change the plugs, wires, coil and cap-rotor and see if this solves the problem.

 

Well, changing those didn't help any bit other than having the engine run a bit smoother when it does.

I think i'm going to change out the fuel pump but i just put in a full tank of gas. I think i'm going to leave this one to the pro's.

 

Well, after all that it turned out to be the hall effect sensor or whatever you call it.They just read the codes and it pointed to the distributor. Easy fix...so it wasn't the ecu, fuel filter, fuel pump, coil, spark plugs, distributor cap and rotor, plug wires.

Thanksand i hope this can help someone in the future .

 

I'm having a similar problem. It's not fuel because I have the Air cleaner top off and can see lots of fuel dripping and flowing in. Right now I'm watching the Idle control unit to see if it shuts off. I'm sure it is a electronic or electrical problem. I need to find a truck in the wreckers to obtain some relays, coil, module etc. It may even be a loose or dirty wire, like at the back of the fuse box or starter. It may even be the Ignition Switch or its wires. But I'm not going to blow my brains out looking. Simple things first. I notice a pop-ing or clicking noise in my carb and it disappears when the engine gets warm. It looks like it is giving that idle control some advice as it runs and the plunger looks like it is moving that holds the idle. I also need to check all pulleys to see if anything is trying to seize. We put on a new chain and water pump. I thought they were the problem as the pump was just hanging on and the chain had about 300,00 k's but nooooo!

 

That noise could be coming from the Idle Speed Controller. Please provide more details on what van you have.
Steve

 

padmac;3309378]

I'm having a similar problem. It's not fuel because I have the Air cleaner top off and can see lots of fuel dripping and flowing in. Right now I'm watching the Idle control unit to see if it shuts off. I'm sure it is a electronic or electrical problem. I need to find a 10/89 Dodge Dakota 318 V/8 A/T 1/2 Ton Truck in the Wreckers to obtain some relays, coil, module etc. It may even be a loose or dirty wire, like at the back of the fuse box or starter. It may even be the Ignition Switch or its wires. But I'm not going to blow my brains out looking. "Simple things first". I notice a pop-ing or clicking noise in my carb and it disappears when the engine gets warm. It looks like it is giving the idle control some advice (left side of carb) as it runs and the plunger looks like it is moving. They are in sync. I also need to check all pulleys to see if anything is trying to seize. We put on a new Chain and Water pump. I thought they were the problem as the pump was just hanging on and the chain had about 300,00 k's but .....nooooo'!

 

[QUOTE=SteveR;3309388]That noise could be coming from the Idle Speed Controller. Please provide more details on what van you have.
Steve


It almost sounds like it is the controller, I will need to listen in closer with my special tool for that type of problem. I have a 10/89 Dodge Dakota 318 with a A/Trans. I guess it would be a Throttle Body Injection Carb. Thanks Steve.

 

We need a few Dodge Tech's in on this, I believe. I may have to see the head guy at our local Dealership.

 

[QUOTE=padmac;3309402]We need a few Dodge Tech's in on this, I believe. I may have to see the head guy at our local Dealership.

Well you won't believe what happened today when I went to start my Truck.
It would not start.....I have been waiting for this and checked it out no Power to the Coil. Now I can start backtracking the Electrical. See you in a few days.....perhaps. I may need to find a used one but first I'm going to follow some wires..

 

start another thread in the dakota section