Crank no start
Asked by GrannyGearhead Aug 05, 2018 at 09:17 PM about the 1997 Dodge RAM Van 2500 Extended Cargo RWD
Question type: Maintenance & Repair
97 5.2 dodge crank no start have just
replaced distributor for crank sensor. Van
would only start when cold. Recently
replaced cam sensor, fuel pump, pcm, all
fuel related relays, thermostat, was running
hot, but not boiling over.
4 Answers
Distributor for crank sensor? The crank sensor is on the transmission where it meets the engine block on the passenger side, within the distributor is the pickup coil. Have you confirmed that you have spark (what color is the spark) and fuel entering the cylinders?
My husband has the same problem with his dodge ram van b250 right now and his problem is the neutral safety switch and How he figured that out was by starting his truck and putting it in reverse and seeing if the reverse lights come on or not if they don't then its the neutral safety switch try that and go from there. Let me know how that works out for you.
BritishTech77 answered 4 years ago
Dude your doing it wrong! Don't throw parts at it..! Diagnose it.. first check to see if you have sparks at the plug when cranking! If you do.. then move onto see if you have fuel coming up to engine (Spray a little ether or carb cleaner) if it starts you have a fuel issue. If you have both then you have either a timing problem!
GrannyGearhead answered 4 years ago
Thanks for all the input on my old problem. The problem ended up being a bad wire at battery. Been working on my own car over 50 yrs.Van had never had any upkeep before I got it. Starter went out & I replaced it. Auto Zone lifetime warranty starter. It shorted out. Coil blew, sounded like a firecracker under hood. Ignition switch was also shorted. I ended up getting 4 bad lifetime warranty starters for this Van. Last one never left the store. Was PO’ed they didn’t offer me my money back. Ended up At O’REILLYS using “Lifetime warranties” starter as a core. Good starter- checked before I left store. Still crank no start. Had just replaced ends on battery cables. Wires were bright shiny copper. Last ditch I pulled them off. When first starter shorted, it charred bottom of positive cable. Not visible. Since wire was still bright copper on top, was unreal bottom was so burned. Cleaned it up. Started and over a year later, still starting. Also ended up with another bad starter on Chrysler minivan. Was also auto zone lifetime warranty. Bought around the same time as big van starters. No longer buying from Auto Zone unless it was a swap out for something that had lifetime warranty.