1992 Dakota stalls will not start

Tiny
GREG O.
  • MEMBER
  • 1992 DODGE DAKOTA
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 160,000 MILES
The truck stalls while driving just like the ignition was shut off. It will sometimes start by cycling the ignition switch several times, but not always. Usually starts after it sits for some time. Replaced fuel pump thinking it may be the problem, it had a bad check valve anyway. Problem did not go away. I have checked for spark, there is no spark during this condition, even after installing a new coil.
Wednesday, November 12th, 2008 AT 12:11 PM

14 Replies

Tiny
GREG O.
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
I also soldered the 3 wires near the relay box. Apparently they had been a problem before, as someone had wire nutted them together. When I took the wire nut off they were corroded, but soldering did not fix the problem. I stripped back to clean wire and made a good solder joint.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Thursday, September 7th, 2017 AT 5:27 PM
Tiny
RACEFAN966
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,029 POSTS
Just be sure you have no spark right? How is the cap and rotor and plugs? Have you checked the module? Do you have power at the coil when the key is on? How do the wires look below the battery? Get back to me with some info and we will go from there.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Thursday, September 7th, 2017 AT 5:27 PM
Tiny
GREG O.
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
What wires are you talking about below the battery? Just wires in general? I will get back with you next week, I have to leave town tonight.

Thanks

Greg
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Thursday, September 7th, 2017 AT 5:27 PM
Tiny
RACEFAN966
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,029 POSTS
Ok Chrysler will usually put the power module (computer for the engind) next to the battery and they run the wiring loom under it.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Thursday, September 7th, 2017 AT 5:27 PM
Tiny
S.SPEAR
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Im having the same problem with my 92 Dakota 3.9 V6 AT 2wd. I have replaced the Auto shutdown relay (ASD), Crank Position sensor (CPS), ignition coil, spark plugs/wires, distributor cap/rotor.

The vehicle was running and then stalling after a few miles. Sometimes it would start right back up and run for the rest of the day, other times it just wouldnt start back up for a few hours. I took in the shop and they replaced the ASD relay and it ran great for a day, then blam same stalling. I then replaced the CPS and it ran great for the afternoon, test run around the neighbor hood, and started 4 or 5 times that day. Next day it wouldnt start at all. Today it started right up and died after 30 seconds. It is not getting a spark.

Should I get a diagnostic scanner? It has become my personal mission in life to fix this myself, it has become border line obsessive!
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Thursday, September 7th, 2017 AT 5:27 PM
Tiny
GREG O.
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
I have tested the CPS, it tested fine, I replaced the pick up coil in the distributor. I checked for current at the coil while it was in the no start condition, and It showed a voltage of.2 volt. I switched the auto shutdown relay with one of the other relays that I know is working. I did scan it today and came up with an open in the EGR solenoid. I don't think that would cause it to stall, and not restart. No other codes. AS I mentioned above, I soldered the 3 wires going into the relay center. I looked at the 3 pins for the CPS and they looked fine. I did not have a gauge to check to see if one of the female connectors may be spread, but visually they looked fine.

Is there a possibility the ignition module could be bad? How would I test for that? Any help would be appreciated.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Thursday, September 7th, 2017 AT 5:27 PM
Tiny
GREG O.
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
I know what you mean about being obsessive about this. I do not have much faith in the local Dodge dealer near me. I fixed another problem I was having after taking it to them, and they didn't even get close to solving the problem. Let me know if you figure out a solution, and I will do likewise.

Good luck,

Greg
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Thursday, September 7th, 2017 AT 5:27 PM
Tiny
RACEFAN966
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,029 POSTS
Have you checked the fuel pump relay to see if it is loosing power or just shutting off alltogether? Let me know and I will send you the procedure to test the relay ok.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Thursday, September 7th, 2017 AT 5:27 PM
Tiny
GREG O.
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
I switched all the relays around with no results, so I assume all the relays must be working.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Thursday, September 7th, 2017 AT 5:27 PM
Tiny
S.SPEAR
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Are you getting a spark from the ignition coil?

I took a spark plug and attached it to the end of the coil wire (the one that connects to the center post on the distributor cap) and set it against the truck frame, cranked the engine and didn't see any spark. Also, I know its not getting a spark cause the engine wont even burn the starter fluid I sprayed into the throttle body immediately after the engine died.

So, it seems to me that somewhere down the line someone is telling the engine not to send a spark. Once I find out who, Im going to kick their ass!
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Thursday, September 7th, 2017 AT 5:27 PM
Tiny
GREG O.
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
NO SPARK
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Thursday, September 7th, 2017 AT 5:27 PM
Tiny
RACEFAN966
  • MECHANIC
  • 5,029 POSTS
Have you checked for power at the fuel pump or relay when it dies? Have you checked the injector pulse to see if it quits. If you can get a noid light you check for pulse. It may be the power train module itself but I need to know what is or isn't happening to help better pin it down. To answer another question yes the ignition module could be bad.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Thursday, September 7th, 2017 AT 5:27 PM
Tiny
S.SPEAR
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
I replaced the ECM. Runs great now! I picked up one at a junk yard for $100, made sure the #'s matched and it fired right up. Been running good since.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
+1
Thursday, September 7th, 2017 AT 5:27 PM
Tiny
JONNYFIX
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Check for voltage at the coil. Green orange at plug in to coil.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Thursday, September 7th, 2017 AT 5:27 PM

Please login or register to post a reply.

Sponsored links