The truck just shuts off randomly and will not start back up immediately?

2000 DODGE DAKOTA
120,000 MILES • 3.9L • V6 • 2WD • AUTOMATIC
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DOMINO2113
This problem started out of nowhere one day 2 months ago. I was sitting in Park idling and it died. I thought it was weird to turn it over it fired but was obvious it was missing out. I left the truck came back in the evening the truck started so I drive it home. Shut it off tried to restart same thing. I'd noticed that it wouldn't start if the gas gauge wasn't reading. If the gauge was showing what fuel it had it would start. I've put a new fuel pump in. I've tore down the front of the motor. To check the timing set. No play in the chain and guards seem to be fine. Timing marks on crank and cam line up respectively. I'm sitting to all of this I've also changed crankshaft position sensor and coil pickup plate in the distributor. My dad wants to junk it! I other hand have done all the work just need help to fix it.
Jul 28, 2025 at 10:45 PM
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STRAILER
  • ASE Certified Mechanic
  • 54,494 POSTS
  • ASE Certified Mechanic
To me it sounds like you have a defective fuel pump. I would use an AC Delco or a Mopar pump. When the engine does not start will it run on starting fluid? This can tell us for sure it is fuel related. Please go over this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXLJbuAZ4CE&t

If the pump is shorting out it can affect the fuel level gauge FYI, or there is a bad ground G111 at the battery, so I would check that as well, (black wire). Please upload pictures or videos in your response.
Jul 29, 2025 at 11:55 AM
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