Shut off while driving will not crank

Tiny
RODMAN77
  • MEMBER
  • 1989 DODGE RAM
  • 5.2L
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 280,000 MILES
Was going down the road, truck stopped, doesn't crank again.
Tuesday, March 31st, 2020 AT 9:47 AM

7 Replies

Tiny
KASEKENNY
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,907 POSTS
Can we clarify if the engine actually cranks/turns over but doesn't start or the engine stopped and now doesn't crank at all? So when you turn the key, the starter doesn't engage? Does it click when you turn the key?

Do the cluster lights come on when trying to start it?

The reason we need to clarify this is because these two issues are very different.

If the engine just shut off and does nothing when trying to restart it but the cluster lights do come on like normal, can you put a socket and ratchet on the crank pulley and just make sure the engine spins over by hand? We need to ensure the motor is not locked up. Thanks
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Tuesday, March 31st, 2020 AT 10:02 AM
Tiny
RODMAN77
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The engine does crank over. Found a wire lead going to the positive side of the coil not connected to nothing. Had a local garage work on about a year and a half ago. My guess is that they ran that to a source in the cable harness, the problem is that it is a pink wire that doesn't show a broken pink wire on the fire wall harness. There was a broken wire in the harness that smoked when I tested it. The truck was blowing fuses the crank no crank problem. It's a great truck when running. Would you happen to have a good shop wiring diagram?
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Tuesday, March 31st, 2020 AT 12:43 PM
Tiny
KASEKENNY
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Yes. We have access to OEM and aftermarket diagrams, however we will need to narrow this down a little to be able to send you what you need. Otherwise I will be sending a ton of info. You said the wire is coming from the coil but as you can see on the diagram attached the coil only has two wires and neither of them are pink. I suspect they added something or someone did and just picked up 12 volts from the coil to run whatever it was. Clearly not something we want to do so I assume we may not find it in the wiring info.

When you say it was blowing fuses for the crank can you tell me what fuse that was? You have an ignition system that has the distributor which acts as a crank and cam sensor. It sends the position to the SMEC. See the attached info.

Since the engine cranks we need to start with checking for spark. Just pull a plug wire and use a screw driver or hold it close to a bolt and see if there is a spark. If there is spark, spray some starter fluid in the intake and see if it fires.

Here is a guide that talks about this a little more. Basically we need to see if we are having spark or fuel issue.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-cranks-but-wont-start
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Tuesday, March 31st, 2020 AT 1:04 PM
Tiny
RODMAN77
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  • 4 POSTS
The fuses were two inline fuse holders they put in the wiring harness; they said that was the cause for the truck tuning off the first time. Never did find the cause for the fuse failure.
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Tuesday, March 31st, 2020 AT 2:25 PM
Tiny
KASEKENNY
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Okay. Just so I understand the fuses that are failing are additional fuses that were added to a specific circuit? If this is the case then what were they added for and if they were added they are not going to be in a wiring diagram.

It feels like I am not fully understanding what you are dealing with. Can you get pictures of what you are dealing with so that we can make sure we are on the same page?
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Tuesday, March 31st, 2020 AT 5:38 PM
Tiny
RODMAN77
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Will give it a try.
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Wednesday, April 1st, 2020 AT 8:37 AM
Tiny
KASEKENNY
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Thanks. We will wait to hear back.
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Thursday, April 2nd, 2020 AT 3:04 PM

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