Why does it not start after transmission change?

DONALD49ER

MEMBER
1994 DODGE RAM
5.2L
V8
2WD
AUTOMATIC
170,000 MILES

My transmission went out, so I replaced the transmission with one from a pick n pull place. After installing it and hooking everything up my truck won't start it just cranks, at first, I thought it may be a fuel issue because the fuel Guage is pretty low but as it was cranking, I could smell fuel as if it was flooding. I'm guessing that it is probably electrical. What do you guys think?

6 Replies

STEVE W.

MECHANIC
13,574 POSTS

My first instinct would be a bad crankshaft sensor or wiring to it got pinched. Without it the fuel pump primes then you crank it, and it doesn't fire but it still injects some fuel. It's back there on the transmission bellhousing and not hard to damage by accident when the engine moves around while changing the transmission.

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Saturday, August 6th, 2022 AT 4:25 PM

DONALD49ER

MEMBER
4 POSTS

That was one thought I had because I changed that sensor with the used one from the same transmission and had a heck of a time trying to plug it in and the plug went in hard. I didn't know what sensor that was until now I couldn't find no info on it from Google or the repair manual.

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Saturday, August 6th, 2022 AT 5:38 PM

DONALD49ER

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4 POSTS

My other thought was possibly the neutral safety switch but if it was true then it wouldn't even crank, correct?

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Saturday, August 6th, 2022 AT 5:41 PM

STEVE W.

MECHANIC
13,574 POSTS

The neutral switch wouldn't let it crank, correct. The plug for the crank sensor shouldn't plug together hard, might have bent a pin in the connector.

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Saturday, August 6th, 2022 AT 6:09 PM

DONALD49ER