'93 Dakota - Won't Start

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

FMB - 29 Sep 2006 04:23 GMT

This is my boy's truck. It has a small V-6 with probably 130k miles, drinks
oil regularly but he says he keeps up with it.

Last week, he says he is driving it and all of a sudden, it starts running
rough, backfires a few times and that all lasts about 20 seconds or so, then
smooths out and runs ok.

Yesterday, he drives to work (less than a mile) and parks it in their
garage. After work, he starts the truck, it runs for about 30 seconds then
turned off like someone turned the key. Now, it turns over but won't start.
No Codes. He swears there is a half a tank of fuel.

I'm going over on Sat to look at it (bringing a gas can). I'll check for
fuel delivery and spark, any other suggestions?

Hmmmmm.... reading over this for spelling errors and I detect an ever
growing suspicion of timing chain issues (original chain). Anybody else
think this way with so little to go on? Does this engine have clearance to
turn over with a busted chain?

FMB
(North Mexico)

Reply to this Message

Xclimation - 29 Sep 2006 05:25 GMT

I had a 93 with the same engine, and an 87 with the same engine. Between
the two I had this problem, which sounds similiar to yours about 4 different
times. What happened is the spark plug wires were burning/melting on the
exhaust manifold. All four times, I replaced the bad wire, and routed the
wire better. Also, while your at it, replace the dist. cap and rotor. You
have to look at the wires real good. It might not be noticable right away.
In all the cases, the wire was damaged where I could not easily notice.
Good Luck, and I hope that this is the problem. Whatever you find, please
post it here.

> This is my boy's truck. It has a small V-6 with probably 130k miles,
> drinks oil regularly but he says he keeps up with it.
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
> FMB
> (North Mexico)

Reply to this Message

Mike - 30 Sep 2006 01:14 GMT

> This is my boy's truck. It has a small V-6 with probably 130k miles,
> drinks oil regularly but he says he keeps up with it.
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
> FMB
> (North Mexico)

Sounds like it could be a bad crank position sensor. If that is the case it
should set a code in the PCM.

Reply to this Message

FMB - 30 Sep 2006 20:43 GMT

> This is my boy's truck. It has a small V-6 with probably 130k miles,
> drinks oil regularly but he says he keeps up with it.
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
> FMB
> (North Mexico)

Drove down to Concord to look at the truck. I had him price fuel pumps
yesterday so he can have an idea what to expect today (~$175-$340).

I first listened for fuel pump noise when the key was turned on. I didn't
hear any but couldn't remember if I ever heard any. Then we checked to see
if it turned over ok, and it did; just wouldn't start. I visually inspected
the plug wires and some of them were out of the little "U" holders and had
him try to restart, no luck.

Next, pulled the air cleaner and put 1/2 oz of fuel on the butterfly valves.
He tried to start it and it didn't start. All the fuel was still sitting on
the valves. I let some down, and he turned it over and the engine started
and ran for a few seconds. Hmmmm..... fuel delivery problem.

Again, I asked if there was fuel in the tank. Yeah, about 1/2 a tank. OK,
when we gave this truck to him it had a defective guage. It reads full for
the first 50 miles or so, then drops to empty. We guage when we need to buy
fuel by how many miles we have on the trip meter. That has worked well for
him and I for 5 years or so. "How many miles on this tank?" "About 170 and
it should be able to go to 250 or so".

I dumped a gallon of fuel into the tank, some on the butterfly valve and
started the truck. It ran for 15 sec or so and quit. A little more onto
the butterfly and it started and ran fine. I dumped another gallon into the
tank from my gas can.

Son drove to the gas pumps then to the parts store for a locking gas cap.
Thanks for the help, guys.

FMB
(North Mexico)

Reply to this Message

Stormin Mormon - 30 Sep 2006 22:52 GMT

thanks for the report. Simple things can be big problems. Who bought
the gas to refill your gascan? Did your son offer to replace the gas?

I've stopped to help people several times, and found em out of gas.
Got to the point that I buy gas on schedule, and also keep a gascan in
my vehicle.

Signature

Christopher A. Young
You can't shout down a troll.
You have to starve them.
.

I dumped a gallon of fuel into the tank, some on the butterfly valve
and
started the truck. It ran for 15 sec or so and quit. A little more
onto
the butterfly and it started and ran fine. I dumped another gallon
into the
tank from my gas can.

Son drove to the gas pumps then to the parts store for a locking gas
cap.
Thanks for the help, guys.

FMB
(North Mexico)

Reply to this Message

Denny - 01 Oct 2006 00:48 GMT

> thanks for the report. Simple things can be big problems. Who bought
> the gas to refill your gascan? Did your son offer to replace the gas?
>
> I've stopped to help people several times, and found em out of gas.
> Got to the point that I buy gas on schedule, and also keep a gascan in
> my vehicle.

I'm just kinda hoping your not driving around with a full gascan in your
vehical. Just doesn't seem safe in an accident.

Denny

Reply to this Message

FMB - 04 Oct 2006 03:57 GMT

>> This is my boy's truck. It has a small V-6 with probably 130k miles,
>> drinks oil regularly but he says he keeps up with it.
[quoted text clipped - 51 lines]
> FMB
> (North Mexico)

Just an update. Son called late Sat afternoon, truck started stalling and
running rough, backfiring, etc... again. So, I went down on Sunday, checked
plugs (looked good), replaced rotor and cap, pulled and reseated connectors
to the IAC, TPS and MAP. Started truck and it ran as rough as it has for
the past 3-4 years. Cleaned up and put the tools away. Took it for a test
drive and it made it to the end of his parking lot before dying. Wouldn't
restart.

Pulled the IAC and it was black. Cleaned it out really well with carb
cleaner and also the carb while we were there, but the carb looked pretty
clean anyway. Put it all together and it still ran like crap and died.

The IAC had no moving parts when I began cleaning it, and shortly thereafter
the shaft looking thing that goes out towards the tip would slide back into
the IAC housing (housing = piece with the connector) and spun also. The tip
didn't move at all. The insides looked clean though.

I had him buy a new IAC Monday and he put it in after he put in a new
battery. Battery in the truck was real old, can't remember when it was
replaced last. Battery didn't help but after he put in the new IAC, it ran
real good. He said it never ran that smooth since he known the truck.
Anyway, test drive turned out well and I think I'm done with it for awhile.

Thanks for everyone's thoughts.

FMB
(North Mexico)

Reply to this Message