98 ram 1500 5.9 will not start

[bopierce]

Was running good then one morning would not start. I replaced dist cap, rotor, plugs, wires, and coil. I checked fuel pressure, was about 43 psi. I pulled plugs and all the plugs were fouled with gas. I then put new ones in. I check spark and there is plenty of spark. also checked injector selenoids and there is power getting to them. I had the cat converter replaced about a year ago, so I'm thinking that it is still good. Plenty of volumn of air coming out of the exhaust. One thing I notice, i am getting no vacumn out of the manifold when I crank the engine. I also checked the compression just out of frustration. average 145 psi.
I would appriciate any help.

[fredjacksonsan]

Check a post by LTJGWorth, he had a similar problem and it was a fuse under the hood.

[bopierce]

Thnx fred
I checked all fuses. They are good.
My other questions are:

1) Could it be the IAC valve and how do you check it?

2) Could it be another sensor such as the TPS ot MAP?

I know that I am getting a good spark. I have taken out the plug and have seen good spark, but the plugs are wet with gas. Very Wet. Sometimes it tries to start then nothing.

[fredjacksonsan]

With spark, air and gas it should run. Did you fill up recently? There may have been some water in the gas; what you're experiencing sounds alot like that too.

I'm always in favor of the simple approach, try a couple cans of Drigas or HEET or something similar and see if that doesn't fix it.

(Of course it could always be the IAC, don't know about it, or the TPS.)

[bopierce]

Thnx Fred

I ran through 1/2 tank of gas before this happened. I am going to try fuel additives.
I know I am getting spark, gas, and compression, but I am not sure about the air part. I am taking the IAC off and going to try to test it. If I am reading the forums and the book right, the IAC regulates the amount of air going thru the intake. Maybe that is the prob. I can only hope.

[fredjacksonsan]

Be interested to see what it was....good luck with it.

[bopierce]

fred
Finally found out what was wrong with it. It was the coil wire. I would of never guessed it. I had a spark, but when replace coil wire it fired up. I broke down and took it to a shop. That is why they make the big bucks. At least it took them awhile to find the problem.

[natale8888]

yes coil wire,, i have to replace mine three times in three years,, there some kind of re route kit for them now,, i had same problem,, but i found out before taking it in,,, at least you found out and it didnt get soaked for something bigger.

[fredjacksonsan]

Cool; makes for an easy/cheap fix next time. Where does the stock routing go that it's killing the wire?

[bopierce]

The wire came out of the holder and was up against the exhaust manifold. Looking at it from the top of the motor it looked like it was clearing the manifold. I still dont understand why I was even getting fire at all. I am going to reroute the wires and use wire ties as needed.
It only cost me 60.00, but I still feel like an idiot for not finding the problem. I will know next time.

[BleedDodge]

It's just built that good.

[fredjacksonsan]

Cooked the wire....tough to find but makes sense once it's revealed.