yet another problem for my p.o.s...

so i pulled out of my driveway and all the sudden the power went out, and it wouldnt start again. It turns over fine, but it wont start. theres a 1/4 tank of gas, all fluids are good and the oil was just changed 4 days ago. I'm goin out now to look everything over, but have no idea at this time. Theres no codes either...:banghead:

oh yeah, its a 1995 3.2L 4x4 rodeo

Well, I would start with the most obvious. See if it's getting fuel (i.e., check your fuel line at the filter to see if there's pressure). If that checks out good, then move on to spark.

just changed spark plugs, there was some oil in the rear drivers side spark plug boot, but the actual core on the plug was dry. the oil was on the threads only.
guess i'll check the fuel lines and filter tomorrow :shakehead

Verify compression will be next. You might be able to actually see with a spot inspection mirror in oil fill port to see cam moves while someone cranks it.
Usually if timing went, the engine spins over easy, with no resistance of compression.
If nothing else, squirt a little fuel in to see if it fires.

WTF?!?! okay, yesterday i changed 5 out of 6 of the plugs before it got too dark. today i went to change the 6th plug and it kept spinning...upon looking into the chamber, the plug somehow is down farther than the rest. The socket wont even reach it. there seems to be some ring that is stopping the socket from getting to the plug. what would cause a plug to "fall" down there? is this the cause of the problem?....DISREGARD I'M AN IDIOT! Its the plastic boot from the plug wire...on to the fuel pump...

just disconnected the fuel line going INTO the fuel filter and had someone start the rodeo, absolutley no fuel came out of the line, so this would be the fuel pump right? Anybody have any experience doing this?

Is there a fuel pump relay or fuse on these trucks?

yes, but the relay didnt look burnt or anything. all fuses were good

There are several fuses and relays. I would look in the manual, under the hood, and in the cab for fuse/relay location. Replace any that look burnt. You won't be able to see if the relay is burnt, so I would get a used one from a j-yard or order new from an auto store. Replace those before you automatically assume your pump is bad.

i checked all the fuses in the cab and under the hood, they were all good. a friggin relay is $60, a new pump is $120...both ridiculously expensive!!

hshawn31....sorry, but $120 for a fuel pump is cheap comparison to these parts for newer vehicles. I just had to put a fuel pump system in my dodge diesel 2002, it ran us upwards of $600 for the parts.

Just a month before that, we had to put in $400 dollars for brakes/rotors.

My sister's ford windstar van blew the rack and pinion, cost her $300 just for the parts.

I'm finding honestly, that my Rodeo's cheaper then other vehicles in my family. Don't mean to sound negative towards your feelings, believe me, I know what it's like when parts go bad and money's tight. But, you do have a 13yr old truck, things are gonna happen.

Jump the pump relay with a short peice of wire and see if your pump runs. If not then your pump probably died. Check ebay for the best deals on a pump.

gonna get a relay today, if it doesnt work then i'll take it back

as for the harsh feelings for the money towards the pump, i just find it annoying when i just put $450 into a new rear end a week ago and now this. i drove the thing for 2 yrs straight with absolutely no problems. its just stressful!!! :disappoin

well its not the relay, i swapped the fuel pump relay with the headlamp realy and still nothing. so i started to get the fuel tank off. Of course all the bolts are so rusted they break like paper. So I'm gonna have to cut a square hole in the interior of the truck, just above the pump to get it out. I have gasket material and figured this way i have access to it next time!! :naughty:

Yea its actually easier to cut holes in alot of cars to get at the fuel pump. Hope it all works out for ya.

:banghead: cut a hole in the rear. Now theres 15 yrs of rust and all the screws holding the pump housing in the tank are stripped! So i'm gonna get some of those stripped screw removers and try and get them out. Then as i was trying to get a screw out, it slipped and broke off both the nipples for the lines, so now i probably need a whole new housing!!!!

You'll find in the future dealing with 15 yr rusted fasteners regardless where they are, it's just flat out easier to drill off the heads, and deal with alternate self tapping screws to remount.

finally got the unit off. now i'm just waiting for the replacement part to get here. should be here monday.

FINALLY, got the right part. I installed it yesterday and started her right up. Gonna finish with the cleanup and drive it today.