96-Dakota-Not Getting Spark

[kgiboney]

I could really use some input here before I end up having to put a lot of money into a ECM that may not be needed and be unreturnable.

Last Wed I got home from picking up my wife and turned off my truck. I had no problems with it that night driving it. The next morning I go out ot start it to bring her to work and I have not been able to get it to start since.

It will turn over, but it will not get a spark. The mechanic downstairs and I have gone over everything we can thing of. The coil is receiving electricity, but I am not getting a spark on my #1 plug. I replaced the coil and that did not improve anything.

The mechnic now thinks, after reading my Haynes Manual, that this is the ECM or brain as many call it. I can get that at MoparPartz for 408.00. However, I can not return it if it is not the problem. So, I really need some advice if anyone can assist.

Thanks in advance.

[theFREAKnasty82]

Does your fuel pump work as well? If not, you could have a tripped ASD relay (Automatic ShutDown). What normally causes that relay to trip is a bad crank sensor or FJ2 (signal voltage) to the PCM. See if that's the cause.

[Dakota00]

Did you check the spark plug wire, could be cracked

[kgiboney]

Yes, the fuel pump is working and the wires are new.

We have been told this could be the ECM or wire leading to the ECM. Any experience there?

[Gizmokid2005]

Did you check the distributor, distributor cap, and rotor??? Those could be it too...

[Mr. Normal]

If, you have fuel injection you have a computer that gives codes to problems.
Have you tried to read the computer by the check engine light? If, not; try it.
Turn the key on, (not start position), turn it off and back on WITHIN 5 seconds. Watch the CHECK ENGINE Light on the dash. It should flash 8 times and then gives a code signal. The 8 flashes tells you that the "88" test is engaged.
The check engine light will start the code readout; it should flash on, then off and back on in a pattern that you have to count and record on paper. It might flash once or more then off, etc. In most manuals, (Haynes, Chilton, & factory) has a limited list of codes that will point you in the right direction for solving problems.
I'm helping a buddy of mine with the same problem on a 96 Dakota, his battery went bad on a recently purchased used truck. Found the codes are NOT reading out, I think the brain got fried by the bad battery. That's when I went to the Google search engine and found this site.