see if you can figure THIS out!

[cavemanhands]

1988 Dodge B250 Van 318 auto. Was running first thing in the morning to warm it up, it started, ran fine as always then depressed the throttle and something popped like a relay being blown from under the hood and it died. Now it cranks over, it is getting fuel, spark is excellent, it is in time but cranks and will not hit a lick. I am a seasoned mechanic but this is baffleing me, I have checked the distributor which turns normally when engine is cranked, the rotor is in the correct location with #1 piston at TDC, the injectors are pulsating and it is getting plenty of gas but not so much it is flooded, the spark plugs have been checked and it is getting a very good spark on all plugs, new rotor, cap, wires and plugs. The valve train is working, it has compression albeit very little but it has plenty to run. Any Ideas?????
TIA!!

[DCMoose48]

Sounds similar to what happened with my 1990 recently altho I'm not a mechanic so I don't really know about everything you checked. My mechanic replaced the ignition coil and the computer and it's fine now. Hope this helps.

[pyromedic]

did you have any luck with your van, I have been called to assist a friend whose van started then died while backing, wont start for nothing now...I ma at a loss cause I have just about everything to my GMC or Chevy but never on the Dodge...LEt me know if the coil and computer worked for yours...or what you did...Thanks and be safe.

[NJM]

If you have compression, fuel and spark timed correctly then the only thing it can be is valve timing. I bet the sound you heard was the timing chain jumping a tooth. If you have someone to help you you can see how much slack there is in the chain by turning the crankshaft while watching the rotor. Turn the crankshaft until TDC. Then while watching the rotor slowly turn the crankshaft in the other direction until the rotor just starts to turn. Read the degrees on the crankshaft and this will tell you how much slack there is in the timing chain in degrees of crankshaft rotation.

Also, if my memory serves me, the 318 has a fiber timing gear. They can jump fairly easily when they have some miles on them.

[lobsterman]

i had an older dodge van and what always went on it was the ballast resistor and voltage regulator, they were cheap enough that i wound up keeping spares of each in the van, it saved me a few times.

Pat.

[Gandalfwhite]

Hi,
What errorcodes do You get? my 88 ran like a dream until a valve (located on the right exhaust) broke. fixed it myself by yanking it off but in order to give a more specific answer I think many needs them error codes btw pardon the cranked english but.. it's a fin living in Sweden that types english hehehe

[IslandLady]

Originally Posted by cavemanhands

depressed the throttle and something popped like a relay being blown from under the hood and it died.

Sounds just like when I slipped the timing chain ...

-- IslandLady

[BIGHAMMER]

COOLANT TEMPERATURE SENSOR (not the temp. sending for the guage) or AIR (intake) TEMPERATUE SENSOR........did you check these ???
Should be on your INTAKE MANIFOLD. Unplug it, it may start! If you have spark and put a little fuel through the throttle and doesn't atleast start, timing chain's stretched. Like other post, the wiring to my ballast resister was loose.

[dieselcaddy]

Originally Posted by BIGHAMMER

COOLANT TEMPERATURE SENSOR (not the temp. sending for the guage) or AIR (intake) TEMPERATUE SENSOR........did you check these ???
Should be on your INTAKE MANIFOLD. Unplug it, it may start! If you have spark and put a little fuel through the throttle and doesn't atleast start, timing chain's stretched. Like other post, the wiring to my ballast resister was loose.

its been a year since this was active