No Fire From Coil

[TennBen]

Dear Dodge Friends,
I have a 91 Dodge RAM 350 van with 5.9L engine. One night while idling my van stalled. Upon pulling the engine cover I found that there was no fire coming out of the coil. A mechanic friend highly recommended replacing the pickup plate in the distributor. We checked all the wires and they were o.k. The next day when I got to where my truck was sitting, it had fire, started, ran for about 15 seconds, and then stalled again, never to start again. I went ahead and replaced the pickup and that didn't change anything. Since then I have done the following.
1. Ran jumper from 12v. + to the pos. side of the coil to rule out the auto shutdown relay.
2. Replaced the coil (twice the auto parts guy said try another it could have been bad.) no luck.
3. Searched for and found out I DO NOT have a crank shaft position sensor, a mechanic said that had to be it...don't have one.
4. Replaced the auto shutdown relay (called the fuel pump shut down at dealership.)
5. Took loose and cleaned batt. terminals to insure good amperage.
6. Checked dist. cap, rotar, and rotar operation. All seem to be o.k.

I think that is everything I've done. I must admit, I'm stumped! Any input would be welcomed and highly appreciated.

Flustered but hopeful in Tennessee,

Ben

[theFREAKnasty82]

The coil could be fine, it sound like now you have a problem with the PCM, your ignition control module is inside of the PCM, or the main computer brain. Have your mechanic buddy test the PCM to see if it's working properly.

[rhinologistics]

did you figure out the problem and was your check engine light working during startup? i think i have the same problem

[badchicken]

I have the same problem, have you found out the problem yet? I have done everything you did and I replaced the electrical side of the ignition switch.

[brattzzzzz]

I got the same exact problem

nothing from coil but i tested the coil and distributor in another van and they work

i cant figure it out.

[rhinologistics]

Originally Posted by brattzzzzz

I got the same exact problem

nothing from coil but i tested the coil and distributor in another van and they work

i cant figure it out.

my problem ended up being the ecm the(computer) $400.00 i replaced the crank sensor, coil, relays are you getting a check engine light? does it come on when you turn the key to the run not start position? if it does not your computer is not communicating with the engine. let me know

[brattzzzzz]

check engine comes on for a second while turning the key

[brattzzzzz]

i did the trick
switch the key on, off, on, off, on

but the check engine did not flash


http://www.allpar.com/fix/80s-codes.html

[brattzzzzz]

well does any1 have any advice?

[rangerreb]

Yea, Burn it!.....Just kidding, I have had two vans with the same problem. The first was had a crank position sensor problem. The second one havent found out yet.

[bigjim42]

94 ram van no start.If all else fails,probe wires just above plug in connector to crankshaft position sensor with a well grounded test light,not a meter.Orange wire should light in on and start position.Probe black blue stripe wire,crank engine.If engine starts,there is a break in black blue wire in harness.This wire is a ground that feeds back through the neutral safety switch,and will rub through on the transmission case.A very simple repair that only took three days to find.

[brattzzzzz]

crank angle position angle was broken i replaced and it works great