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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Feb 2011
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My neighbor has a 1998 Ram 1500 with a 5.2 motor. I was helping him troubleshoot it yesterday and thought I'd ask here.
It turns over fine but doesn't start. The gas gauge quit working at the time the problem arose. It's got a full tank but the gauge doesn't register at all. Just wondering if it could be a blown fuse, a bad fuel pump, relay etc. I think there's a connection between the gauge stopping working and it not starting. I'm no mechanic that's for sure so I thought I'd ask here.
It worked fine when he parked it, the next day it didn't fire at all. Turns over great.
Last edited by Ghostinthemachine; 02/27/19.
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Joined: Jan 2001
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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It could be a blown fuse. It could also be the computer of the truck as well. My son's first car was a beater Chrysler Sebring. He was set to get a lot better car, and then he thought he was God's gift to the universe, so he got the POS Sebring. Anyways, his car did the same thing you are describing, and after trouble shooting it, we found a blow fuse.
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Joined: Jan 2006
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Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jan 2006
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I believe that the fuel sending unit is part of the pump. It could be a blown fuse or possibly the whole unit quit working. The owners manual will show which fuse controls it. You can also find it onlline if there's no manual. Fuses don't just blow on their own. Something has to cause it and finding that can be a trick.
“In a time of deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act.” ― George Orwell
It's not over when you lose. It's over when you quit.
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Joined: Apr 2011
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Campfire Savant
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Campfire Savant
Joined: Apr 2011
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Fuel pump has stopped working, beat on bottom of tank. Sometimes this will make it start working. It it runs, its temporary, get a new pump pronto.
Try pouring a bit of gas in carb, see if it runs at all.
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Joined: Jan 2007
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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It could very well be a bad fuel pump, as the pump/fuel level sending unit are housed together in an assembly about the size of a 2-liter bottle that sits in the top of the fuel tank. I had to replace mine in my 1995 (same series as the 1998) due to the same issue. They are not expensive (around $100 if I recall correctly), but a PITA to replace, unless you have 4 football players. Disconnect all the wiring from underneath the bed of the truck, remove 4 bolts holding the bed down to the frame, and simply pick the bed up off the frame and sit it aside. You can then remove the fuel pump unit from the top of the tank. I had 3 powerlifting friends from the YMCA come over and help me lift it off once I had everything disconnected, it took us all of 15 minutes to lift it up, removed the fuel pump/fuel gauge sending unit from the top of the tank, and sit the cargo bed back on. They left and I finished buttoning things back up.
Last edited by Triggernosis; 02/27/19.
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Joined: Jan 2006
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Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jan 2006
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Fuel pump has stopped working, beat on bottom of tank. Sometimes this will make it start working. It it runs, its temporary, get a new pump pronto.
Try pouring a bit of gas in carb, see if it runs at all. If you do that, keep your face away from the carb when you crank it. A backfire can take your face off.
“In a time of deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act.” ― George Orwell
It's not over when you lose. It's over when you quit.
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 47,280 Likes: 15
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Nov 2007
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crawl under the truck next to the gas tank, if you don't hear the pump come on when you turn the key forward your pump is bad, it could be a fuse, relay so check those first.
God bless Texas----------------------- Old 300 I will remain what i am until the day I die- A HUNTER......Sitting Bull Its not how you pick the booger.. but where you put it !! Roger V Hunter
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Joined: Nov 2007
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Nov 2007
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Fuel pump has stopped working, beat on bottom of tank. Sometimes this will make it start working. It it runs, its temporary, get a new pump pronto.
Try pouring a bit of gas in carb, see if it runs at all. If you do that, keep your face away from the carb when you crank it. A backfire can take your face off. 98 is injected, no carb.
God bless Texas----------------------- Old 300 I will remain what i am until the day I die- A HUNTER......Sitting Bull Its not how you pick the booger.. but where you put it !! Roger V Hunter
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Joined: Apr 2011
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Campfire Savant
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Campfire Savant
Joined: Apr 2011
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You can still pour a bit of gas in it ???
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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Will do fuel pump sound check when I go over, check fuses and other
Thanks gents.
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Joined: Jul 2009
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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I can't hear good enough to tell if an in tank fuel pump is running or not so I bought a fuel pressure gauge. It was cheap and you can also tell of you have low fuel pressure which will cause problems on injected engines.
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Joined: Feb 2010
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Feb 2010
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Will it fire on ether? If so, it's a fuel problem. If not, it's likely an electrical problem.
I once had a Dakota that just quit running one day. Drug it to a mechanic. He searched and searched for the problem. Finally, he removed an electronic part he called a "Halifax" mounted on the front of the firewall. Replaced it and it ran like a top. I don't know what the correct name of the part is, coil maybe?
Last edited by gregintenn; 02/27/19.
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Nov 2007
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You can still pour a bit of gas in it ??? pretty sure they had done away with throttle body injection by 98, you could spray starting fluid into the air intake but i don't think i'd want to try that with gas,
God bless Texas----------------------- Old 300 I will remain what i am until the day I die- A HUNTER......Sitting Bull Its not how you pick the booger.. but where you put it !! Roger V Hunter
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Joined: Feb 2004
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Posts: 46,755 |
Camp is where you make it.
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
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If the truck wont start or fire with abit of fuel sprayed in the intake...check the timing chain hasn't jumped some teeth.
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Joined: Dec 2007
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Dec 2007
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Bad fuel pump or bad connection to the fuel pump would be my guess from past experience.
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Joined: Feb 2010
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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Honestly, my automobile problems became way less frequent once I decided to stop buying Chrysler problems; and to a lesser degree, Chevrolets.
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Joined: Nov 2007
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Nov 2007
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Honestly, my automobile problems became way less frequent once I decided to stop buying Chrysler problems; and to a lesser degree, Chevrolets. i've replaced two fuel pumps and two rack n pinions in my dads Chevy, stuff will wear out on all makes.
God bless Texas----------------------- Old 300 I will remain what i am until the day I die- A HUNTER......Sitting Bull Its not how you pick the booger.. but where you put it !! Roger V Hunter
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 26,389 Likes: 6
Campfire Ranger
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OP
Campfire Ranger
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Tried the ether thing yesterday and it didn't fire.
I haven't been there yet today and he hasn't worked on it yet either. I'm thinking fuel pump at this point but it's less than a year old and quit all at once. Strange.
Could be electrical.
Like I said, I'm a terrible mechanic. 😀
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Joined: Nov 2007
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
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also had the rear end apart twice to replace bearings. why would anyone design a differential with c clips.
God bless Texas----------------------- Old 300 I will remain what i am until the day I die- A HUNTER......Sitting Bull Its not how you pick the booger.. but where you put it !! Roger V Hunter
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