5 replies to this topic

[hudson]

A while back I posted about my 02' not starting. I was finally able to get it started back then for no apparent reason. It's done the same thing a couple of time since. What happens is it will turn over but not start. I can hear the fuel pump whining, etc. It seems to happen after it has been sitting for a few days. I've always been able to get it cranked by pouring gas into the throttle body, until now.

Today I put a little gas in the throttle body since that worked before. No go. Did the Passlock relearn deal, the thirty minute one. No go. I did get a big ball of smoke out of the engine compartment and the tail pipe. I've even tried starter fluid.

I've read every post I can find on Passlock. I'm thinking that must not be the problem.

I need some help, please.

[Jigg]

Sounds like you're not getting spark. Have you checked your distributor/cap? It's not completely unheard of for the points on the cap/rotor to get so corroded that the truck won't start, or for the copper tab on the rotor to fall off (which obviously would prohibit spark). From there, i'd go back to the coil wire and coil.

[hudson]

Thanks Jigg. Bingo on the distributor cap and rotor. Both of them were completely worn out. Both original. New ones of both got it to start immediately but now it revs to about 2500-3000 rpm's without me doing anything. I've disconnected the battery to see if the computer needs to reset or something. I've always liked this truck but damn if it ain't hard to work on. I expect the newer ones are worse though.

[jwwaldschmidt]

If you think these are bad, try a Chrysler. And I mean that as honestly as I can.

The revs are beyond me... do you have a scanner you can hook up? I'd be curious to see what it puts the TPS at.

[hudson]

Well, the problem was really stupid simple but at least my woes are over once again. While I was fumbling around removing the distributor cap I accidentally pulled the pcv valve out of the manifold and the valve cover. It was just laying on the engine. Once I put it back in everything instantly worked great. Thanks again for the help, Honestly, I probably would never have thought of the distributor. At least the truck broke down in the driveway. I'm lucky it didn't leave me stranded somewhere.

And speaking of Chrysler. Last year I had to have a locksmith laser cut and program a key for an '07 Civic. $80.00 and I furnished the key blank! He told me that the new Chrysler keys are $300.00 and change, if he provides the blank. Holy $hit.

[hudson]

Had to add this one last thing. A bonus. This truck is still all original and it has the oem six disc fancy radio. For the last two years the static has been so bad that I wouldn't use it except for talk radio. I've chased down every ground on the truck at least twice, added grounds, put noise filters in and pulled the radio I know a dozen times. Well,. after I changed the distributor and rotor, it occurred to me that might have been the radio problem. It was. The thing sounds like it did when it was brand new. I'm so happy I ain't even gonna bitch about the gas mileage for a month or two.