95 Dakota - engine cranks over but won't start

tml1138

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Oct 13, 2009, 9:22:17 PM10/13/09

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I have a 1995 Dodge Dakota, V8, 5spd, 220k miles. I was replacing the
radiator the other day when I had the truck running to check for leaks
and it just stalled. After that, it would turn over but won't start.
Not even a pop of combustion. After checking for various fuel and
spark problems, the only thing I found that seems off is the spark is
a weak orange color. I checked the ignition coil primary and secondary
resistance, and it's within spec (1.2 and about 12.7k). Can a coil
still be bad even though resistance is right, and be causing the weak
spark? I can't believe the engine won't even sputter. I would think
that would be more a condition of no spark at all.

Anything else I can check? I looked at the cap and rotor, there was
some white buildup which I cleaned off and still no change.

Thanks for any help!

PeterD

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Oct 14, 2009, 8:55:23 AM10/14/09

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On Tue, 13 Oct 2009 18:22:17 -0700 (PDT), tml1138
<tml...@softhome.net> wrote:

>I have a 1995 Dodge Dakota, V8, 5spd, 220k miles. I was replacing the
>radiator the other day when I had the truck running to check for leaks
>and it just stalled. After that, it would turn over but won't start.
>Not even a pop of combustion. After checking for various fuel and
>spark problems, the only thing I found that seems off is the spark is
>a weak orange color. I checked the ignition coil primary and secondary
>resistance, and it's within spec (1.2 and about 12.7k). Can a coil
>still be bad even though resistance is right

Yes, the coil could have insulation breakdown in operation
(high-voltage) but not when you are testing. You should have a
'healthy blue/white' spark, not orange. However, did you try a quick
shot of starting fluid to eliminate the fuel injection components?

>, and be causing the weak
>spark? I can't believe the engine won't even sputter. I would think
>that would be more a condition of no spark at all.
>
>Anything else I can check? I looked at the cap and rotor, there was
>some white buildup which I cleaned off and still no change.
>
>Thanks for any help!

Check the rotor for shorts too. (I'm guessing you checked spark at the
coil, not the plugs.) Check for proper spark at plugs to eliminate the
rotor and cap.

bilb2765

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Oct 14, 2009, 12:33:19 PM10/14/09

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Does the motor have a good ground?

bg

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Oct 15, 2009, 12:29:30 PM10/15/09

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tml1138 wrote in message ...

If you have gas and have spark, a good place to look is the crankshaft
position sensor. If this goes out, your spark does not arrive at the correct
time.

aarcuda69062

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Oct 15, 2009, 1:38:06 PM10/15/09

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In article
<dcac1c65-7a12-41cb...@l9g2000yqi.googlegroups.com>,
tml1138 <tml...@softhome.net> wrote:

Have you checked for trouble codes?

tml1138

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Nov 6, 2009, 10:29:03 PM11/6/09

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Been busy and this isn't my primary vehicle anymore so it's been
sitting. But, winter is soon coming and I'd like to get it going asap.

I checked sparked at the spark plug only, not the coil. Figured if
there is spark at the plug, it's getting through from the whole way.
No error codes showing up. Tried starting fluid and made no
difference.

I think I will try checking timing and look at grounds. Don't know
much about crank/cam position sensors, so I hope that's not it.

Thanks!

tml1138

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Nov 9, 2009, 9:02:41 PM11/9/09

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It ended up being the ignition coil. Even though the resitance of the
windings checked out, the spark was weak and the coil was the culprit.
The cap and rotor got replaced too, for good measure. Running great
again...