Welcome! Please use the navigational links to explore our website.
PartsASAP LogoCompany Logo Auction Link (800) 853-2651

Shop Now

   Allis Chalmers Case Farmall IH Ford 8N,9N,2N Ford
   Ferguson John Deere Massey Ferguson Minn. Moline Oliver

Tractor Talk Discussion Forum

No Spark on '97 Dodge V-8

Welcome Guest, Log in or Register
Author 
in-too-deep

01-16-2008 09:50:28




Report to Moderator

I'm having trouble with one the kid-mover vans at work. My boss hopped in and tried to start it, it popped once and nothing, just cranking. The van has been sitting for about a month not being run. I pulled the distributor cap and scraped off some corrosion on the contacts, and cleaned up the rotor. There are no blown fuses. I can smell gas on the one spark plug I pulled, but it wasn't wet. I couldn't get any spark on that plug, and it just acts like there's nothing sparking. I treated the gas the last time it was running, so shouldn't be a problem there. We had some very humid conditions with the last melt, so I wonder if something is corroded somewhere. Can anyone point me in the right direction? Thank you.

[Log in to Reply]   [No Email]
Tom-Mn

01-16-2008 14:58:42




Report to Moderator
 Re: No Spark on '97 Dodge V-8 in reply to in-too-deep, 01-16-2008 09:50:28  
It sounds like it is as MSD said, a splice about one foot into the wireing harness on the left hand side fender well under the fuse box. There is a splice that corrodes. It took me the better part of four hours of looking at the wireing diagram and checking to find it. This was four years ago, but you will have no spark, fuel pump, some dash indicators will not work, etc. Take a sharp knife and carefully cut the tape wrap off and I think you will find it. Mine was a 95 Dakota.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
in-too-deep

01-17-2008 09:00:14




Report to Moderator
 Re: No Spark on '97 Dodge V-8 in reply to Tom-Mn, 01-16-2008 14:58:42  
The fuse box is on the passenger side of the vehicle. The wiring harness is under that? You talk about the left fender well and I get confused.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
MSD

01-17-2008 14:55:40




Report to Moderator
 Re: No Spark on '97 Dodge V-8 in reply to in-too-deep, 01-17-2008 09:00:14  
Actually it is the relay box under the hood, not the fuse panel in the inside of the vehicle. There might be some fuses in there also. On the Dakotas it is on the drivers side above the fender liner. The wire harness comes out of the relay box. The connection is right in that area. Hope this helps.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Nils Rittweger

01-16-2008 13:19:23




Report to Moderator
 Re: No Spark on '97 Dodge V-8 in reply to in-too-deep, 01-16-2008 09:50:28  
If you don't have any spark coming out right at the coil, then check the coil itself for rusted and separated core laminations. It's a common cause of no spark.

The second most common cause is a bad crank/cam sensor and the best way to test those is w/a labscope, something most folks don't have. But an easy test is to see if ths ASD relay under the hood in the Power Distribution Center clicks on once when you start cranking the motor over. If that happens, then you have a good cam and crank sensor.

Let me know what you find.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
in-too-deep

01-16-2008 13:26:06




Report to Moderator
 Re: No Spark on '97 Dodge V-8 in reply to Nils Rittweger, 01-16-2008 13:19:23  
The coil laminations ARE rusted and a little separated. You think the humid air and sitting finally did 'em in? Tomorrow I'll pick up a new coil and throw it in there. I'll be sure to post back.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Nils Rittweger

01-16-2008 13:22:57




Report to Moderator
 Re: No Spark on '97 Dodge V-8 in reply to Nils Rittweger, 01-16-2008 13:19:23  
Better yet, just call me and I'll try to talk you through it.

781-910-8445



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
in-too-deep

01-16-2008 12:19:45




Report to Moderator
 Re: No Spark on '97 Dodge V-8 in reply to in-too-deep, 01-16-2008 09:50:28  
Alright, put my multi-tester on the wires going to the coil. I turn the key to crank and it spikes to about 9-something volts and then drops back to zero as I'm cranking. I have to turn the key all the way back to off to try it again. I kinda want to throw a new coil at it, since I am getting SOME kind of electricity to the coil. Ugh, you guys aren't replying fast enough! ; ) I need one of you on speed-dial to talk me through it haha.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
MSD

01-16-2008 11:49:34




Report to Moderator
 Re: No Spark on '97 Dodge V-8 in reply to in-too-deep, 01-16-2008 09:50:28  
I had the same thing happen on my 94 Dakota with 318. We finally traced it back to a connection in the wiring harness. It is under the fuse box or in that area if I remembr right. The wire was completely corroded off. I'm not sure why they had a splice there but I did all the other stuff they talk about below and even bought a different computer before I found on a Dodge board to look there. It apparently was a problem for Dodge.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
in-too-deep

01-16-2008 11:23:07




Report to Moderator
 Re: No Spark on '97 Dodge V-8 in reply to in-too-deep, 01-16-2008 09:50:28  
New cap and rotor, still nothing.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
in-too-deep

01-16-2008 11:48:18




Report to Moderator
 Re: No Spark on '97 Dodge V-8 in reply to in-too-deep, 01-16-2008 11:23:07  
Thinking about a new coil...



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Brokenwrench

01-16-2008 10:51:12




Report to Moderator
 Re: No Spark on '97 Dodge V-8 in reply to in-too-deep, 01-16-2008 09:50:28  
Check the crank sensor on the back rt side of the motor. They do go bad and will cause a no spark condition. If it is bad, it may be your lucky day that it`s in a van. Way easier to pull the doghouse and replace it than it is to fight it from the top or from underneath like on the trucks...



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
in-too-deep

01-16-2008 11:22:36




Report to Moderator
 Re: No Spark on '97 Dodge V-8 in reply to Brokenwrench, 01-16-2008 10:51:12  
How do I check if the crank sensor is bad? I'm purdy sure I can find it and I know how to run a multi-meter.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
marlowe

01-16-2008 10:36:20




Report to Moderator
 Re: No Spark on '97 Dodge V-8 in reply to in-too-deep, 01-16-2008 09:50:28  
fuel pump if you have no fuel pressure you will have no fire a safty thing pump is in the tank just had the same thing on my 96 237,000 miles have some one turn the key on and lissen if the pump runs



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
glrennster

01-16-2008 10:18:59




Report to Moderator
 Re: No Spark on '97 Dodge V-8 in reply to in-too-deep, 01-16-2008 09:50:28  
if you got corrosion inside the cap, put a new cap and rotor on it. we just had an s-10 blazer here at the shop, did the same thing, truck sat for a couple weeks, then would not start, cap got moisture in it.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
in-too-deep

01-16-2008 10:48:28




Report to Moderator
 Re: No Spark on '97 Dodge V-8 in reply to glrennster, 01-16-2008 10:18:59  
Seems like the cap would've dried out by now, though. I thought it might try to run if I cleaned up the contacts...enough to tell me that I need a new dist. cap. I cleaned them up and nothing improved. I spose I can always return the parts if it doesn't help. Off to NAPA I go.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
26Red

01-16-2008 09:58:53




Report to Moderator
 Re: No Spark on '97 Dodge V-8 in reply to in-too-deep, 01-16-2008 09:50:28  
Had the same thing happen to my "97 during some humid/foggy weather. Truck caught on first turn of the starter but died. I fiddled with the wires and dist cap for 30 minutes trying to get it to start. Finally did after 30 minutes... Maybe you have moisture in the dist cap or loose connection to the coil.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
in-too-deep

01-16-2008 10:50:14




Report to Moderator
 Re: No Spark on '97 Dodge V-8 in reply to 26Red, 01-16-2008 09:58:53  
I'll trace the coil wire back and see if it's corroded before I go to get parts.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
[Options]  [Printer Friendly]  [Posting Help]  [Return to Forum]   [Log in to Reply]

Hop to:


TRACTOR PARTS TRACTOR MANUALS
We sell tractor parts!  We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today. [ About Us ]

Home  |  Forums


Copyright © 1997-2023 Yesterday's Tractor Co.

All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy

TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters

Website Accessibility Policy