1997 Dakota 5.2 v-8 won't start
Asked by dakota7641 Jan 20, 2014 at 07:23 PM about the 1997 Dodge Dakota Club Cab 4WD
Question type: Maintenance & Repair
Truck ran fine, parked it, next AM would not start.Changed cap and rotor they were very worn but no effect. It barerly tries to start but no go.It's getting spark to plugs. Tried a little starting fluid but still same effect. Any ideas??
11 Answers
Is it really cold where you live?
dakota7641 answered 10 years ago
It's been 26 at night and mid 30's daily. In the past it has done well in colder weather... Thanks
If so it takes a really good spark to fire the cylinders. Buy a set of platinum plugs and put in it and see if it starts.
You may have partially flooded the spark plugs. Pull them out and see how many are wet.
dakota7641 answered 10 years ago
It has platinum plugs, granted they are old. A little sooty but not wet. How about a cam sensor? Also I tried the starting fluid and nothing different.
Are the spark plugs black or white where it fires?
If the plugs are black then they are not firing the cylinders.Please tell me they're not champion.
champion plugs are fine for the magnum engines. no reason to run anything else. I know plenty of people with full race engines that race with them. did you check your fuel system?
Each to his own. I have replaced more champion plugs for not firing than anything else. That's why there the cheapest you can buy. You get what you pay for. They are a good spark plug... For lawn mowers and chainsaws.
