Hi guys. I know this is a Ford truck forum, and I am a proud owner of an '02 F-150 Lariat Scab 2wd. But I have a problem with my wife's truck, a 95 Dodge Dakota 5.2 (318) auto, 4x4 that maybe one of you can offer a suggestion if you know what the problem might be. Her truck has to crank a long time before it starts, and then it runs normal. If you shut it off and restart it right away, it fires right up. But if it sits for a while, it's back to the long cranking again. I have been told a few things like fuel filter, low fuel pressure, fuel pump, fuel draining back to the tank while it sits, & the crank sensor. Can any of you high tech people give me some advice, and would it be a cheap fix? Any help would be appreciated a lot.
Thanks.

P.S. I would have probably posted this in a Dodge forum, but after reading a lot of their posts, most of them don't seem like they know very much, and I find just the opposite here.
Dave

 

I believe the 318 is Throttle body injected, so fuel may not be immediately available. How long is a long time? Either way I'd take a look at air filter condition, and how good the seal is where the plastic intake mounts to the throttle body. Theres an O-ring that has to be centered in there. Good luck. If there's still a problem just be more decriptive.

 

Cranking time anywhere from 10-25 seconds. It doesn't sound like a long time but it used to start after a couple of turns of the starter.
It has new air filter, plugs, wires. It has a regular round air filter housing like what would fit on top of a carburetor.
It used to fire right up. Now it has to crank a while before it fires.

 

The seal I'm talking about is exactly the carb style. 10-25 is a long time in my opinion too. Are the new plugs the correct heat range and style designed for the vehicle? I had Bosch +4's do the same thing to me. I'm no MOPAR bug but it's just general principles.

1. Fuel Filter causing a priming delay. I don't know if your pump is in the tank or not.
2. Adjustment of the throttle cable and spring. It's possible they're out from trying to reach the coils on the back of that motor (dumb design).
3. The condition of the Chassis ground. I believe you have a siver or copper flat braid.

How's the Idle and response when it's running? Those PCV systems are touchy. The Dodge's had so much room under the hood even with that big motors, but there's so many hoses and connections. Just check everything out really good when it off and running. If something dumb got disturbed it will save you $$$ at a garage.

Also, look into dumping some Amsoil into that motor for a good cleanout.

Good Luck!

 

I have seen this with a 360 engine - it turned out to be a fuel pump that was slowly going south. It filanlly gave up and it had to be towed to the shop which replaced the pump.

 

I replaced the plugs with the correct heat range for that model engine, Autolite plugs because I've always had luck with them. The air cleaner is properly sealed to the throttle body. When it's running, it acts and runs perfectly normal, normal throttle response, normal idle. The only thing that seems wrong with the truck is the long cranking time before it fires.

 

The fuel pump is going bad (as another poster noted).

Here is a test. Wait overnight, turn key on, but do not crank engine. Wait 5 seconds. Turn key off. Wait 5 seconds. Turn key on, but do not crank. Wait 5 seconds. One last time turn the key off and wait 5 seconds. Then start the truck. If it starts normally the fuel pressure is leaking down overnight. The most likely cause is the check valve in the fuel pump. On every one I have seen you will need an entire fuel pump to fix the problem.