Going nuts here

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

I have a 2000 model Dodge 1500 Ram van that gets used once a week.
It started about a month ago not wanting to start when it rained.
I know dodges had problems with dampness back years ago but figured they had that figured out by now.
Well anyway, put new from Mopar, cap and rotor on it and it fired right up, but it was sunny and 80+ out also.
Next time it rained, no start.
Well was advised it was probably the ECM with a bad case letting moisture in so ordered a new one, put it on and it fired right up.
Turned it off, put old one back on and it fired right up.
Well, used the van last night with new ECM on it and told the girl not to shut it off till she got back.
Went out early this am and it started up just fine.
Came a couple showers later on in the morning and just went out and nothing, no start again.
This really has me confused at this point.
I have checked, it is getting fuel, it is getting fire at the cap and coil and it will not start not even on starting fluid.
Let it get sunny and 80+ again and no problem.
I am about ready for target practice.
Anyone have any ideas?
Thanks

 

[WizeOne]

Re: Going nuts here

Take it to the dodge dealer and leave it with them. They can moniter all functions when trying to start it. It is probably something very simple.

They may have a portable moniter that would work in such circumstances that they can let you take for a period of time.

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: Going nuts here

I have an OBD11 scanner that I have been thinking about hooking up to it and see what it says.

 

[SuperNova]

Re: Going nuts here

Put a new coil on it. And a new coil wire to cap. The faults your listing don't make sense. If you have fuel and spark, the only thing left is compression and I don't care how much it rains, it won't lose compression just because it's damp out. You must be losing spark or have too weak of a spark. The older 5.2 and 5.9 ignition systems are known for a vulnerable coil and coil connector. My best guess.
--
Stan

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: Going nuts here

I was hoping you would chime in.
I am getting plenty fire from the coil though.

 

[SuperNova]

Re: Going nuts here

You don't know that for sure unless you checked it with a properly gapped tester.

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: Going nuts here

I used a spark plug tester and it was firing it good.

 

[SuperNova]

Re: Going nuts here

You hit it with starting fluid, if it had compression and spark, it would have fired or burped or something. If it is completely dead and doesn't act like it even has any intention of starting even with the fluid, it seems most likely to be a spark issue.

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: Going nuts here

Are you saying the coil is getting dampness in it?

 

[SuperNova]

Re: Going nuts here

I can check with the guys at work tomorrow and see if they have any thoughts. As usual, if you give me last 8 of the vin I can check bulletins and hotline cases for anything that helps. If you can check it with your code reader and give me the code it would help too.

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: Going nuts here

No codes.
BTW, just some FYI, wife just came in and said no problem It's firing.
Don't ask.

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: Going nuts here

Yk101773

 

[SuperNova]

Re: Going nuts here

Are you saying the coil is getting dampness in it?

I'm not entirely sure exactly what happens to them, but I know they can be sensitive to moist conditions. The wiring connector is susceptible to dampness as well if you unplug it you may find moisture in there. I just think that if you have good compression and good spark timed properly(which shouldn't be a function of wetness) it should fire on the starting fluid. Compression won't change with dampness and you gave it fuel, so spark is all that is left. I don't know which spark tester you used, but you need to jump at least a 3/8" gap, preferably 1/2" to 3/4" and I mean at the plug. If you test at the coil or cap it should be more. Theres also a good possibility the coil wire is arcing to ground under the right conditions and I would look at that closely.

A suggestion: go out at night with a squirt bottle filled with water and fire the thing up then start squirting everything with the water, if there is a spark leak you'll get quite a nice show. Focus on the coil and the ecm connectors as well.

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: Going nuts here

Wife said it jumped about 1/2" to her arm

 

[SuperNova]

Re: Going nuts here

Re-read above post I edited it for more information. I'll check at work tomorrow and see if I can dig anything more up. Guests just showed up so I gotta roll....it's beer-thirty. Talk to you later.

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: Going nuts here

Gotcha, thanks.

 

[gstanton]

Re: Going nuts here

I had a Ford Van that acted the same way... turned out to be bad wires to the spark plugs. As Super Nova indicated, at night, when wet, you could actually see arcing going up and down the wires. Very pretty, actually.

Replaced the wires to the plugs and problem went away. This was before fuel injection by the way.

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: Going nuts here

Yea, I am going to replace the coil, wires and plugs on it.
Won't hurt nothing for sure.

 

[puddle jumper]

Re: Going nuts here

I don't know if this will help but when i worked at Dodge we use to find a lot of ignition pickups in the bottom of the distributor under the rotter would screw up just like you are saying. The other thing to check is your fusible links at the battery thay also can cause a intermittent problem.

 

[thefairlaneman]

Re: Going nuts here

If it is moisture related, spray everything down with a moisture preventive spray. Something like "556"