Dodge 2001 Ram 1500 Owner's Manual page 1151

9 - 4 ENGINE 3.9L
ENGINE 3.9L (Continued)
DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING—PERFORMANCE
PERFORMANCE DIAGNOSIS CHART—GASOLINE ENGINES
CONDITION
ENGINE WILL NOT
CRANK
ENGINE CRANKS BUT
WILL NOT START
ENGINE LOSS OF
POWER
POSSIBLE CAUSES
1. Weak or dead battery
2. Corroded or loose battery
connections
3. Faulty starter or related circuit(s)
4. Seized accessory drive component
5. Engine internal mechanical failure or
hydro-static lock
1. No spark
2. No fuel
3. Low or no engine compression
1. Worn or burned distributor rotor
2. Worn distributor shaft
3. Worn or incorrect gapped spark
plugs
4. Dirt or water in fuel system
5. Faulty fuel pump
6. Incorrect valve timing
7. Blown cylinder head gasket
8. Low compression
9. Burned, warped, or pitted valves
10. Plugged or restricted exhaust
system
CORRECTION
1. Charge/Replace Battery. (Refer to 8 -
ELECTRICAL/BATTERY SYSTEM/
BATTERY - STANDARD PROCEDURE).
Check charging system. (Refer to 8 -
ELECTRICAL/CHARGING - DIAGNOSIS
AND TESTING).
2. Clean/tighten suspect battery/starter
connections
3. Check starting system. (Refer to 8 -
ELECTRICAL/STARTING - DIAGNOSIS
AND TESTING)
4. Remove accessory drive belt and
attempt to start engine. If engine starts,
repair/replace seized component.
5. Refer to (Refer to 9 - ENGINE -
DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING)
1. Check for spark. (Refer to 8 -
ELECTRICAL/IGNITION CONTROL -
DESCRIPTION)
2. Perform fuel pressure test, and if
necessary, inspect fuel injector(s) and
driver circuits. (Refer to 14 - FUEL
SYSTEM/FUEL DELIVERY/FUEL PUMP
- DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING).
3. Perform cylinder compression pressure
test. (Refer to 9 - ENGINE - DIAGNOSIS
AND TESTING).
1. Install new distributor rotor
2. Remove and repair distributor (Refer to
8 - ELECTRICAL/IGNITION CONTROL/
DISTRIBUTOR - REMOVAL).
3. Clean plugs and set gap. (Refer to 8 -
ELECTRICAL/IGNITION CONTROL/
SPARK PLUG - CLEANING).
4. Clean system and replace fuel filter
5. Install new fuel pump
6. Correct valve timing
7. Install new cylinder head gasket
8. Test cylinder compression (Refer to 9 -
ENGINE - DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING).
9. Install/Reface valves as necessary
10. Install new parts as necessary
BR/BE