Intermittent starting problem

[84GreyRam]

Recently, my '90 Ram has had some intermittant starting problems. It first started about a week ago when I started it to go somewhere and left it idling for a few mins. When I came back out of the house it wasn't running. I thought maybe my dad had shut it off but when I got closer I could hear the blower motor running so I knew the key was still in the "on" position. So I tried to start it again and all she would do is crank, it wouldn't fire. At that point dad came outside and I told him it just died. He had heard it stop from in the house and thought I had shut it off.

I pulled a plug wire off and stuck an old plug in it and there was spark when I turned it over. We left and came back later and it started fine . It has since then done it a handfull of times, just stopped like you shut it off.

Well today I went out to wash it and it did the same thing so I decided I was gonna see what it would give me for computer codes. After I did it a couple times to get the codes it started on the next try. So I did it again and wrote the codes down. They are as follows:

12 Battery or computer recently disconnected - I did disconnect the battery last week when it wouldn't start the first time.

11 No ignition reference signal detected during cranking (bad Hall effect) OR timing belt skipped one or more teeth; OR loss of either camshaft or crankshaft position sensor - I found this one in an old post by Ram Man

37 Shift indicator light failure, 5-speed

OR

part throttle lock/unlock solenoid driver circuit (87-89)

OR

solenoid coil circuit (85-89 Turbo I-IV)

OR

Trans temperature sensor voltage low (1995 and on)
I also found this one in that same post and the only one that would apply to mine is the part throttle lock/unlock solenoid driver circuit, even though mine is a 90.

55 End of codes

Can anyone help me with these codes?? Codes 11 and 37 are the ones I believe to be of concern and the possible trouble makers. Like I said it is a 1990 Power Ram, 360 EFI, auto, with about 99,000 miles on it. It otherwise runs flawlessly.

Thanks in advance.

[RAM MAN]

while I'm not a mechanic (nor do I play one on TV LOL) I'm guessing its electrical.

I'd start by checking the distributor cap for cracks

anyway

11 is No Distributor reference signal detected during engine cranking. Check the circuit between the distributor and PCM.

Checked the 02 Sensor (or does it have one ?)

How old is the battery ?

[mongoose]

Hey try this link out; http://www.ghg.net/dharrison/sae2012.htm
And this link; http://www.allpar.com/fix/codes.html

Each sensor that is indicated should be tested. In other words, if the trans temp sensor is indicated, disconnect it see if you get the same failure or code. This may find you issue.
Check the basics first and save yourself some time. Are the battery terminals tight. Is the altentor functioning. Is the system charging the battery. Are the PCM connections tight or are they corroded,...... Hope this helps

mongoose

[vinnie175]

i dont know if this is the same problem that you are having but a little back i was out off roading and it started idleing rough like i had gotten water in the intake. well i drove it for a while and it drove fine. i wanted to take it to the dealership cause it was still under warranty and see what it was. well i went to wash the engine off cause they get touchy about that stuff and when i sprayed the engine off again it did the same thing as before. well ithoguht it might have been a vacuum hose that was getting something in. well the next morning i went to go take it in and while it was idleing it stalled. i tried to go somewhere and it had absolutely no power. i had it towed to the dealership and what it ended up being was rotor was bad. they replaced the cap, rotor and all the spark plugs and wires. they also found that some of the wires were starting to go bad too. like i said before i dont know if thats the same problem that you are having but i hope it might point you in the right direction.

[kirkyg]

On a 2001 model your plug wires and cap and rotor were bad?????

kirkyg