i have an 88 ram 250 van (318) and i am getting no fuel. here's the story: for a long time now it has been a real PITA to start. it cranks fine but no start, however after several tries it will start. then a couple months ago i began to notice that i was loosing power. when i'd step on the gas it would bog down and sometimes backfire. so i go to the gas station to fill up, come back to start her up and no go. i pulled of the dog house and took off the air cleaner. i watched the carb while i tried to start it. there was no gas coming out the injectors. i tow her home and tear down the gas tank thinking it was the pump. with the pump out i jumped it with a battery charger and walla the pump works fine. so i then thought there might be a short in the harness somewhere. i checked every positive wire that goes to the pump, to the carb, to the injectors, to the ecu and they all have power. so with the ignition on if i jump the pump i can hear it kick on. when i plug everything back in and try it without the jump it won't work. so i then think it is a relay that is bad? first off i don't know what relay it is. i know it's on the fire wall but don't know which one. i'm running out of ideas. is there anything else it could be? sorry for rambling but this is my delivery van and i need it running asap. thanks for any help!! ;)
Dodgevanman
07-20-2005, 06:38 AM
Are you getting spark? Does the fuel pump run when the key is turned on?
There is an ASD Relay (Auto-Shutdown Relay) located on the firewall near the brake booster. It usually sits by itself so it shouldn't be too hard to find. The ASD Relay supplies power to the fuel pump, injectors, O2 sensor, and coil via the engine computer.
dodger1914
07-20-2005, 10:47 AM
i'm pretty sure i'm getting spark cause when i was at the gas station i sprayed some starter fluid and it would start and then die.
Dodgevanman
07-20-2005, 11:42 AM
With the pump jumped, try starting the engine.
dodger1914
07-26-2005, 01:23 AM
^^^^
thats kinda hard to due with the gas tank off. btw i thought the asd relay was only on the 94 and up models?
Dodgevanman
07-26-2005, 06:54 AM
No, you have an ASD relay under the hood, but if you are getting spark then the ASD relay is okay.
Have you checked all your fuses?
dodger1914
07-26-2005, 08:42 PM
o.k. i fixed the fuel problem. i seemed to be nothing but a loose harness that powers the little injectors on top of the carb. however i am still having a hard time starting it. i think that the relay is bad because sometime it will fire right up consistantly and sometimes it takes forever. i checked the relay and there was no carbon build up or anything so maybe the copper coil is bad. i don't know, all this work for something so simple.
dodger1914
07-29-2005, 10:43 AM
again thanks for you help.
Dodgevanman
07-29-2005, 12:01 PM
Glad you fixed it. Sometimes it turns out to be the easiest problem...it's just trying to figure out what the problem is that's a pain.
dodger1914
08-02-2005, 05:35 PM
o.k. i don't know what the hell is wrong with this van. after i fixed that loose harness it ran real strong, lots of power. however it still starts like shit. it's cranking fine but just won't fire up. at first i thought it was an intermittent asd relay but you said that if i get spark then it is fine. what else could cause this problem. i can't get it started at all know. also after i fixed it it would die all the sudden on the road. could it be a bad head gasket?
bocephus
08-03-2005, 02:41 PM
Relay,coil....by the way your van has injectors..there is no carb...just to let you know
dodger1914
08-03-2005, 07:04 PM
^^^
well they are a type of injector. more like a solenoid. the fuel is broken up by a pulsating valve. the name for them is money savers. plus it has the holly logo printed right on the it.
dodger1914
08-11-2005, 02:09 PM
o.k all my problems have been solved. the relays were fine it turned out that it wasn't grounded good enough. so with a simple tighening of a bolt she runs great.
bocephus
08-11-2005, 06:04 PM
groovy.....
mopedshop
11-13-2007, 12:33 PM
Have the same problem. Search all over the internet and find a fix that's 2 years old only to find out it's a bolt. BUT... you didn't mention WHICH grounding bolt. Should I rip the entire van apart and tighten every bolt that's a ground?
