Car won't start again.

[Rollin4]

Car won\'t start again.

Here we go again. About two weeks ago the wife and I started to dinner and the Viper popped and died and would not start. Checked out fuseable links, relays, etc. and couldn't find anything wrong. No codes showed up on the DRB, fuel pump comes on, no check engine light. The car would backfire when the key was turned on before attempting to turn the engine over.(Cam or Crank sensor?) Out of nowhere one day I turned the key after disconnecting and reconnecting the PCM and the car fired up.The engine ran fine and started with the turn of the key over and over again. Took the car for a ride and all was well. Went out Monday to take the car for a drive..engine started right up, ran for about a second and then died and won't start. Anyone had a similar problem,if so please what is the fix?

94 RT/10

 

[viperrt96]

Re: Car won\'t start again.

I had something similar (sort of) and some of the same symptoms you are having. Mine was intermittent as well.

I don't want to steer you in the wrong direction but you can read my post from 9/07 to see what was going on with my car.

Sorry I don't know how to link it (or I would) so you will have to do a search.

I'm happy to say I did fix mine and here is what I found that could be common with older vipers (not to offend). Mine had a short in the wiring harness. How did I find it? I used an oscilloscope and checked my wave patterns from my crank/cam signal. When the car was cool the patterns (hall effect) were good. After the engine warmed up and the radiating heat (from the engine) made the wires soft (call it age) the cam signal would show interference. Well I decided to replace the whole (engine only) wiring harness. It cost me $300 (wholesale) NOT FUN TO DO IN THE CAR! (But can be done) and the best part is guess what? The new wiring harness was different at the Cam signal. Hmm.... I wonder if Dodge redesigned this. You wouldn't believe how stiff the old wire harness were. My car has 38k. Now I only know my 96 (inside/out) but the other problem I noticed with the car is it only has three ground wires in the whole engine compartment. One is for the headlights and that leaves two for the whole engine management. Again yours may be different but I would be willing to say that they might be the same. One of the grounds is right below the ECM (pass side behind wheel well-visible) and it grounds to the frame. The other ground is on the motor next to the wire loom connection (basically under the right-passenger side throttle body) and it grounds to the frame. I would check those out. Grounds are critical ! I added one to the driver’s side and found the patterned changed - more defined. Not better just more defined. The car runs better than ever now!

I want to add that when I removed my old wiring harness that I could not detect a short in it. ? Go figure. An electronic meter can only check for complete breaks not small ones. Hope this helps.

I know how frustrating it is.

 

[Rollin4]

Re: Car won\'t start again.

Thanks viperrt96, I will check out the grounds. I hate these things that fix themselves, because you really don't know if their fixed or not. In this case they are NOT. ("FEM" right Chuck Tator?)I really have no idea what to try next. Went to try and start it again today...turns over but will not run.

 

[99 R/T 10]

Re: Car won\'t start again.

Check for a wire grounding by the oil cooler and if I remember correctly, there is also a wire that goes over the trans tunnel that has a tendency to ground out. Good luck.