Ok I need a little help. Last fall I bought a 318 trucks for my daughter and son in law who get out of military service next week are are moving up here. I bought a little 318 EFI truck that was serviced and ran perfect with 121k on it

I started it weekly and let it run religiously for three months and then blew it and let it sit the last three months with out starting it.

So today I go to start it and it’s dead. So I charge the battery then go to start it and it’s acting like no gas. Just turns over.

I add five gallons of gas and still no success. I wanted to hand this over to them on Tuesday but I’m at a loss. If it was a carb I all good but I don’t know where to start with an EFI vehicle.

The five gallons isn’t making the fuel gauge move either which is odd to me ?

Any suggestions?

first have someone help you---turn on the key and see if you can hear the fuel pump in the tank buzz then stop----the buzz means it is pumping and the stop means there is 55 psi in the line ready to go-----if it doesnt buzz then locate the low spot in tank (like a molded saucer size dent) that is where the filter/pump sits----take a rubber mallet and smack that spot several times---sometimes it will jar the pump into action-----if it starts you found the problem----dont put more gas in the tank because you will have to drop it to replace the pump....

Savoy' s advice sounds like a good place to start...

Thanks, i tried and i hear nothing. So then its like my diesel dodge then i should hear it prime? I didnt see an obvious spot itger than the rank strap areas.


I did bang around a bit with a mallet.

Can jumping or charging tge battery blow any related fuesses?

I used battery charger on jump mode originally and nithing so i fast cgarged it ?

Any idea what a shop charges for to replace a fuel pump?

silly question but have you checked for spark?

Check for spark like Stumpy suggests.

I have relatives with Dodge/Jeep products that ended up with no start scenarios in the past and it was the cam positioning sensor that quit. Engine spins over like mad, but doesn't even act like it wants to light off.

Also, if it doesn't start in a few seconds don't keep cranking on it as that is hard on the starter. EFI vehicles either start right up or they don't, unlike old carbureted vehicles, which can be stubborn if they haven't moved in months.

If you don't hear the pump, and suspect that's the issue, have someone spray some starting fluid into the airbox while cranking, if it starts, then you'll need a pump, the pump avgs approx $400, and $400 to install....yes $800, DAMHIK

Gas today is so cruddy, that when you let a vehicle sit with a low level tank evaporating, which today's gas does faster, it builds up tons of deposits on the pump/sender unit inside and out, locking it up in place

if that dent (low spot) isnt apparent it will be directly under where the sending unit appears on the top-----and it takes as hard a strike as you can make in that limited space....

Even with the housing it’s at $ 100.00

https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/dodge,1998,ram+1500+pickup,5.2l+v8,1314563,fuel+&+air,fuel+pump+&+housing+assembly,10147

What’s the best way to check for spark on the EFI engine ?

Also I don’t see a fuse for the fuel system just a relay and when I turn the key that relay does not click ?

Yeah you can get just the guts up to the whole sha-bang from $50 to $250 aftermarket, either Delphi or Airtex, all guaranteed to last a year before you need another one....DAMHIK I've had 4 Dodge Rams over the years

I bought the OEM unit from the dealer, list was $500+, I paid $374, and $400 to have it installed in my 99 Ram....

FYI the Airtex pump I installed in my daughters truck (98 Ram 2500 4X4) lasted about 1 year before it crapped out, and this was a daily driver

My 98 Ram 318 would not start on damp Rainey days, ended up being a hairline crack in the coil. It just cranked and cranked but no start. Replaced coil and fired right up.

Check for spark at the spark plug end of the plug wire just like any other gas engine.

No spark to the coil and odometer is flashing . Also gauges don’t appear to be working!

How often do the ECMs go out on there?

Any other advise ? I bought a used computer but am told it may or may not work as sometimes they have to be flashed at the dealer ?
Going to give it a shot today. Spent yesterday picking up my daughter and son in law after their long trip now crossing my fingers .

If it’s not this I guess I’m loading it to go to an expensive shop

98 you should be able to plug and play yet... is the key for your truck gray, plastic covered, oval (almost round)? if so it has a chip in it that wont allow you to plug and play... if black then you can.