90 dodge 318

Gotta 90 dodge conversion van 318 auto. Recently has a starting problem. In the AM cold start it tends to flood itself. After i do get it running throughout the day it just wants to crank alot then will start. Runs good at town n highways speeds but cutsout....backfires....burps stumbles boggs etc if u go past half throttle. Has recent tune up and fuelpump replaced 2 yrs ago...is this a sensor like crank position or maybe fuel pressure regulator..?????

I would guess it's fuel-related. Start by checking fuel pressure.

Check the throttle position sensor .

what is the fuel pressure supposed to b on tbi?

FIRST !!!!! check for codes !!!!!!

sounds like the pickup unit in the dist needs changed....

fuel pressure is 14/15. the pump only energises for 3 seconds at startup..


but what do I know.... I only have 1 TBI equiped rig....

5.2 were notorious for having vacumm problems from the plenum gasket under the intake. On cold mornings the computer is in a differnt loop mode, the vacumm leak confuses the computer and it tells the injectors to dump more fuel. Thus, flooding the engine. On mine, I could only get it to restart (immediately after) if I put my foot all the way to the floor. I was told by putting the accelerator all the way to the floor that it cuts off the fuel. Anyway, the gasket is like $20 at the local autoparts place and it resolved my truck problem. There is a bunch of stuff to remove to get to the gasket but that cost is not too bad if you are willing to do the work.

Also if you are worried about the problem coming back Hughes Engines has a problem solver plenum gasket for the 5.2. As far as I know, they are the only one out there. Kind of pricey though.

90 is non magnum

update...changed throttle position sensor, and map sensor. Still wants to start hard it is -3 degrees this AM. started but was flooded for few sec. then cleaned out. When engine is still below full warm up wide open throttle produces full smooth power. Once its fully warmed up wants to cut out and bog at W O T.

Is the idle speed motor opening the throttle for startup? When the idle motor is working correctly, it closes throttle when you shut eng off, then once engine is off, it automatically opens throttle back up for next startup. If the motor is not working right, it won't open throttle for next startup, and will flood unless you use your foot on accelerator tp open throttle. The wide open bog will be an additional problem though.

Yes the iac resets itself every cycle... changes O2 sensor as well...started again this AM at -1 degress, flooded some then cleared out...clueless in IA also there are no codes

test the ect sensor. its the engine coolent temp sensor for the ecm not the gague.

Thats my next thought....after it is to full temp it is becoming tuffer to start.. No consistancy at all one time itl hit on the first crank, the next time it might take several long cranking attempts. Always starts but can be a real bear even warm.

Turns out that the tank vent was plugged at the charcoal cannister causing way high fuel pressure, tank was growing and causing high fuel pressure

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90 is non magnum

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you sure about that?

I thought the 5.2L magnum started in 1988, and the 5.9L magnum started in 1989...