How To Test A No Start Condition (Dodge 3.9L, 5.2L, 5.9L)

  • By: Abraham Torres-Arredondo
  • Created: 05 August 2011
  • Updated: 21 April 2025
  • Articl Id: 33
Page 2 of 2

NO START 2: Checking For Fuel

If the fuel does not reach the fuel injectors or if the injectors do not spray the fuel into the engine cylinders, for whatever reason, you'll get a ‘no fuel no-start condition’.

The usual suspect behind a ‘lack of fuel keeping the engine from starting’ is the fuel pump. Either because the fuel pump has failed completely and isn't sending any fuel to the fuel injectors or because it's not sending enough.

To get an accurate fuel pump diagnostic test result, you should test the fuel pump with a fuel pressure gauge (any other method may have you wasting time and money on a fuel pump your vehicle does not need).

The following tutorial explains how to test the fuel pump:

V6 Dodge Ram Pickups:

V8 Dodge Ram Pickups:

V6 Dodge Ram Vans:

V8 Dodge Ram Vans:

When checking fuel pump pressure, keep the following in mind:

  1. If the fuel pump pressure (as checked with a fuel pressure gauge) is OK, then this tells you:
    • Fuel pump is OK.
    • Fuel pump fuse is OK.
    • Fuel pump relay is OK.
    You don't have to spend any more time diagnosing the fuel system or replacing any of those parts.
  2. If the fuel pressure is not at specification (or it's 0 PSI), then the most likely cause is:
    • A bad fuel pump but not always (there are no absolute truths in life but death and taxes).

If the fuel pressure gauge indicates 0 PSI pressure, I would recommend testing/checking the following before condemning the fuel pump:

  • After verifying that no fuel pressure exists, check that the fuel pump is getting power (12 Volts).
  • This can be done by tapping into the power circuit that feeds the pump with 12 Volts with a multimeter (but without dropping the fuel tank to remove the fuel pump).
  • Once you're tapped in, have a helper crank the engine while you observe your multimeter in Volts DC mode. If voltage is present (12 Volts), then you have confirmed that the fuel pump fuse and fuel pump relay are working perfectly.
  • If your multimeter registers 12 Volts, you can replace the fuel pump with confidence.
  • If no voltage is present, as your helper cranks the engine, then the fuel pump should not be replaced. You need to find the cause of this missing voltage.

If after checking and confirming that your Dodge's engine is getting spark and fuel, the next step is to check the engine's mechanical condition with a compression test. Let's turn the page and find out more.

NO START 3: Checking Engine Mechanical Condition

One of the most overlooked areas, when testing a hard to diagnose no-start, is the mechanical condition of your 3.9L, 5.2L, 5.9L Dodge pickup, van or SUV.

Checking the engine mechanical condition means an engine compression test.

  • When performing an engine compression test, what you're looking for is an average compression reading of less than 90 PSI across all or the majority of the engine cylinders.
  • If you have one or just two readings that are under 90 PSI your Dodge vehicle will still start and run, albeit with a misfire condition.

The following tutorial explains how to test engine compression:

V6 Dodge Ram Pickups:

V8 Dodge Ram Pickups:

V6 Dodge Ram Vans:

V8 Dodge Ram Vans:

Engine No-Start Diagnostic Summary

So many different things can cause a no-start condition that troubleshooting it can turn your Dodge vehicle into a money pit, if you don't have a basic diagnostic strategy. The key to saving yourself time and money is checking for the basics first. The basics are:

  • Checking for spark.
  • Checking for fuel.
  • Checking engine compression (the "air" part).

To check the basics, you need tools. There's just no way around it. One of the analogies that I've always enjoyed repeating, about doing a job without the right tools is like trying to eat a bowl of soup with a fork.

So besides knowing what to test, you need tools to do those tests. You don't have to spend an arm and a leg, since you can buy a lot of diagnostics tools that are tailored for the pocket-books of the serious do-it-yourself-er. Here are some of the basic tools you'll need:

  • Fuel pressure gauge.
  • Spark tester.
  • Compression gauge.
  • Multimeter.

More Dodge 3.9L, 5.2L, 5.9L Tutorials

I've been adding a lot of 3.9L V6 and 5.2L/5.9L V8 tutorials for both the full-size Dodge Ram pickups and vans. You can find all the new tutorials in these new indexes:

3.9L V6 Pickups And Vans:

5.2L/5.9L V8 Pickups And Vans:

OLD INDEX: This is the old index (that I'm no longer adding tutorials to):

Here's a sample of the tutorials you'll find in the old index:

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  2. Applies To:

Dodge Vehicles:

  • B1500, B2500, B3500 3.9L, 5.2L, 5.9L
    • 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998
  • Dakota 3.9L, 5.2L, 5.9L
    • 1997, 1998, 1999
  • Durango 3.2L, 5.2L, 5.9L
    • 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003

Dodge Vehicles:

  • Ram 1500, 2500, 3500 3.9L, 5.2L, 5.9L
    • 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003
  • Ram Van 1500, 2500, 3500 3.9L, 5.2L, 5.9L
    • 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003

Jeep Vehicles:

  • Grand Cherokee 5.2L, 5.9L
    • 1997, 1998