Questions and Answers

Dodge Shadow No Spark, No Fuel Q. I'm hoping you can help me. I already checked the archives and various other internet sites and couldn't find a solution to the problem. I have an 1989 Dodge Shadow TBI automatic transmission that refuses to start. It cranks over fine, but won't fire. It doesn't seem to have a spark. I've replaced the Hall Effect pick-up, the computer, on driver's inner fender, and checked the coil, primary ~1.5 ohms, secondary 18 ohms, or vice versa?

The mechanic I spoke to seemed to think the coil was okay, even though the numbers don't match the Haynes manual. For codes only 12 is coming up indicating recent battery disconnection. I replaced the distributor cap, rotor, spark plugs, and spark plug wires less than 300 kilometers ago and they appear all right.

I visually inspected and taped most of the under-hood wiring, it was a bit tattered, hoping to find some burn marks, but to no avail. Also, there doesn't seem to be fuel getting to the cylinders, the plugs seemed really dry considering all the cranking I've done. Would any of the following give the same symptoms?

• MAP sensor
• Speed Distance Sensor
• Poor ground connection
• Auto Shutdown Relay (where?)
• Relay between Computer and coil (where?)
• Starter relay?

I know you are busy but I'm hoping you can help a university student get back on the road again.

Thanks,
Jeff

A. If you have no spark and no fuel pump operation, they I would strongly suspect the Auto Shut Down relay.

The Auto Shut Down (ASD) Relay supplies power to the ignition coil, fuel injector, electric fuel pump, and the oxygen sensor heater element as long as the key is in the START or RUN position and the Single Module Engine Controller (SMEC) is receiving a reference signal from the distributor.

If the SMEC receives no distributor reference signal for two seconds or more the SMEC interrupts power to the ignition coil, fuel injectors, electric fuel pump, and the oxygen sensor heater element by removing the ASD relay ground.