Expert: Roland Finston - 10/4/2011

Question
I have a 1988 Dodge Dynasty, 3L v6, I was driving this morning and when I came to a stop at a light the engine shut off and wouldn't start again. I've tried jumping it and charging the battery, to no avail. The engine turns over, but doesn't start. We also noticed an electrical burning smell in the engine compartment. We can't find any visual evidence of burnt, loose or broken wiring though. We checked the distributed cap and it seemed in order. The only other information that I think might be relevant is that about 3-4 weeks ago I needed a jump to get it started, it hasn't been driven regularly for the last year and when we did the on-off-on-off-on sequence to check the engine code the result we got was 12-55.

Answer
Hi Mike,
I would check to see if you hear the fuel pump run for about a second when you turn the key to the run position. It should make a humm heard near the tank at the rear of the car.
Then you could check for spark by pulling a cap of a plug, and use a screwdriver with an insulated handle inserted in the cap and hold the two together with the shaft of the screwdriver 1/4" from the cylinder head. Have a helper try the starter while you watch to see if a spark jumps across the gap.
The first thing to check though would be the egr valve, which when that sticks slightly ajar will dilute the mixure and cause a stall when you slow down and a no start subsequently. It is located in the exhaust pipe that crosses from the front to the rear of the engine at the front of the engine. There is a round vacuum operational fitting on the top of the valve, and a flange area between that top piece and the body of the valve which is in the small branching pipe. Look carefully in the flange area for a rod which is the valve stem. It has a slot into which you can fit the tip of a screwdriver so as to move the stem back and forth against spring action in one direction that closes the valve. Try spraying some WD-40 on the stem where it enters the valve body and then move the stem back and forth to be sure that the spring action closes it to a dead stop. Then try and start the engine.
Roland

Hi Mike,
Thanks for the rating and remarks. I would have expected there to be a code 54 (no cam sensor) when the timing belt breaks. That is why I didn't suggest exactly what your friend did. Anyhow, I hope the car continues to give you good service.
Roland