84 Ram 50 2.0 wont start when its VERY cold out.

1984 Dodge Ram 50 with a 5 speed and the 4G52 2.0 engine
So in Portland, OR the last few days it has been unusually cold. Previously the truck has started and ran with no problems at all but this morning i went to start it and try as it might it just wouldn't. The starter is going fine and it has a brand new battery so i dont think its any of that. Once or twice right as i would stop trying to start it it would ALMOST start up but would then die out. Any ideas from someone with more experience on these engines than me?

verify choke is fully closed. spark plugs look good?. cap & rotor have clean contacts? no rubbing of wires to cause grounding or firing of another plug. air filter & fuel filter recent?

So, just checked spark plugs, tested the spark plug wires, checked the cap and rotor, no rubbing of the wires, air filter is brand new and i am going to check the fuel filter and choke now. I also checked the compression and that is fine.

Oh AND it wont start with starting fluid.

I believe i figured it out! My lovely lovely wife flooded the carb quite badly and its been very cold recently. When i took the air intake assembly off and cleaned best i could and sprayed the starter fluid straight down the choke it fired up and ran pretty well. Thank you ragragtimetime for your help.

We hope that isn't a temporary fix, also why the starting fluid? Might be a good idea to install a radiator coil anti-freeze warmer. Plug that baby in and it shouldn't have another issue with cold weather again. Or even try putting a 25 watt light bulb under hood during the night will help also keep things from cold. Don't forget to remove it before driving off, lol

here's a few ideas http://fivestarmanufacturing.com/Kat_s i feel the block heater plug into a heavy duty wall timer is best (yes you have to remove freeze plug & drain/refill the antifreeze to install) but also have magnetic mount & oil dipstick heaters.

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Originally Posted by ragragtimetime

here's a few ideas http://fivestarmanufacturing.com/Kat_s i feel the block heater plug into a heavy duty wall timer is best (yes you have to remove freeze plug & drain/refill the antifreeze to install) but also have magnetic mount & oil dipstick heaters.

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Have you had good luck with KATS ragragtime? I just bought 2 new ones from Zerostart Amazon price was $29 for #3100024 35 mm freeze plugs. Timers are the only way to go also, unless you want to pay a little bigger heating bill. Zerostart gives the cost per kilowatt in their catalog and where they should be placed.

Attachment 11971

"Have you had good luck with KATS ragragtime?" yes!...i remember the day it was -60F without the windchill factor & the d-50 started!...purchased thru NAPA in fort kent when living in northern aroostook county maine. i was always amused by seeing how far out in the air i could hold the extension cord before the covering on it would snap & fall to the ground...driving on tires with "flat spots" was also a shake test for the truck til the tires warmed enough to smooth out (just when pulling into the parking lot @ work)...& the seat was so hard the rearview mirror would have to be adjusted. you may know that around -30f fuel injected vehicles have trouble starting & can trip their computer...then its definitely not starting...constant problem with my old 1996 2500Attachment 11974 & it had a hot plug!

lmao, look at that log loading. Let me guess...you light the building on fire at the start of winter and it last all the way to the spring? That is some stacking skills my friend. :shock:

Thanks for the info!