# Won't start **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [January 29, 2009, 2:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/wont-start/25744 "2009-01-29T14:39:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/977dab/32.png) [@aart](https://community.cartalk.com/u/aart)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 2:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/wont-start/25744/1 "2009-01-29T14:39:14Z")
98 dodge dakota 4 cy manuel changed head gasket water pump etc. cranked engine and running good for 2or3 min. coughed once and stopped won’t start back. has spark,fuel,ing fuse is good help ---
**Author:** ![Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/joseph_e_meehan/32/21_2.png) [@Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Joseph_E_Meehan)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 5:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/wont-start/25744/2 "2009-01-29T17:10:26Z")
When trying to start it, does it sound normal other than not starting? ``` Why did you change the head gasket? Did you change it before or after having start problems? ``` ---
**Author:** ![aart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/977dab/32.png) [@aart](https://community.cartalk.com/u/aart)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 6:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/wont-start/25744/3 "2009-01-29T18:32:58Z")
the engine was running good when it stopped it sounds normal when turning over changed the head gasket before start prob. i’ve been testing this and that today it has spark but i’m not sure if it is enough.when wife gets home will ck coil spark? maybe? ---
**Author:** ![tardis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f0a364/32.png) [@tardis](https://community.cartalk.com/u/tardis)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 6:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/wont-start/25744/4 "2009-01-29T18:35:40Z")
Does it still have compression? ---
**Author:** ![aart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/977dab/32.png) [@aart](https://community.cartalk.com/u/aart)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 6:50pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/wont-start/25744/5 "2009-01-29T18:50:55Z")
i believe so i will ck that also ---
**Author:** ![hellokit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6a8cbe/32.png) [@hellokit](https://community.cartalk.com/u/hellokit)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 7:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/wont-start/25744/6 "2009-01-29T19:54:11Z")
Just in case you couldn’t find the instructions for removing and installing the cylinder head in your repair manual, I found these: [http://www.autozone.com/shopping/repairGuide.htm?pageId=0900c152800c078f](http://www.autozone.com/shopping/repairGuide.htm?pageId=0900c152800c078f) ---
**Author:** ![aart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/977dab/32.png) [@aart](https://community.cartalk.com/u/aart)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 11:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/wont-start/25744/7 "2009-01-29T23:00:04Z")
manual not needed with some past exp. removed head was cleaned and surfaced before reinstall with bolts torqued in order to 110# i’m leaning toward timing it has spark,fuel setting the crank by hand to tdc and removing the dist cap it looks like the rotor is 20 deg from #1 post ---
**Author:** ![aart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/977dab/32.png) [@aart](https://community.cartalk.com/u/aart)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 11:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/wont-start/25744/8 "2009-01-29T23:13:15Z")
using the thumb method it has compression on 1&2 didn’t ck 3&4 ---
**Author:** ![aart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/977dab/32.png) [@aart](https://community.cartalk.com/u/aart)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 11:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/wont-start/25744/9 "2009-01-29T23:44:29Z")
why is because i was a dummie it ran hot and i tried to make it to work anyway didn’t make it