How To Test The Ignition Coil (1992-2003 5.2L, 5.9L V8 Dodge Ram Pickup)

Testing the ignition system on your 1992-2003 Dodge Ram pickup with a 5.2L or 5.9L V8 is pretty straightforward. You don't need any fancy tools to get it done either!

I'm gonna show you how to figure out if the ignition system's the reason behind an engine that won't start or a cylinder that's misfiring.

With the help of this tutorial, you'll check the spark plug wires, the distributor cap and rotor, and the ignition coil. I'll also drop the links to the tutorials that shows you how to test the camshaft position (CMP) sensor (distributor pickup coil) and crankshaft position (CKP) sensor.

APPLIES TO: This tutorial applies to the following vehicles:

1982-1993:

• Dodge Ram 150 Pickup 5.2L V8: 1992, 1993.
• Dodge Ram 250 Pickup 5.2L V8: 1992, 1993.
• Dodge Ram 150 Pickup 5.9L V8: 1992, 1993.
• Dodge Ram 250 Pickup 5.9L V8: 1992, 1993.
• Dodge Ram 350 Pickup 5.9L V8: 1992, 1993.

1994-2003:

• Dodge Ram 1500 Pickup 5.2L V8: 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001.
• Dodge Ram 2500 Pickup 5.2L V8: 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998.
• Dodge Ram 1500 Pickup 5.9L V8: 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003.
• Dodge Ram 2500 Pickup 5.9L V8: 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002.
• Dodge Ram 3500 Pickup 5.9L V8: 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003.

IGNITION SYSTEM WIRING DIAGRAM:

• Ignition System Wiring Diagram (1992 5.2L, 5.9L V8 Dodge Ram Pickup).
• Ignition System Wiring Diagram (1993 5.2L, 5.9L V8 Dodge Ram Pickup).
• Ignition System Wiring Diagram (1994-1995 5.2L, 5.9L V8 Dodge Ram Pickup).
• Ignition System Wiring Diagram (1996-1997 5.2L, 5.9L V8 Dodge Ram Pickup).
• Ignition System Wiring Diagram (1998-2000 5.2L, 5.9L V8 Dodge Ram Pickup).
• Ignition System Wiring Diagram (2001 5.2L, 5.9L V8 Dodge Pickup).
• Ignition System Wiring Diagram (2002 5.9L V8 Dodge Ram Pickup).
• Ignition System Wiring Diagram (2003 5.9L V8 Dodge Ram Pickup).

DISTRIBUTOR PICKUP COIL TESTS:

• How To Test The Camshaft Position Sensor (1992-1995 5.2L, 5.9L V8 Dodge Ram Pickup).
• How To Test The Camshaft Position Sensor (1996-1997 5.2L, 5.9L V8 Dodge Ram Pickup).
• How To Test The Camshaft Position Sensor (1998-2003 5.2L, 5.9L V8 Dodge Ram Pickup).

Ignition System Test Basics

On the 1992-2003 Dodge Ram pickup 5.2L and 5.9L V8 engines, the ignition system sticks to an old-school, distributor-style design. It's built around a handful of key parts:

• Ignition coil: Builds up and fires off the high-voltage spark your engine needs.
• Distributor: Routes that spark to the right cylinder at just the right time.
• Camshaft position (CMP) sensor: Lets the PCM know which cylinder is firing, so the ignition and fuel timing stay on point.
• Distributor cap and rotor: Team up to make sure the spark lands in the right cylinder in the correct order.
• Crankshaft position (CKP) sensor: Tracks engine speed (RPM) and keeps the PCM in sync with the crankshaft's rotation.
• Spark plug wires (also called high-tension wires): Deliver the spark from the distributor to the spark plugs.

So what exactly happens when you turn the key and fire up the engine? Let's break it down:

1. CMP/CKP signals: The CMP and CKP sensors kick into gear, generating the cam and crank signals the fuel injection computer needs to work.
2. Ignition coil activation: Once the computer sees those two signals, it jumps into action:
   • It powers up the ASD relay —the same one that feeds juice to the ignition coil, fuel pump, and fuel injectors.
   • It fires up the ignition coil to start making spark.
   • It triggers the fuel injectors to start spraying fuel into the cylinders.
3. Spark moves to the distributor: The ignition coil sends a strong spark through a high-tension wire straight to the center of the distributor cap.
4. Distributor rotor: Inside the cap, the spinning rotor catches the spark and tosses it to the right contact points under the cap.
5. Spark hits the spark plugs: From there, the spark jumps through the spark plug wires and fires off at each spark plug.

In this tutorial, we're gonna check the ignition coil's high-tension wire, the spark plug wires, the distributor cap and rotor, and the ignition coil itself —one by one.

What Tools Do I Need To Test The Ignition System?

Before you get started testing the ignition system on your V8 Dodge Ram van, you're gonna need a few basic tools. Don't worry —nothing here's gonna empty your wallet.

The first thing you'll wanna grab is a spark tester. Here's the one I recommend using:

• HEI spark tester: This little tool is a game-changer. It's the right way to check for spark and get results you can actually trust. You can check out and grab the one I use right here:
  • OTC 6589 Electronic Ignition Spark Tester (at: amazon.com).
• A 12-volt test light: We'll use it to test for the ignition coil's activation signal. This is the one I have and use:
  • Lisle 28400 Heavy Duty 12 Volt Test Light (at: amazon.com).
• Jumper cables: Yep, standard battery booster cables.
• A multimeter: If you're missing one or thinking about upgrading, this is the one I use and recommend:
  • Tekpower TP8268 AC/DC Auto/Manual Range Digital Multimeter (at: amazon.com).
• Spark plug wire pliers: This must-have tool helps prevent damage to the wires while you're removing them from the spark plugs. If you don't have one, you can check it out and buy it here:
  • OEMTOOLS 25542 Spark Plug Pliers. (at: amazon.com).
• And finally —a helper. Trust me, having someone to crank the engine while you test makes life easier.

Ignition Coil Circuit Descriptions

This tutorial covers a pretty wide range of model years, from 1992 to 2003. Depending on the year of your V8 Dodge Ram pickup, you're gonna run into one of two types of ignition coil connectors.

The good news? Even though the connectors look different, both are 2-wire setups —and the ignition coil and ignition system work exactly the same way on both.

In the images of the ignition coil connectors above:

• Terminal 1: This is the terminal that supplies 10 to 12 Volts to the ignition coil. This power only shows up while the engine is cranking.
• Terminal 2: This is the terminal that carries the ignition coil's activation signal from the fuel injection computer (Powertrain Control Module —PCM).

TEST 1: Testing The Spark Plug Wires For Spark

We're gonna kick things off by checking for spark —this is the very first and most important step of the entire tutorial. It's how we'll nail down whether the no-start or misfire problem is tied to the ignition system.

Doesn't matter if your Dodge Ram V8 refuses to start or if it starts but runs rough —you've gotta check all eight spark plug wires for spark.

Testing every single wire is key. It's the only way to make sure your results are accurate and reliable and you're not wasting time chasing the wrong problem.

NOTE: Make sure you're using a real spark tester for this. Any decent spark tester will do the job, but if you're picking one up, I highly recommend grabbing an HEI spark tester. You can see what it looks like and buy one here: OTC 6589 Electronic Ignition Spark Tester (at: amazon.com).

CAUTION: You'll be cranking the engine during these tests, so stay sharp and take all necessary safety precautions.

Alright, here's how to get started:

1. 1

   Pull off the spark plug wire from cylinder #1.
   
   NOTE: See image 2 of 2 to ID the cylinders.

2. 2

   Connect your HEI spark tester to that spark plug wire (check the photo above if you need a visual).

3. 3

   Ground the spark tester with a jumper cable by hooking it up to the battery's negative (-) terminal.

4. 4

   Have a helper crank the engine while you keep a close eye on the spark tester.
   
   NOTE: If you're chasing down a misfire, the engine might fire up —so stay ready and stay safe.

5. 5

   Watch for one of two things: Either the spark tester sparks or it doesn't.

6. 6

   Repeat the spark test on each of the remaining spark plug wires.

Let's interpret your test results:

CASE 1: All eight spark plug wires fire spark. That's exactly what you wanna see.

It means the ignition coil, distributor cap and rotor, the pickup coil inside the distributor, and the spark plug wires are all doing their jobs right.

If you're tracking down a misfire issue on your 1992-2003 Dodge Ram V8, your next step is checking this out: Other Causes Of A Misfire.

If you're chasing a no-start problem, then good news —spark isn't the thing holding you back.

CASE 2: None of the spark plug wires fire spark. Your next step is to figure out if the ignition coil's high-tension wire is even sending spark to the distributor cap.

To test that, head over here: TEST 3: Testing The Ignition Coil's High Tension Wire For Spark.

CASE 3: Only some spark plug wires are firing and others aren't. That usually points to one of two things: bad spark plug wires or a bad distributor cap.

We'll pin it down by testing for spark right at the distributor cap towers for the dead wires. Here's the next move: TEST 2: Testing For Spark At The Distributor Cap.

TEST 2: Testing For Spark At The Distributor Cap

If one or more spark plug wires didn't throw spark during TEST 1, there's a good chance that:

• The distributor cap has gone bad.
• The spark plug wire (or wires) that didn't fire are shot.

We're gonna figure it out by testing for spark right at the distributor cap towers that feed those wires.

Just like you see in the photo above, pull the spark plug wire off its tower on the distributor cap, and hook your spark tester directly to that tower instead (we'll use a piece of vacuum hose to hold it in place).

Have your helper crank the engine while you keep an eye on the tester.

If you see the tester sparking, that means the spark plug wire you pulled off —the one that didn't spark before— is the bad one. Swap it out (and it's a smart move to replace the full set while you're at it).

If there's no spark at the tester, the problem's the distributor cap tower —and that's why the wire failed TEST 1.

Alright, here's how to run this test:

1. 1

   Pull off the spark plug wire from the tower on the distributor cap —the one that didn't spark during TEST 1.

2. 2

   Connect your spark tester straight to that tower with a small piece of vacuum hose (the arrow in the photo points to the vacuum hose I'm using).

3. 3

   Ground the spark tester using a jumper cable —connect it to the battery's negative (-) post.

4. 4

   Have your helper crank the engine while you watch the HEI spark tester closely.

5. 5

   You should see spark jump inside the tester the entire time the engine is cranking.

6. 6

   If there are any other spark plug wires that didn't spark in TEST 1, repeat this same process on each one of their cap towers.

Now let's break down what your results mean:

CASE 1: You saw a spark. That's the result you're looking for —it tells you the spark plug wire connected to that tower is bad. Time to swap out the whole set of spark plug wires.

Replacing them should clear up the misfire. And if the distributor cap and rotor have been riding along for just as long, it's a smart idea to replace those too while you're at it.

Why it matters: Spark plug wires don't last forever. Over time, resistance builds up inside them, and when it gets high enough, they can't carry spark like they're supposed to. That leads to misfires, weak performance, or even a no-start.

CASE 2: You didn't see a spark. That means the distributor cap's the problem —it's not sending spark through that tower like it should.

Installing a new distributor cap and rotor should fix the misfire. And again, if the wires and spark plugs are just as old, it's a good call to replace them too.

Why? The terminals inside the cap (where the wires plug in) corrode over time. That corrosion adds resistance, and when it gets bad enough, it blocks the spark from reaching the wires —killing ignition to that cylinder.