Damn truck, any mechanics out there?

[Angus]

I've got a 2002 Dodge Dakota (4.7L v-8) with 90,000 miles. I've owned it almost a year and it has run like a dream until an hour ago. Ran to the store, truck ran fine as always but when I came back out and turned the key I noticed my tach was jumping all over the place and 1 of the dash lights said "check dash gauges" which I'm sure was pointing out the tach. Anyways, I turn the key to start the truck and it acted like it was flooded (never done that before) but after about 10 seconds it fired up but was running rough, thought it might clean itself out once I got on the street, never made it, it died and when I tried starting again it back fired and ran even rougher and started blowing alot of smoke out of the exhaust and I new it wasn't going anywhere and shut it off. Calling a tow truck in the morning, any ideas? my gut tells me timing belt is fubar, sure hope my gut is wrong

[92xj]

What color smoke?

[BOWHUNTER45]

Well that say it all  DODGE 

[Angus]

Blue

[jackelope]

Timing chain, not a belt.

My guess might be a fuel pump. Check gauges light wont come on related to the tachometer. It would have been oil pressure, engine temp, low or high voltage, but not the tachometer.

[Angus]

Timing chain, not a belt.

My guess might be a fuel pump. Check gauges light wont come on related to the tachometer. It would have been oil pressure, engine temp, low or high voltage, but not the tachometer.

With hunting season a couple weeks away I would be thrilled if it was a fuel pump instead of timing chain, just figured with my luck and the way it sounded I won't be getting out of this cheap.
I didn't have the check engine light come on, just the check gauges light which I didn't even know I had. I've never seen a tach jump around like that on an engine that wasn't running,

[jackelope]

Weird symptoms for sure but I wouldn't worry about a timing chain.

[FC]

Tach going crazy like that could be a symptom of an alternator producing low voltage. If fuel pressure related I would suspect a failed pressure regulator (too much pressure).

[shoot-em-dead]

Might be a long shot but I see you live in Kelso so your within the general radius of Portland/ Vancouver.  On my ride to work this morning 1190 kex was saying that a local gas station had sold a bunch of bad gas and they were saying that it makes the cars do exactly what your describing. I think it was a BP gas station but I can't remember for sure. They said the gas station was trying to find out who all bought the bad gas. Good luck

[jackelope]

Tach going crazy like that could be a symptom of an alternator producing low voltage. If fuel pressure related I would suspect a failed pressure regulator (too much pressure).

when I read it the 2nd time...truck wasn't running...

[Angus]

Last couple fillups were at the Kelso Safeway, don't remember the last time I filled up at a BP.

[Fishnclifff]

My brother's truck did something similar.
They replaced the dash circuit board .

[jeepasaurusrex]

Blue smoke= oil
White smoke=water
Black smoke=fuel

[Heredoggydoggy]

I'd sooner think it was bad gas.  I got one tankful of gas at the local Safeway, and the truck ran crappy until i got gas again someplace else.  Never went back to the Safeway gas station again.  Must have got some water in the mix.

[Mudman]

fuel possible but id go with electrical problem.  Check internet forums etc. might find similar symptoms.  Most likely you will have to take er to shop.  Everything electrical/computer on new trucks.The dash circuit mentioned makes sense too.