serious help needed. My 98 1500 truck stalls while I am driving

Handymanfig · Feb 13, 2014

I have a 98 Dodge Ram 1500. Its my everyday truck and I only drive it's about an hour a day. Has about 200,000 miles on it and I've tried to do the general maintenance. It starts up even in this deep freeze Chicago weather but it takes awhile to start. Lately the car stalls while I am driving. I pop it into neutral and it'll start up again after several attempts. Also on these cold days it takes about 15 minutes for me to start it. it'll start/stall out and repeat for 10 minutes until I can finally get it to idle. I've changed the air filter, the oil, flushed the antifreeze, need an added fuel additives for winter performance. Also the heater does not work. The engine has to heat up for awhile before I get any residual heat through the vent. during the summer I had no problem starting it up so I'm pretty sure its a cold related problem but I would appreciate if somebody could point me in the right direction

Merc225hp · Feb 13, 2014

Welcome to RF

Dizzy cap, rotor, spark plugs, gen tune up has one been done recently? If not one place to start.

Does the truck still have a catalytic converter in it? Could be plugged, you can test that by removing the front 02 sensor from the exhaust pipe and take the truck for a short drive. If it improves the cat is clogged and must be replaced. Leave the 02 plugged into the harness, but zip tie it up out of harms way.

Next would be a fuel psi test, for your year truck it should be in the 49psi range. There should be a test port on the drivers side fuel rail.

Next have you read the sticky about the plenum gasket failing?

http://www.ramforum.com/f61/plenum_gasket_what_where_what_should_i_do_about_*info*-37635/

For the lack of heat the heater core might need flushing or replacing.

dodge dude94 · Feb 13, 2014

^Once again, Papa Merc on the scene!

I second everything he said.

Handymanfig · Feb 13, 2014

update

thanks for your replies. I've done a general tune up and I recently changed out the spark plugs and fluids. I didn't change out the distributor cap or rotor but I had done it about 3 or 4 years ago. it seems so random because I wasn't having any problems in warmer weather. I just went out to the truck this morning and it won't start at all. I know its not the starter. Do you think it's time to take this engine to the back of the shed? as far as the heat I think it's the heater core as well. I can hear a gurgling sound coming from behind the dashboard where the core is located. I've flushotshed the system out but not sure if it has helped or hindered my problem. I had replace the oxygen sensor a couple years ago since I was getting a check engine light but no check engine light only my brake and abs recently

Merc225hp · Feb 14, 2014

Start with installing a new cap and rotor, just 3/4 years ago is much too long for those items.

The gurgling you are hearing is a air pocket in the cooling system, it needs coolant added and the system burped. These trucks can be a pita to get the air pockets out, some park the pass side tire up on a ramp, curb this helps more than a few.

After you have done the above try the 02 test I posted so we can make sure the cat is not plugged. I am not saying you're 02 is shot just need to take it out to check the cat converter.

If it's in a no start state, need to see what's missing spark, fuel, compression.

Test to see if you have spark at the ign coil, then if yes test for spark at a plug wire.

If you have no spark at the ign coil then it could be the coil or the CKPS.

lovemaram · Feb 15, 2014

i had this problem of my truck stallinf out and running like crap and it turned out to be the o2 senscer

Handymanfig · Feb 17, 2014

once again thank you for the tips. I'm going to change out the distributor and rotor. Online someone mentioned the crankshaft position sensor. is this the same as the camshaft position sensor located under the distributer? I know the crankshaft sesor should be located near the flywheel. I'm trying to knock out all the little things before getting it towed to a shop and taking my chances with what they say

HolyRamBatman · Feb 18, 2014

The crankshaft sensor is on the back side of the engine. On the passenger side. Just behind the valve cover and down a little. It has three wires and they run back over towards the dist.

NYCruiser · Feb 18, 2014

Don't for get the simple stuff. Run the tank low on fuel lately? Ever change the fuel filter?

Merc225hp · Feb 18, 2014

CKPS controls spark and like posted is found behind the pass side head. Camshaft sensor controls the fuel injectors, found under the dizzy cap.

Fuel filter is part of the fuel pump module, you can replace the filter/regulator but a real pita to change out, most just change out the whole module as it's much easier. To get to this you need to drop the gas tank or remove the bed off the truck.

Edit: Whatever you do, do not loosen and move/turn the dizzy body in the block, this will cause you all kinds of problems beyond what you are dealing with already. The PCM controls timing, turning the dizzy will change the fuel sync and that has to be reset using a DRB scanner.

serious help needed. My 98 1500 truck stalls while I am driving

Handymanfig

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Merc225hp

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dodge dude94

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Handymanfig

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Merc225hp

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lovemaram

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Handymanfig

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HolyRamBatman

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NYCruiser

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