2002 Ram 4.7 Stalls out, RPMs go crazy after stalling, white smoke when starting.

[jasonrmoore]

Hey Guys,

I have a 2002 Ram 4.7 that I use as a work truck. Today it died on me while pulling a trailer, just before I noticed it was running a little hot. Immediately after the truck stalled the RPMs went crazy, jumping all over the place while the truck was not running. Once I turned key off - back to normal. Truck struggled to start back up but after letting it sit for a few minutes eventually did - but white smoke poured out of the exhaust. I was able to get back to the shop, but truck stalled once more on me, sputtering and going dead. Transmission acted as if it was having trouble getting going when accelerating - almost as if I was holding brake in while taking off, but would slowly get going and drive fine. My business partner recently replaced the crank sensor as a check engine code pointed to this as an issue, but now we have this. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[xb1230]

Will need a little more information to help :

1. How is the oil looking? (Color, Level, Smell... Whe was your last oil change (time and Millage))
2. How is the coolant looking? (Color, Level, Smell...)

Oil in the coolant or coolant in the oil would mean a blown head gasket...

3. How is the oil in the tranny?
4. You must have had a CEL after this event what is or are the codes you are getting?

 

[xb1230]

Also were there any unusual noises coming from the engine just before the actual failure.

Louder ticking than usual or even knocking.

(You are better off saying I don,t know as the radio was too loud than just I did not hear anything...)

 

[jasonrmoore]

Last oil change was around 1500 miles ago, at 90,000 miles. Oil looks good, levels were a bit low but nothing major. Coolant levels are filling about 10% of the overflow reservoir...looks fine, I did notice an odor of transmission fluid when I restarted the truck and the white smoke was visible from the exhaust. My crew was driving the truck during the first event...said they heard a loud bang noise, but this has not reoccured. Don't know the exact codes from the readings that my business partner received - but they pointed towards a faulty crank sensor and a vacuum hose leak. I'm unable to check transmission fluid levels right now - truck is at shop and I'm not, but I'll check it asap.

 

[xb1230]

A loud bang would suggest something gave up somewhere.

White smoke could be coolant burning in the combustion chamber, which could mean a major failure somewhere in the engine (Head Gasket, Valve/rocker arm, Pistons...). I would take the truck to a mechanic and have it check. Best option is to have it towed since if you have something broken in the engine better not run it at all to avoid furthering the damage.

My 2 cents

 

[WarrenRam]

The pop could have been a backfire. I believe the 4.7 intake manifold is plastic and pretty sensitive to backfires, and maybe it cracked? I've read about this happening with the 4.7 several times on the Durango forums I frequent.

 

[xb1230]

Pretty darn right WarrenRam I had not thought of that but if the Intake cracked that means crazy vacuum leak and all that comes with that... (Rough idle or engine stall, overly lean air/fuel mix...)

Jason, you can do a quick Google Search on how to troubleshoot vacuum leaks and that would help you diagnose if you have something like a cracked intake manifold.

 

[Egg]

I recently snapped a valve spring, but in a 5.7L. Basically though the same responses without the backfire. The backfire does make me thing a seal that was sealed broke. Or a part snapped. I would start at the intake and go carefully through the top half on the engine inspecting all visible parts, and that should give you a pretty good start and what to investigate what to not.

 

[xb1230]

If spring snaped, I have seen some go through pistons and do some pretty serious damage in the engine...