Engine just died on the HWY

[Saltillo Express]

Should someone more knowledgeable than us drop in here -

the truck has jumped time or something else.

that's what we're saying? [perplexed]

Billy I had 10 of these Rams in my old landscaping company. All 1500 94-2001. We put 300K miles on every single one of them and never - ever did one jump time, jump a tooth on the cam gear. Not once.

You have no codes. I think even if the PCM is was bad it will set a code. You have none. I was thinking it would be easy money if you had another PCM to swap it in and see if maybe it was that. But I doubt it.

And you checked the timing. The arrow in the distributor is pointing at #1 when the #1 piston is at TDC?

 

[HolyRamBatman]

Anyone is more than welcome to bring in their .02 anytime they want to.

I pulled #1 piston to top and rotor was pointing to #1 in distributor.
I hooked up a timing light to check it and that's when it began doing the continuous start thing again. Don't think it jumped time. No sputtering, spitting, or any normal stuff that screams timing off.

I think it would depend on how the PCM went bad or what part of it went bad as to whether the light would come on.

Hoping to know something today. Not sure how many diagnostics they had to do today but the guy was coming in a 9 am.

 

[Saltillo Express]

10-4.

 

[HolyRamBatman]

Just got a call from mechanic and he wanted to know how long the alarm had been on the truck. Tells me he is stuck where I was. Makes me feel better about not finding the problem.

Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk 4

 

[Saltillo Express]

Yeah man. Alarm. It'll be interesting to hear what the deal is. That is for sure.

 

[HolyRamBatman]

I have never been happy about any vehicle being down...Until now.
Stopped by the shop today and talked to the mechanic. He had it for a while today and is not farther than I was. Not sure how long he has had on it but he said he has a few more thing to check before he says it's the PCM.

The saga continues.......

 

[iSlacker816]

Rather than take it to a "mechanic" take it to the dealership where they work on these things for a living. Pay the 100 bucks and be done with it. You can always do the repair yourself. Don't keep shotgunning parts at it

 

[HolyRamBatman]

So far the only parts that have been replaced was the crank sensor with missing insulation around wires(it needed it no matter what), the ignition switch and the cam sensor(free with reward points)

I don't have the money to throw at it. Not like that here. But dealership may be next depending on outcome.

 

[Saltillo Express]

Hey Bill.

I wonder about the neutral safety switch. It's the switch on the trans that locks you out and won't let you start it in drive. Is it good, snapped into the harness?

It's dam weird that thing is not setting any codes. You pass gas in these trucks and a check engine light comes on. Leave the gas cap loose - it'll set a code - light pops on.

Yours WILL NOT START.

No code.

SOB.

 

[HolyRamBatman]

Damn it it's done.

So it goes something like this. Truck dies on the HWY still have lights and starter turns over. Tow it home and start checking stuff. Got fuel, fire, compression and timing is right. Found and replaced crank sensor with shorted wires. After a few attempts to start it the starter begins the continuous start thing. Replaced ignition switch and the continuous start thing stops. Replaced the cam sensor(pick up coil) and nothing changed. Messed around with stuff for a few days and continuous start begins again. Take it to the mechanic for a diagnosis and he tells me the starter needs to be replaced. Replaced the starter and she turns over like normal and will stop cranking when you turn the key off.
Now we can get back to diagnosis. First he finds the cam sensor bad WTF it's new. You bet your ASS it was bad brand new. Also finds IAC is bad and no spark. Replaced all 3 and she starts. Sounds like a horse and wagon going down a rocky road but she runs now. A few easy pumps of the gas and it sounded better.

 

[HolyRamBatman]

Cliff notes version

Crank sensor shorted out causing other shorts and it died on hwy.
During my trying to fix it I killed the starter and bought and installed a bad cam sensor
During all the attempting to start the ignition coil died. I tested it with some testers and felt it shock the **** out of me. Me and mechanic tested it when I took it in the first night along with fuel pressure at rail.

F'n chinese parts. Why can't we make these in America?

My biggest problem now is why didn't the check engine light come on? It came on for the IAC but nothing else. Key trick to pull that code will give you 25 on a scanner it's 505.

I drove it home after dark last night and I just wanted to get it home. So I didn't play with it much. That's something for today.

Thank you guys for all the help. I really appreciate it.