Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Auto shut off probs please advise!

[guntruck]

Hello gentlemen let me first say this is my first post after joining and I love this site it helps in so many ways, its always nice to see people help others. Speaking of help I could REALLY use it here. I have a 95 ram 5. 9 and the other day I was driving down the road in normal conditions, I pulled off from a stop sign and the truck just stalled for the firs time ever. I pulled over and it started then stalled... started and stalled... started and stalled... . then finally ran for a while, I drove it about five minutes up the road then parked thinking it was some dirt in the line. Later I left It was fine for a bout five minutes then stalled again, it started eventually then ran for about another 5 minutes then stalled. I finally got it towed home. I realized when I kept the key in the start position the truck ran fine, however I couldnt do this for long or the starter would soon be smoked. I read on here about the auto shutoff soelnoid and relay issues. I went out and held up the solenoid and walaa it ran!! Now I took the relay on the firewall off and opened it up, it was a littel worn but nothing real bad. When I close it manually it lifts up the solenoid so I beleive the sol. is good and working. Now the relay closes when I have the key in start position which let s the truck start by holding up the solenoid but when I release the key to the run pos after it starts the relay opens back up in stead of staying closed which lets teh solenoid drop and cuts off the fuel which stalls the engine. I was told the only other part of the system was the ignition switch, so thinking that the relay wasnt getting 12v's to stay closed when the ingnition was in the run position I changed the ignition this morning... ..... no good still no luck. On the was home from returning it I stopped and bought the 6$ relay from radio shack figuring Im at ropes end, put it in and still it starts runs for a secone then stalls out. Is there anything else??? I am at a loss here and desperately need this truck back on the road. ANY help would be greatly appreciated and sorry for the lengthy post I just wanted to be clear. The truck has 130,000 miles on it too.



thx guntruck

 

[Joe G.]

The usual problem is with the pull on coil. That is what the relay controls. You have a problem with the hold coil. It works off the ignition switch since it doesn't draw much current. You can test the solenoid. You will need three test wires for this. The ground and pull on test wires should be 10 gage. The hold test wire can be smaller. There is a three wire connector on the top of the wiring mess behind the air horn between the master cylinder and the valve covers. Take it apart. There will be three wires. A heavy white one and a heavy black one. The other is the hold wire. I think it's brown or violet. Connect the ground test lead to the ground terminal in the connector. Connect 12 volts to the hold terminal. Then touch 12 volts to the while pull on terminal. The solenoid should pull up when 12 volts is applied to the white wire connection and should stay up when 12 volts is removed from the white wire connection until the 12 volts is removed from the hold connection. If it passed this test then you have a bad connection in the circuit to that connector.



You really need a service manual for this kind of stuff.



Oh yeah, welcome to the TDR forums.

 

[guntruck]

I appreciate your time, I will try that test and see what happens. If it doesnt hold does that mean that the solenoids bad?



thx

 

[guntruck]

Oh yeah is there anywehere on the net to ge them (auto shutoff solenoids reasonably) I hate to go to the dealer.

 

[Joe G.]

I think you can get them from Cummins.



If it fails the test it is probably bad. There are a couple of other things to check. Disconnect the linkage to the pump and see if it still fails. There may be binding or crud in the linkage. There also may be a broken wire or connection between the solenoid and the connector. I can't help with any more ideas because mine has never given me any trouble. 206K miles on it so far. I would certainly give it a good going over on the work bench before buying another. These solenoids are pretty sturdy gadgets.

 

[illflem]

Piers has them for $278 http://www.piersdiesel.com/DodgeUSPrice.htm near the bottom of the page. Your closest Cummins dealer will also sell you one with a credit card over the phone and ship it to you for about the same price.



Test it good first though, solenoids don't go bad often, most are replaced needlessly when the problem lies elsewhere.

 

[guntruck]

Well I have replaced the solenoid after testing it to find it bad. I just finished and it works fine now and Im back on the road. I had no choice but to goto the dealer I get 25% off so it cost me 320. 00. The new one looks much bigger and much more heavy duty, I hope not to have this prob again thanks for the help gents!!