Dodge Work Van ?s

[Alphacowboy]

For those of you that are familiar with Dodge vehicles, got a few questions.



So, my work vehicle is a 98 Dodge 2500 Van and finally is up and running and I drove it for work today. Runs pretty good, BUT it does have a few issues. Just to catch up for ya, I bought it with a dead #7 piston in the original engine. I bought a 360 out of a 95 Ram 1500 that I rebuilt the lower end on it, as the heads were just refreshed.



heres my issues.



1. ) Idles high. throws no codes. I have no idea how much higher then normal it is, as there is no tach on the ram vans... Its nothing to anoying, its not so high that it slams into gear, but just an issue. I am guessing it might have something to do with the fact that the engine I installed is a EGR manifolded engine, and the Van engine was a non-egr engine. I didnt connect the vaccum lines to the egr actuator on the rear of the intake manifold... should I?



2. ) The torque converter seems to lock and unlock at the wrong times. I am wondering if I made a mistake by installing the 46RH torque converter? The only reason I used this converter was it was brand new and came with the '95 engine I bought. I am dead sure the transmission in the Van was a 46RE as its a 98 model year van. I hope it might be somthing as simple as just adjusting the throttle linkage for the line pressure to the correct adjustment, and not that I have the wrong converter in there.



3. ) Anyway to find out on a 98 van where it reads the speedo from? I put 265/75R17 tires on it in place of the stock 225/75R16's Hey, it looks way cooler and handles pretty good on a wide set of H2 wheels! Only had to do a little fender trimming up front! :-laf



4. ) This van has a Corp 9. 25 rear with a wondefully craptacular open differential! It does have 3. 92 gears though, so at least its not a gutless pig... ok, it is, its a heavy van with a slush box... anyway, Any of you have a stock Limited Slip with a carrier laying around you want to help a brother out with? I would greatly appreciate it, as when winter comes, i am not looking forward to driving a one wheel wonder!



Now... dont start, I know I know, I should have put a 6bt or 4bt CTD in it... maybe some day down the road, ok guys! :-laf

 

[Dodge-Tech]

Replace the TPS (throttle position sensor) for your first two issues.

 

[TowPro]

I was thinking more like a vacuum leak. it could cause high idle, and since you did a motor swap, its hard to tell if you got every hose back on or not.



If you do find a vacuum leak, I bet that fixes the trans questions as well. (always have a correct running engine before diagnosing Auto trans problems)



If you don't find a vacuum leak, then do the TPS (per dodge-tech) Besides, looking for a vacuum leak is cheeper then a TPS

 

[Alphacowboy]

thanks guys, no vaccuum leaks to be found, and I blocked off the EGR valve as the truck originally didnt have an egr engine. I just blocked off the vaccum lines on the valve and blocked the exhaust at the manifold where it attaches to the intake.



Still idles high, and got a MIL today indicating "target idle exceded" I am guessing its the TPS. I suppose I should try that, I just hate to throw money at a TPS when its not needed.

 

[Alphacowboy]

I think I got it all figured out! I got a MIL light yesterday, with a code indicating "Designated Idle Exeeded" DUH, I know that! Anyway, I played with it today, and found out the following...



1. ) Checked for vac leaks, and found none. I pulled the 95 TB off and put all the sensors back in the 98 TB and installed that. Still no difference (didnt think they were different, but thought I would try that since I had it). I then replaced the TPS with a new one... nope not that either! But while I was messing around with it, I notice that there was a large "sucking" sound from the TB, and I thought for sure it was the blades in the TB... BUT, it was coming from the rear of the TB. Turns out that the idle motor was not working. It was wide open. So, I pulled that, and used the other one I had off the other TB I had. Plugged it all in, fired it up, and in a couple seconds, sucking sound GONE! Idle went back down and wala it runs better. NOW, I have a question, could I have damaged the engine any running it that lean for a tank of gas? I am guessing that is why I knocked out a miserable 8. 7 MPG on my first tank. And that was after refiguring for larger tires! Note to you getting really crappy mileage, and loss of power, check that Idle motor, it might be stuck open!



2. ) Turns out I had the TV cable adjustment too tight. I let it out so that it was just right with no slack, but not tight where it connects to the TB. Shifts fine now and accelerates alot better too.



3. ) Just watching my speed, its about 5-6 mph off at 50 mph. Eventually I will have to do somthing about it, cuz I dont want a ticket. I will have to see if I can have it reprogrammed like I did with my truck for larger tires... who knows.



4. ) I am disappointed, I thought by now someone would have shipped me thier stock LS carrier and LS. I am still waiting, my door step is lonely, please send it a package!