Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) engine just died but restarted....twice

[aallison]

I have a 96 with 110,000 miles. My brake switch (on the brake pedal) kept popping out of it's holder. The switch worked, but the little plastic ears didn't hold. I replaced the switch. In doing so, I blew the brake fuse. It was early Sunday so I started to run up to Walmart and pick up some more fuses. I started the truck, drove about 75 yards and the truck died for no apparant reason. I shifted into nuteral and the truck started at the first turn of the key.



Then it did it again about 200 yards after that. I drove home and it sat for a couple of days. While setting, I got another brake nd replaced it. I tested, jiggled wires, looked, wiggled, everything I could think of. I could find nothing that could cause thet truck to shut down.



On Monday, I started the truck for the first time since it's shut down and it has ran fine. No stopping at all.



Any idea on what could have caused this? I can't believe the lack of a brake fuse would have caused this.



Thanks... ... ... ... ... ...

 

[HoleshotHolset]

If it dies again - don't touch the ignition key/switch...



Pop the hood and take a look at the shutdown solenoid to make sure that it is pulling almost all the way up.



It only has 3 positions - "start"... which is all the way up, "run"... which is right below that, and "off" which is almost all the way down.



If you 'bump' the starter - the solenoid should pull up... if it doesn't... investigate the solenoid's relay, the associated wiring, and then the solenoid itself.



www.dodgeram.org has some great pictures of the shutdown solenoid and even describes how to adjust it if you need to.



Matt

 

[Bandit1]

it happened to me and the great joe D helped me. he said that it sounded like i was loosing power to the switch when mine would stop. so i inspected all the wires under the dash and behind the steering wheel and there was a large red wire burnt in half and just barely touching the contact. so i guess whenever i hit a bump and it seperated the truck would stop. jsut something to look at.

 

[matches]

These guys are on the right track. The fuel solenoid on mine has gone off three to four times now. I will be driving down the road and the truck just shut off, but then start again, it gets to be interesting sometimes, learned what it was the hard way after a tow and mechanic$ looking at it.