Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) temperture sensetive stalling

[mike,j]

I have a 99,auto,stock. Last summer I had a problem with the engine stalling after the first morning start up. Dealer replaced lift and injection pump under warranty. Problem still existed until the weather got cold and it stopped stalling. Now that it is warm again the stalling problem is back. The stalling can tack place while backing out of the drive or within a 1/2 mile down the road. After it stalls, it restart ok,and gives me no problem till the next morning. . I posted the question on stalling last June,with no ideas that helped. . Its now out of warrenty. . Need help,I'm worried it will stall when I pull out into traffic.

 

[CCOLLAR]

You might want to check the TSBs... . dodgeram.org. I recall reading something about a problem of this nature, and it had to do with the Torque Converter locking.



Craig

 

[mike,j]

i checked the tsb for 99... dont seem to find anything about torque converter lockup causing stalling. .

thanks

 

[mike,j]

Wow!!! I cant believe I'm the only one with this problem. Last year the dealer kept trying different tsb that did'nt work and charged me for them. I don't want to take it back to that dealer, besides its now out of warranty. Does anyone have any ideas. Thanks

 

[Texas Diesel]

Sounds like a sensor problem. I remember reading when OBDII first came out that you could get a data recorder from the dealer. It plugs into the OBDII port. It constantly reads all the engine data and when you have an event, you press a button and the last few seconds of data are saved and can be retrieved. The only way to catch a sensor that is dropping out, supposed to be more accurate than just looking for stored codes. I worked in elecronics and a bad wire or bad ground can cause what you describe.



Is it only when backing up? Auto or man? Will it stall in neutral?

Need more info to try determine a way to cause it to stall consistantly.

 

[mike,j]

In my first post, it was noted that it stalled when I back out of the driveway or within 1/2 mile of driving. It's an auto trans, and it did stall several times while idling in park,but mostly while moving.

Is this OBDII monitor only available from the dealer? I have cleaned some of the ground wires, but where should I be looking for bad wires or grounds. ?

Thanks

 

[John - K5AWO]

Stalling Tests

STALLING PROBLEM TESTS



Start with the battery terminal conditon. https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=104555



Grounds

• Check the ground wire to the frame (from the battery negative lead). Remove, clean frame contact point and terminals.
  
• Check the ground wire to the engine block, secure? Clean? Remove, inspect, etc…
  

Guages:

• Your signature does not indicate any guages.
  
• At the VERY MINIMUM you need to have a fuel pressure guage to rule out loss of fuel pressure. Just this one guage would provide valuable information concerning all the following checks. I. E. , temporary loss of fuel pressure just as it stalls.
  

FUEL PRESSURE:

• Does the lift pump always run when you turn the key on?
  
• Test by turning key ON and bumping starter w/o starting engine, it will should run 25 seconds.
  
• Does the fuel tank have a vacuum on it? (FP guage will help here)
  
• try opening the fuel cap and leaving it off for a trip or two to rule out vacuum in the suction line/tank. Wouldn't think so early in the morning
  
• if a vacuum is present, clean the tank vent
  
• Sock strainer on suction tube in tank, condition?
  
• Air in the fuel system can be a cause. check all connections between lift pump and fuel tank
  

Fuel Quality:

• Foam in the fuel you are buying?
  
• Do you always buy fuel at the same place?
  
• Poor quality fuel? Try a tank or two at a truck stop instead.
  
• Water in fuel?
  
• Fuel Filter clean?
  
• Bacterial contamination in fuel. Purchase some anti-bacterial products and dose the tank several times to preclude this as a problem. Cheap and can't hurt.
  
• Any enemies? Sugar in fuel? Get a locking fuel cap.
  

OBDII Software:

• Use/borrow/buy laptop and OBDII software http://www.obd-2.com/ to monitor the engine controls.
  
• Any flags set (error codes)?
  

This is all I can think of at the present time. At the very minimum this list will keep you busy for a few hours.



I am sure someone will add to this list…

-John

 

[mike,j]

Thanks

Alot of these I have tryied, but many other I have not. I do have a fuel gauge, and it does not loose pressure before stalling. A thought came to my mine when you mentioned the battery,it seemed to start stalling when the batteries started to give me problems. When I replaced them I thought it would solve the stalling problem, but it didn't.

Thanks