Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Truck Not Reliable

[GROBBINS]

Engine dies as I accelerate away from stop lights. Been battling this for a while, engine would just stall a little before and now it just dies. Usually occurs in stop and go instances. Hwy driving it runs fine! I replaced my rubber supply and return lines, and made sure they were tight. Ideas, or anyone know a reputable service center in southern WI?

 

[DBohl]

Huckstorf diesel in Franklin WI , about a 40 min. drive from you. (414-421-7222) their ad is also in the TDR mag. They do good work and one of the brothers drives a dodge so they know them inside and out. Doug

 

[TRAMPLINEMAN]

Try changing the overflow valve. It's not real expensive and if yours is still the original, it's probably overdue anyway.

 

[GROBBINS]

Overflow valve where? On the fuel tank or sending unit?

 

[McLaughlin]

Have you replaced the fuel filter recently? Might try that if you haven't.

 

[Bob4x4]

The first thing to look at is your idle speed... ... ... That may well be all you need. Just grab a 10mm wrench and bring the speed up to about 850 in drive w/ac on.



Bob

 

[Joe G.]

Have you replaced the fuel filter recently? Might try that if you haven't.

DON'T replace the fuel filter unless you know it's plugged. If it is not the problem then you may have an empty fuel filter and no way to fill it. Low idle is most likely the problem. If it's a fuel supply problem then changing the fuel filter may make the problem harder to find.

 

[GROBBINS]

Replaced the fuel filter when I replaced the fuel lines. Idle is where it needs to be. Thanks for the Help, this might be a job for a professional. Gabe

 

[McLaughlin]

DON'T replace the fuel filter unless you know it's plugged. If it is not the problem then you may have an empty fuel filter and no way to fill it. Low idle is most likely the problem. If it's a fuel supply problem then changing the fuel filter may make the problem harder to find.

OK, is there a good way to know when the filter is plugged?

 

[Joe G.]

A fuel pressure gauge will warn you of a plugged filter long before it will starting causeing problems. If you don't have a fuel pressure gauge then check to see if you have good fuel flow at then input to the fuel filter and poor flow from the output. If the output flow is good then the filter is not the problem. In this case he has the opposit symptoms of a bad filter. His dies at low RPM, but runs good on the road. That is, it runs better at a higher demand for fuel than it does at a low demand for fuel. A plugged filter may run fine at low fuel demand and run like a dog at higher fuel demand. It's never a good idea to throw parts at a problem just to see if that fixes it.

 

[Joe G.]

Idle is where it needs to be.

And that is what RPM in gear with the AC on?

 

[McLaughlin]

A fuel pressure gauge will warn you of a plugged filter long before it will starting causeing problems. If you don't have a fuel pressure gauge then check to see if you have good fuel flow at then input to the fuel filter and poor flow from the output. If the output flow is good then the filter is not the problem. In this case he has the opposit symptoms of a bad filter. His dies at low RPM, but runs good on the road. That is, it runs better at a higher demand for fuel than it does at a low demand for fuel. A plugged filter may run fine at low fuel demand and run like a dog at higher fuel demand. It's never a good idea to throw parts at a problem just to see if that fixes it.

Thanks, figured the fuel gauge portion of the answer but not the rest. Couldn't agree more regarding just throwing parts at the problem.

 

[TRAMPLINEMAN]

Only pic I could find, it's near the bottom of the page. I had a similiar problem with mine and changing this helped.

http://dodgeram.info/tsb/1996/14-07-96.htm

 

[GROBBINS]

The idle is between 750 and 850rpm. In gear w/ a/c on. I have had to adjust it about once every two years for stalling from reverse to drive. If I need to buy a fuel pressure gauge, I should just invest in a gauge cluster for the truck. Boy, would that be nice. Probably save me time on the computer also.

 

[Joe G.]

Hard to beat a fuel pressure gauge for helping solve fuel problems. You might have a slight air leak in the fuel heater. The leak is usually in the electrical connector. You might goo up the plug with diaeletric grease and see if that affects the problem. Or just throw the worthless fuel heater away.

 

[NHays]

check fuel tank

Just a thought. How full is your fuel tank when it does this. I have heard of problems with the suction line in the fuel tank. If your problems happens only in stop and go traffic, then that might give you some clue as to a problem with the fuel sloshing around in the tank.

 

[GROBBINS]

As of yesterday it was at 3/4, now it is at 1/3. Today it was worse when engine was cold. As it warms to normal temp it gets better, accelerating away from stops it doesn't just die out, I can keep it going barely with a big puff of white smoke.