98 dodge ram help

[kerryd15]

Look for some help trouble shooting a 98 dodge ram with 5.9 liter gas. The pickup has been running good. It doesn't get many miles or driven alot. I put 2000 on it this year. Anyway, I drove it 40 miles today and ran well. I went out and started it for the drive home. I went back in and talked a few minutes, came back out and it wasn't running. I cranked it over for 15-20 seconds and it wouldn't start. I popped the hood and looked around, didn't notice anything. I got back in and cranked it over, it started after 8-10 seconds. It ran fine all the way home. I plan on changing the gas filter. What else could it be? Is there more than 1 filter? I know there is one along the frame. Thanks for any help. Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas.

[Jeremy airjer W]

The fuel filter is part of the fuel pump. There is not a serviceable filter for that year.

How many miles are on it?

[kerryd15]

About 160k.

[Jeremy airjer W]

If it happened one time it's going to be really hard to figure out what happened. If it start to do it more consistently and with a pattern than you should be able to narrow down some possibilities.

Some things to check/do

1. The spark plugs in these engines are on a 30k maintenance schedule. If there over 90k (and hopefully not the original plugs with 160k on them ) they are probably due. The older dodges with won't out plugs did not like cold starts with cool dense moist air. They like to flood out under these conditions.

2. A good throttle body cleaning including clearing out the air bypass for the IAC motor.

[kerryd15]

Thanks, the plugs and wires are 12-15k. Along with a new aluminum plenum plate and gasket kit about the same time. I have had to clean the throttle body and idle air passage in the past. If I remember right it wouldn't idle at all that time. I had to feather the throttle all the time. Maybe it's just starting to get dirty. Thanks for the help.

[fishdog]

Id put some fuel or starting fluid down the intake/throtle body and see if it fires up moentarly, if so look at the relays under the hood (fuel pump and ASD RELAYS ARE IN THE FUES BOX UNDER HOOD). THE ASD RELAY SHUTS DOWN SPARK/FUEL. TRY SWAPING THEM OUT WITH THE HORN RELAY OR AIR COND PUMP RELAY. ??? I HAVE HAD THE CRANK POSION SENSOR CAUSE THE ASD TO SHUT DOWN. TRY GETTING THE CODES OUT OF IT BY KEY ON/OFF/ON IT MIGHT WORK ON YOUR YEAR.

[kerryd15]

Ok, new development. Started truck and let warm up for 5 min or so. Start down the road, about a mile, going about 45mph with foot on the throttle and engine dies. I throw it in neutral, hit the key and it starts back up. It runs fine the rest of the trip. I have put on over 100 miles since the previous issue without any problem.

[kerryd15]

Ok I Did a bunch of cleaning on the battery posts, cables, and terminals only one looked corroded. I swapped the relay on the fuel system and the horn. I drove the truck last night and everything went well. I drove it tonight and it started right up, got about a mile from home again and the engine just cuts out. There isn't any sputter or chugg. It's just dead. I coast to a stop, put in neutral hit the key and it starts right up. I have played with the key switch while it's running and can't get it to do anything goofy. The service engine light works but it hasn't came on yet.

[Jeremy airjer W]

Crank sensor?

[kerryd15]

I was able to borrow a scanner tool from a friend and pulled a p0320 code. i did some reading and sounds like that is generally the crank sensor. I was able to find one locally and install the miserable thing last night. So far it seems to be good. Thanks

With the code on the computer, the service engine light does not stay on.