I have a 1996 Dodge Ram 1500 with the 5.9L V8. It had been running perfect for me until a few days ago. I drove it home the night before and when I tried to start it the next morning it cranked but weakly and I had to jump it. After jumping it the truck would not idle - it would just die. Re jumping it I noticed that it would rev up and run fine if I gave it gas but idling killed it. I drove it for a while feathering the gas and after a couple of minutes I noticed it ran OK. I left it parked at work (8 hours) and when I started it up it started (it cranked weak again but did fire up) and was able to drive it home. I went out all day yesterday on my motorcycle and didn't touch the truck. This morning I went to start it and it was an exact repeat of the other day's problems. I jumped it and held down on the gas - keeping it at about 1000rpm for about 2 minutes - after that it ran and idled fine.
So - what's going on here? Is the battery not charging? I seem to lose some but not all power. Does the truck's computer need to keep "learning" how to idle? Why would that be?
Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks!!!!!
Dan
Any time the computer loses power it has to go threw a set of things to Learn how to run the car, it must go threw relearning process sometimes they never set all flags because you don't drive in conditions to set a flag, for example if you are in the desert and never drive up a hill like in Colorado then you would never meet that flag requirement, as for the low voltage it seems that the ASD shorts out on these rigs and sets the codes so you have to do a pin out of the computer to see if you have a bad ground a bad asd or asd relay and you would have to charge your battery to full capacity and do a voltage test and a load test on the battery and then see if the alternator is putting out.. Check the battery and charging system first.
You need to see what your battery volts are at after it sits. If something is draining it slowely it could be your problem. Can you get a meter to check it after it sits, and while its running?
SOURCE: car will not start
Was it a sudden event or had it been turning slowly ? If it was turning sluggish or slow it is probably your starter. You will probably neded to replace it.
SOURCE: CAR WAS MISSING AND HAD
other things to consider are the spark plug cables and more importantly the cylinder firing sequence may be out of sync and need readjustment.
Will need to go a mechanic who has the right equipment for adjusting the engine firing sequence.
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I'll head to Auto Zone and see if they can do a battery check for me - and some of those things that Avid101 mentioned.
Thanks a bunch!
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