My Dakota has pretty much been sitting since January. Started it a number of times just to run it. Now that it comes time to when i need it it wont stay running. It will start right up and then die 5-10 secs later. and wont start for a long time. Just replaced the battery today. Please Help.

 

Old gas?

 

Just put new gas in it

 

Does it start kind of "chugging" before the engine dies or does it just suddenly cut out with no warning?

 

Sounds to me like the PCM needs to relearn the idle strategy since your last battery had to be replaced. Just keep it running until it will idle on its own. Should take 5 minutes give or take.

 

By keep it running he meant by using the throttle some of course.

So did you ever get this issue resolved?