The truck will not idle when cold. It will just die if you don't keep your foot on the gas peddle. It will keep runniing if you keep it above idle. It will run after it warms up. What da yoou think?

 

Im not that familiar with the first gens,( im new to dodge) are they TBI? Does it have a choke?

 

Most likely the IAC Idle Air Control valve, the are problematic. Just replace it, even new ones are bad.

 

no choke. Im going to replace the Idle Air Control today.

 

Have your battery load tested. Sounds like the battery is about to give up the ghost and these trucks do not want to idle if the battery is not at full charge.

 

Say what??? The only thing the batt does is provide voltage to crank/start the engine...after that it's up to the alt to provide power and send some current back to the batt to charge it.

Check your IAC. Have you run/pulled the codes? Could also be the EGR...that can affect how the truck runs, too, at all speeds.

 

If the battery is getting weak, the engine will start but it will not want to idle. The reason it will idle fine after it warms up is because the alt is bringing it back up to full charge. These trucks want to see a fully charged battery or they do not want to idle. Been there, done that.

As for the EGR suggestion, he has a '96 and it's a non-EGR system (OBDII). '95 was the last year for the EGR equipped engines (OBDI)

 

If that's the case, why will my truck run and idle when cold if I take the batt out after it starts? The batt only provides juice to start the engine, at least in every vehicle I've owned since 1969. Maybe your Dak needs glasses.

 

I have to agree. Your fuel pump needs a certain amount of voltage to run. When you take the battery terminal off when it's running the voltage is coming from the alternator. A low battery will also kick on ABS lights and what not. Because they too require a steady voltage to operate. Just my 2 cents. Speaking from experience by the way. Happened on a customer's Volvo when I was a service manager. Saved him $700 dollars.......

 

I'm just giving you some advice as to what the problem may be. If you want to take it, fine...if you don't, that's fine too. Good luck.