This might seem like an odd questions but what happened between July and now?

I ask because it looks like the last date on this thread was 7/7. Did it run poopy all that time too or did it run fine then and then start being poopy again?

regards,
Issakar

 

Not an odd question at all. It has been running fine up until about 1 month ago. A "studder" showed up. Seemed to get worse. I started working out of another truck and trying to track/troubleshoot on the weekend what might be going on. Made a trip last Saturday about 8 miles. Studder into my destination. Left, studdering some. About 6 miles heading back it died and would not run. Had to be towed.

I'm estimating I've put about 5,000 miles on it since 7/7. Again....estimate.

Thanks for any ideas.

 

Distributor/oil pump drive gear and block bushing?

Wait....that could make me $$$.

 

Holy thread revival batman! She's Dead Again!

Replaced/Repaired:

CPU
ASD Relay
Fuel Pump Relay
Fuel Pump
Crank Position Sensor
Battery
Distributor
Hall Effect
Distributor Gear and Bushing
Checked wire splice twice. Looks new.
Checked connections here, there and everywhere just in case. Grounds for cleanliness & contact.
Ignitor


Dead in the yard. Symptoms & clues:

The check engine will come on at the on position before cranking.
Click at the Power Distribution Center relays and at the fuel pump when put to the on position before actually cranking. Again, two clicks, but NOT THE WHIR you get from a fuel pump. I know the sound. Just clicks.

12-55 at the Check Engine Light.

So, Dodge boys, where too now? The lake?

 

I am having some what similar issues with my truck and ran across this post. Did did you end up doing?

 

I have been fighting with my '92. i work on it and then it runs good. I drive it a while... a few miles and then it runs poorly again. WTF?
The next thing I will try is having at the nasty splice. There is corrosion under the hood. If that doesnt work ???
MT

 

It seems that there is a corrosion issue or poor ground issue that is lurking in these trucks. As many circuits seem to have similar effects on the operation and, when you fix one another steps in to mess things up. It feels like there is an upset equilibrium or feedback that is moving around. On several occasions I have believed that I have fixed the problem only to drive for a short time and have the same or a very similar problem.
When the truck is running well it is a great performer. After a short while it goes back to the now, oh so familiar backfire and cutout performance that is making me crazy. when I check the codes i get 12 and 55. Oh how i long for the days of carbs and points. It was a go/no go situation that you could actually fix.

My truck is a '92 dakota with a 3.9 auto. My next fix will be the splice and checking any plug-ins that I can find. No more parts until I know they are needed.
Mike

 

did the truck get fixed?

 

Yes I did get the truck to run reliably. Just after my reply to you I took it to a shop and the mechanic found that my distributor was out of time and worn out along with the bushing. That made a very large difference. Just a couple weeks ago I swapped out the ignition switch on the steering column and that has made the truck reliable.

It is tricky to diagnose the problems you have as it seems that everything has a n effect on everything else. Make a change here and follow the effects to see if it really worked.

Today I went and started the truck with just a few turns of the starter. Last night it got down to -33 C. Thats damn cold!

 

Holy Thread Revival Batman......again....years later! So and update and more questions for anyone that may be new.

If you have read this thread, you can see all the things done to the Dakota I own. (1992, 3.9, A/T)

The fuel pump would not turn on last I was here. I got pissed and pushed it into the backyard. Well, I was walking by it the other day and said "WTH, let's see."

And the damn thing fired up and ran. I cranked it several more times of the next few days. Fired every time with almost no turnover. Crank...vroom.

Moved it into a different spot in the yard on its own power. Cranked and ran it a couple more days. Put the transmission through the motions. Let it run long enough for the alternator to work the battery up some.

Then go out one day and get "click, click, click". Battery, right? Get the meter out to confirm. Yep, battery. No problem. Get battery. Another $100.00. Put the battery in (yes the right way for the CPU) and the m'fer has not ran since.

It WILL NOT turn on the fuel pump. Turn switch on, hear "click" back there somewhere near the back of the truck like I mentioned before. No whir of the pump.

The pump has been replaced with a new one. Less than 5,000 miles on this new one. I took the old pump and straight wired it to the battery after going through every thing else listed in this thread and the old pump runs.

I've chased the "click" down to fuse number 7 under the dash. However, testing with a test light I get nothing open or broken. With an AMP meter I get no parasitic drain either. So should the "click" be there and is normally not heard due to the pump whirring? Or should the "click" not be there?

When I hear it seems to be the exact amount of time at the end of the pump pressure cycle.

Example of Proper function: Turn key to on-pump whirs to pressure about 2 seconds-crank-run.
Example of what I have: Turn key to on-pump makes zero noise-about 2 seconds later "click" heard-crank-no run.

So here's where I'm at. Right back where I started! Simply stated, sporadic running without rhyme or reason. Now who's got fresh ideas for my dumbass?

P.S. I now tell everyone it is my "art" in the backyard.