Hi I'm new here. Wife has a 95 Dakota 3.9Liter Magnum.
About a week ago it started shutting off and sometimes would not start. After research I concluded that it might be the splice under the fuse box. Wife said no thats not it and proceded to show me that when she pushs on the SBEC where the bolt that attachs the electrical connector to the SBEC the engine will shut off. If you stop pushing it will crank again.
If the engine is running and you slam the hood it will shut off, open the hood and it will frire up.
I am thinking short somewhere but since electrics is not my strong suit I am not sure what or how to check.
Thanks.

 

The pins to the PCM tend to open up a bit. Take a look and see if some are enlarged. Try to close it up a bit. Clean off the terminals with good electric cleaner and pack in NEW electric grease to get good connection to all terminals.

 

Ok by PCm are you talking about the SBEC? I will take it all apart next week and have a look. I won't be around this weekend. Gotta go pick up a bike. Now bikes I can work on. Trucks and cars are relatively new to me and electrics are my weakest area.
Thanks for the advice.

 

Not quite sure what you mean by SBEC. The computer in our trucks is called a PCM. It's mounted on the right (passenger) inner fender. Good luck

 

According to my Haynes manual it is a Single Board Engine Controller.

Edit: After some research it is the same thing. Also called the SMEC in earlier Dakotas.