1995 Dakota, 3.9 liter V6, 2wd, 170K miles. It runs for a while then dies. It starts back up then dies again. The distance it will go, gets shorter the longer it runs. It does not matter if the gas tank is empty, half full or full. I say it's old and needs it's rest, but it is getting old for me!
We have replaced the crank sensor, pick up, coil pack and ASD relay. We believe it is getting fuel, but no spark.

 

Cap and rotor with plugs and wires, if you get a knocking when it seems to get tired you most likely have a heat problem, possible thermostat or something bigger maybe. My bet is on a cap and rotor though if it's still the original factory stuff.

 

There is no knocking. It just cuts off almost like someone pulled the plug and you are coasting down the road.

 

Have you checked the notorious splice?

 

Where exactly is this splice? And would it start right back up if a wire is loose. It is heat related and I know the thermostat was replaced a couple years ago because I had no heat which turned out to be a plugged heater core after second thermostat did not fix that. I think the rotor and cap have been replaced since we bought it and I know the radiator was replaced not long after we bought it.

 

this is probably just going to add to your confusion, and not help you at all, but something to think about is the pcm itself, if its not an actual wiring problem somewhere (i.e. the splice on the driver inner fender). my pcm went bad in mine, got a performance pcm from mopar, and with that new pcm it would run for a while then just randomly shut down. sometimes would restart, sometimes it had to sit overnight. i called and had a new one overnighted to me, been good ever since.

 

I found a picture and info on how to test for the splice... now got to find my meter and let's see...

 

ricekiller, the guy that fixed the brakes... everything was bad ... suggested the computer. That's the PCM right? Got the numbers off the one on the truck and planned to go exploring the junk yard tomorrow when the kid is in school.

 

yes, computer, pcm, ecu, that all means the same thing. i believe chrysler actually called them an ecm, or - electronic control module. a pcm out of an automatic will work if you have a stick, but its got to be from another 6 cylinder, and you will end up with 2 or 3 tranny codes. probably wont kick on the check engine light though. and i wouldnt take a pcm out of the junkyard unless you can find the reman/rebuilt sticker on the pcm. usually they have a mopar M, itll say reman, and itll have the year of the truck its for, and the reman date on it. but dont use one if it has different s/n's p/n's. they wont work. i found out the hard way haha.

 

Thanks for that info. Do PCMs fail? And is there a way to check it without replacing it?