My 92 3.9L Dakota engine would shut down within first 15 minutes of starting and running. I would wait a few minutes and it would restart and run all day long without shutting down again.

I found that spraying highly flammable brake cleaner into the intake would start the engine immediately after shutting down.
My problem seems to be fuel and perhaps the fuel pump. What I can't understand is if it's the fuel pump , why does it run all day afterwards ?

I have a new fuel filter.
I will be getting a new Fuel pump relay.
The original fuel pump (in gas tank) was replaced 5 years ago.

Any help and advise would be welcomed.

 

My unexpected shut down problem solved !

After replacing parts and more parts, I found the shut down was caused by the CPU. It was the only other thing to replace.
This is my third CPU. I replaced the original when the battery indicator indicated no charge. Charging is regulated in the CPU.
@260.000 miles, I have no complaints !

Might want to pass this information on to the dozens of posts on the same subject and problems.
Engine would shut off and then restart and run the rest of the day without any problems, even after turning off the engine multiple times and restarting the same day.

 

Also, for anyone else searching - you CAN replace just the voltage regulator with an external regulator, which keeps you from replacing the ECU for such a minor (to the ECU, anyway!) function.

RwP

 

My 2010 Ram 1500 goes "black" on the dash .. shuts off but then in a few seconds, without loosing speed etc everything comes back on. Occasionally, it goes black and does not kick back on... and I have to pull over, put it in park, turn off key and restart. Once I had to do this 3 x on the way to work.


It doesn't do this everyday. Mornings mostly. Might add, sometimes when turning the key I have to hold it for a few seconds before the engine starts.


One code was a P??09 (can't remember). Dodge Dealership had my truck for 2 days ... only thing they could determine was to upgrade the computer. It didn't work. The other day when it did it on the occasional 3x a day episode, the engine light came on and stayed on. My husband took it to our local garage and they couldn't figure out the code so "cleared the code". Now, my poor girl is still having her seizures. Help.

 

A very likely suspect for intermittent electrical issues is corrosion at a ground point or a loose ground connection. If you have a service manual use it to identify all the ground points. Another possibility would be an intermittent short but most times that will pop a fuse...but not always.

 

Thank you. I'll look into that. Wouldn't you think the 2 garages that had my truck would figure that out??? Like, an obvious first place to look. Thanks.

 

What is Code P1696? When my truck had a "seizure" and the engine light came on, the little hand held computer the garage used came up with this code. They ultimately just cleared it (but they at least wrote it down for me). Anyone know?

 

PCM write failure....could mean your PCM is failing....however the PCM performs a self check on power down so if you're having intermittent power issues it could have generated this code because the PCM lost power then had power restored rapidly and it got confused. I wouldn't worry about the code unless it gets thrown repeatedly.

 

As Robertmee recommended, check grounds. Your truck's symptoms strongly suggest a ground issue. One way your shop, or you, can check this is to run a temporary ground cable between the engine block, body, and preferably the battery. I've used jumper cables for this in a pinch, just keep them clear of the fan, exhaust , etc. If your truck runs without failing, you have a bad ground cable somewhere.