Hey I know there are similar posts but I thought I’d share my experience so I can get the most accurate help. But I have a 92 dodge Dakota with the 5.2 and around 75k miles, ever since I got this truck it will shut off randomly. Hot or cold at 5mph or 80 with no warning until I lose acceleration. Then it won’t start up right away but will crank strong as ever, it acts like it’s getting no fuel or spark? And sometimes won’t start back up for 24 hrs, sometimes sooner though. I was wondering if I could possibly have a bad auto shutdown relay? Or if anyone else has had this problem or knows where I can start it would be appreciated. I love this truck but can’t find any reason it would shut down, especially when it starts and runs fine the next day till the next shut off. Losing my mind.

 

It may be the auto shut down relay; it may be the fuel pump relay.

It would be instructive to put a pressure gauge on it, and when it's not starting, seeing if you have an fuel pressure.

Also, I'd consider just replacing both relays.

A common cause for this is the crank position sensor going bad; when intermittent, you kind of have to swap it and see if it keeps dying or not. And with the symptoms, I'd go straight to a Mopar unit, not any aftermarket ones.

RwP

 

I’m gonna start by replacing all those relays, when I was looking in the box it looked like someone had bypassed the starter relay for some reason? I don’t know why someone would do that? Also I just had the cps replaced by a shop and it ran for 900 straight miles before a shut off. Could it wear out that fast if they didn’t use a mopar sensor?

 

Not so much wear out as folks are reporting intermittent failures on the after market ones; sometimes as soon as they're installed.

So yah.

The crank position sensor is a rather critical one; it's not a place to save too much money on.

RwP

 

Up til at least 95 there was no need to "program to your VIN" and newer into OBDII as well as long as you don't have an oval gray key. And the donor doesn't either, til 2000 anyway.

 

Now it won’t start at all, had to pull it home. Ordered new relays but don’t think that is the problem, I have also rewired the splice under the power control box 3 red/white wires to one and still nothing. I have noticed that it won’t fire unless the check engine and Maintenance lights illuminate when you turn the key to on and they aren’t. I’m going to replace the crank shaft sensor today and if that doesn’t fix it could the computer be fried? Or could it be the cam?

 

Before spending big bux on the crank sensor, which you may, or may not need.... I would be figgerin' out why the CEL isn't coming on. That kinda points to an ECM problem. (or a burned out light bulb....)

 

I know the light bulb works I just saw it illuminate the last time I drove it. Also I’ve noticed the Maintenance light will come on for about 1 second then go off. If the light isn’t illuminateing would that point to computer? I’ve been looking for a computer but can’t find one for sale anywhere for the 318 v8

 

I think both lights should 'test' at initial key on, say illuminated for a 3 seconds or so, then go out. (assuming there are no codes stored.) Does it do that?

 

With my limited experience with this matter of sporadic stalling/restarting methinks HeyYou has hit the proverbial nail on the head. I chased this problem on my '92 5.2 for about a year before finding the culprit. Thought I had the problem solved but that only lasted for 2 days. It died while moving along about 45 mph & absolutely refused to restart.
I had it taken by a rollback to my mechanic..he told me it would be 2 maybe 3 days before he could look at it. 2 days later he called with the news that it was ready to go...I asked what the problem was & he said "I had my computer guru hook the scanner to it & the computer was trying to reset itself while the truck was running. That won't work so the computer would just shut everything down." "We put on a new computer & problem solved."
I asked him did he replace my old computer with a 'like same model computer' as it was a P5049516 Mopar Performance one. After being told no I chewed his A$$ out & wrote him a check & left.
The next afternoon he called & asked me to stop by & pick-
up my old computer that he had used as a 'core'. I did & found a place nearby that repaired automotive computers of all kinds & brands---with a warranty.
8 days & a little over &200.00 later I had my Mopar Performance computer back & reinstalled on the 'kota...running like a champ. The replacement computer that he used was a Cardone. I checked Amazon, Advance Auto, & Ebay and all of their sites reported OUT OF STOCK for the Cardone unit.
I wish you good luck on finding a replacement.