Hi Guys and Gals. I am new here, and hope to get many ideas and help. I have bought my first 4x4 pickup. It is a 1988 Dodge Power Ram 100. It is a one owner with 147,000 original kms on it. My first problem is that it revs up and down when first started. It also has a tendancy to stall when in gear when you apply brakes and the gas guage is at or below a 1/4 tank. Ya put it above this with fuel and it seems fine. Its got me boogled. I have also noticed that i have a rotted out exhaust flange at the right side manifold. The y-pipe looks fine except for the flange to bolt it to the manifold. Would this cause my problem? Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks FifthWheelPete

 

Welcome. We're gonna need some basic info on your truck to help you diagnose the problem. Engine size &fuel system. I'll assume it's an automatic since you mention it dyingwhen brakes are applied and it's in gear (at least I hope so, otherwise the problem is definitely driver!)

So give us as much info on the truck as you can, and as detailed an explanation as possible and we'll do our best to guide you in the right direction

 

Congratulations on your purchase...my '81 W150 was my first 4x4 too and I've really liked having it. You have an interesting set of problems...is your truck fuel injected? I'd start going through the sensors and checking things like your IAC if it is. I'm not real familiar with Dodge fuel injection systems too. Stalling like that usually means a vacuum leak...interesting that it relates to fuel level. Maybe check your lines near your fuel tank and see if they are rusty enough to be sucking a little air.

Good luck,

Derek

 

1988 was the first year for the EFI (electronic Fuel Injection) setups on the 318 cu.in. V8. From my own experience, we have had an '88 Ramcharger W100, 318 EFI for 13 years and that characteristic of the starting the engine, quickly revving high then settling down to normal idle occurred all the time. Even the original owners indicated it did that so we took it as normal. It never seemed to affect anything, always ran great. The rotting exhaust flange should not contribute to a stalling problem. If anything, you might have a moderate exhaust leak. Those flanges (standard steel) always rot but not the exhaust pipe (stainless steel). Replacing the flange may be a little tricky but the whole exhaust Y pipe is available aftermarket for about 98.00.

As for the stalling, per PushnFords, I would start by checking your sensor connections and all your emission/vacuum lines for a break or a leak. Stalling in gear might indicate dirty Fuel Injectors, dirty fuel filter or a faulty/weak/dirty fuel pump. On the EFI's, it is located at/in the gas tank as part of the fuel sending unit. I replaced it on the Ramcharger at about 105,000 miles, The filter on it was gunked up a bit. You have to drop the gas tank to do it but it is not too bad. Also check fuel lines for corrosion. Of course if you have the non EFI 360 V8 in your truck , all this fuel injection stuff does not apply but the vacuum leaks would. Hope this helps.

Great score on the '88 w100 4x4. I owned an '87 W150 4x4 Pickup for 18 years and I just sold it with 213,000 miles. Extremely reliable, always ran great. Super tough too. I could climb mountains with that thing! If I had a nickel for everyone I pulled out of snow banks, I'd be a rich man!

Tim