have a 2002 dodge dakota, quad cab. 4.7L V8. only 78k miles. my problem is the truck's engine/power keeps cutting off while am driving, sometimes after 45min other times 10mins into the drive. idle is also low and sometimes truck just cant seem to stay running. whast is my problem and how do i fix it. please help

 

Has your CEL come on yet?

Sounds like a fuel issue to me. Does the power cut out when under a load (3/4 to full throttle) or does it happen under normal highway driving without much of a load on the engine?

 

Check your PDC ground/s. This issue is normal when your grounds start to come loose or crack. Also check battery and alt connection. If it was a fuel issue the truck would buck and kick, and toss missfire codes. If you completely lose power, it's not a fuel issue.

 

ok, my issue happens under normal driving conditions. yes the check engine light has come on. noticed a break in the ground wiring. have had that replaced. did the on off on thing with the key, got two p codes p1281 and p0442. unfortunately, truck is in africa at the moment and the mechanics do a try and error system, so am trying to get as much info before i get tyhe truck used a guinea pig.

 

p1281 says your engine is taking too long to come up to temp, p0442 is a small EVAP system leak. I've had the p0442 code come on a couple times but hasn't affected my performance at all. I'm not sure why the p1281 code would come on. Only thing I can think of is the thermostat is stuck open, but I don't think that would cause your engine to cut out either....

 

Same here, evap codes make the motor stumble down low and thats about it (and I think that's more related to other vac leaks).

Longshot here: Only relation I can think of to water temp and a shutdown issue, is one of the following things:

1. Battery is dead, alternator can't keep it charged and sensor voltage goes out of range then ignition shuts down from undervoltage (debunked by ability to start)

2. water temp sender is bad and is causing short to ground, making ignition go into self-protection mode and shutting down