2003 Dakota v8 4wd

Not sure if the 2 are related or not. I was up at the hunting lease today, while going up I had my cruise set, the engine shuttered and it dropped out of cruise. Tried re-engaging but it would not come on, the cruise light didn’t light up on the dash also.

When I got in it to head back it wouldn’t even turn over, no issues with starting before this. I checked all the obvious, battery good-loose connections-fuses-etc. After it sat for a while it started up, I drove it straight home and parked it. Tried restarting and no go, let it sit 2hrs and still nothing.

I was thinking it was the starter may be weak and just overheating, 100 degrees in GA today, but after it sat 2 hrs and didn’t start again it’s got me baffled.

Not sure if the cruise going out and it not starting is related or just a heck of a coincidence??

Any suggestions welcome.

Thanks,
Griff

 

May be just a coincidence..... Do you hear the relay for the starter click, or the starter solenoid engage?

 

Honestly...it sounds PCM'y to me... JMO.

 

No noice that I can hear, nothing. Thinking about pulling the starter tomorrow. Still confused about the cruise going out at the same time.

 

If you're not hearing anything, then it's not worth your time pulling the starter. You should hear the relay click in the PDC even if the starter solenoid doesn't click.

The PCM controls the starter and cruise control. At any given time have you encountered "NoBuS" in the odometer window?

If not, have you noticed the gear indicator on the dash acting funny?

If the truck doesn't start, and you move the shifter around, does it then start?

If the PCM thinks the trans is in neutral, it will cut off cruise control. (though the light should still turn on/off, just not set...)

If the electronics don't think the trans is in Park/Neutral, the starter relay will not click.

 

This is no “NoBus” error displayed. I’ve also played with the shifter, park to neutral, several times.

One thing I do remember is I stopped at Tractor Supply yesterday before heading yesterday and when I got out I noticed an odor of what smelled like rubber burning that I thought was coming from the truck. I sorta just blew it off as being something else.

I’m going to take a closer look under the hood this morning to see if I can find anything and may closer attention any relay noises when I turn the key.

 

So I go out this morning to investigate a little more, looked under the hood and didn’t see anything abnormal, get back in the truck and it starts right up.

Doesn't make any sense. A loose connection, something overheating that needs to cool off, an electrical component wigging out, heck I don’t know.

I do know now that I don’t feel comfortable driving it until I figure out what the heck is going on with it. I’m sure that it will leave me stranded somewhere!!!

Anymore input appreciated.

 

Get it nice and warm, take it where you have tools, shut it off, and see if you can get it to fail. Then start chasing power, and see where you lose it.

 

Rechecked codes after driving, it’s still starting.

p0499 evap
p0582 Cruise
p0586 cruise
p0594 Cruise
p0581 Cruise

Looks like I’ve got some sorting out to do.

 

Check and make sure the cruise module is still plugged in. Given the codes, that seems likeliest.