My newly purchased '96 1500 Ram with the 5.9 L engine, 65,600 miles has an idle problem. The engine RPM drops and the engine dies when I come to a stop. Had a shop (not Dodge) scope the engine and they said misfire in cylinder #3. I realize that the problem could be distributor cap, plug wire or spark plug. I changed the plugs - no help. Since the distributor is set under the fire wall I was wondering about the best way to change the cap or wires. What are the best parts to use? Also, which is the best shop manual to buy?

 

I'm a big fan of Haynes manuals. I have yet to tune up my Ram, but I need to badly. I'm still trying to figure out the best way to change that damn cap and rotor that's burried. I should have done it from underneath while the transmission was out of it.

 

Is the misfire the only code that came up? A while back I had the exact same problem, and the code I got was for the throttle position sensor. I then checked it in accordance with my Haynes manual and it checked good, so I went back to auto zone, they reset the check engine light, and I haven't had any problems since. Just my .02, Good luck dude.

 

i have a 96 with the V6 in it. every once in a while it wil stall out on me too. not usually after ive been driving though. only right when i first start it, sometimes it will do it a couple times before i get er going. i changed the plugs, wires, cap, and rotor. problem got better for a little, now it only does it like once in 100 starts or something.

 

I have changed my wires twice on my 97. The best way to do it is to number each wire and pull all wires. Remember to draw a diagram of your distributor (how the wires look and where they go) number that and pull intake off. Lay your wires out and match up and install. I use a Hayes manual.

 

Another option, if miss fire is not all the time, is to reroute your wires. I had a missfire and pingging problem that got solved by it.
http://dodgeram.info/tsb/1998/18-48-98.htm
Go to this web site and download the V8 version and it shows you how to route the wires (biggest key is to follow the rule of thumbs of cross at 90 degrees and not closer then an inch)
As far as how to change the distributor and wires, there is not "easy" way of doing it. Tips to make a little easier: remove air box (get that crap out of the way), remember what cylinder is #1 and use the fireing order on the intake manifold (that is what I do)

 

i also have a similar problem and had that same problem before on my 96 5.9l and i replaced the distributor cap and that didnt do anything it still has the same problem. next step for me is to try the throttle pos sensor....

 

this may or may not help but i read in a previous post that if the cat is removed as well as the post cat 02 sensor,"irratic idle, loss of performance, and a never ending MIL light ..."maybe just check to see if a previous owner removed the forementioned items.
im new to dodge so i really cant venture an opinion.hope this helps though.

 

My 2000 ram v-8 360 would idle rough but was not to the point of shutting down.Until my plentum gasket was replaced everything was back to normal.

 

sounds like you need to clean the throttle body to me... pull out the IAC and clean it real good and make sure the air holes are clear as well. A bad plenum gasket will cause this area to get gummed up and not work correctly.

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