I bought a 1997 ram with 89,000 miles on it in november. I havent had any problems with it till now. I went to start it the other day and it would turn over but wouldnt start. IfI held the gas while trying to start it, it'll start but once I take my foot off the gas it dies again. Does anyone one know what this problem is? If so please help me

 

Im a newbie, but I like to try to figure things out lol.. see what others say heh,, Myabe its your Throttle body not letting enough air in? maybe gunk build u[p? bad air filter? Im just guessing Im a newbie though

 

I dont think it would be that cause why would it start if I push the gas? If anything I dont think its getting enough gas or the air fuel mixture is messed up

 

Like I said, Im a newbie, but if your car doenst get air it wont like turning over, and pressing on the gas opens the butterfly to let air in, if something is a miss there, then it may start but not stay started hehe cuz it then sufficates teh engine.. need air to burn gas.. but then again Im a newbie, so I am most likely wrong, but it would be an easy 1st placce to check though.

 

Fuel Pump.. ?? Crank Sencer? .. I would check fuel pump first.. see if has pressure

 

How do I check to see if my fuel pump has pressure or not?

 

There is a fuel pressure test port on your fuel rail (looks like a tire valve stem) You should have 44 to 54 psi fuel pressure at the rail ..I think the pressure is right.. But you might find it real low..
You never said if the truck run wide open...when it does run..and then when you let off to a idle is dies? Or does it idle or maybe just about at wide open..
I have seen fuel pumps not pickup below half tank also.. it will do exactly as you are saying ..

 

disconnect your idle air control and start it, once it starts plug it back in, turn off and start it

 

Well I have an interesting story. The truck I bought from the auction did the same thing. had to put it in nuetral an keep the rpm's up. beat the crap outta it on the interstae for about 20 miles. never did that again.

 

ThesePCM's are very sensitive to battery voltage. A battery that'll crank it over fine will still have the engine be crabby at idle. I've had this problem several times myself. Throw a charger on it for a few hours, and I bet you it'll be fine. Running it can charge the battery too, but that's pretty hard on the alternator, they're not designed to charge a dead battery and you can end up overheating the alternator. If that doesn't fix the problem, take a look at the IAC as suggested. If the problem reoccurs with no obvious cause (eg leaving headlights on) check for constant drains with an ammeter in series with the battery (pull the neg cable off and put the ammeter from the batt neg post to the negative connector). Make sure the interior lights are off, wait 20 mins or sofor the CTM (central timer module) to time out ad release the seatbelts, and you should have very low current....I've gotten mine down to about 8-10mA. If it's much higher, in the 50mA range or higher, there's something drawing current. If you find no such problems, it's probably time for a new battery.