I have a 1998 Dodge Ram 1500 SLT Laramie quad cab.

I drove it for weeks no problems at all. Parked it Friday night. Saturday morning she will not start.
Will not start normal anyhow. Pedal pushed to the floor ir starts. Have to hold at least 3000 rpm for it to stay running.
I HAD to take a big item about 10 miles. Decided to just limp it there and hope it clears.
I mad it but on the way back it got worse. I plugged my cheap OBD2 int it and error.
Took it by an auto place. He plugged his scan tool in and no reading either

Missing one cylider at least. Each time that miss hits the check engine light flashes..just a quick blink each miss.
Its backfiring and by the time I pulled it over top speed was 35 or so. Speedo was jumping all over. The light for seatbelt on, break light on, Tach going crazy but kinda hard to really tell as the engine going nuts is messing with the tranny. Its slipping or just not engaging right by the end. Going dead, cranking in nuetral while rolling, bark the tires and do it again. Over and over until it and I gave up.

I pulled it over and had it towed. Car carrier truck dropped it in my driveway.
I waited on that tow for an hour and 15 mintues. Giving it a try every 20 minutes or so. never cranking it. Just hopeing it might start normal.

The tow truck dops it in my driveway. I gear up fpr the full throttle and brake manuever into my garage. Go outside dreading and hopeing I can control it. This is maybe 30 minutes after my last attempt to move it...into a better towing pick position.

It starts and runs perfect, I back it into the garge normal. I said normal but its running rich, heavy sulpher smell

This moring the battery is dead. I put a new one in it last month. Now I suspect that...I just tried it to close this long story.

Your thoughts,
Thanks in advance
Michael

 

Have you tried the scan tool while it's still running good?

 

Yes I plugged the scan tool in when it started running normal.
No codes but a yellow light and C, O and OH are blinking.
Its a cheap Innova scan tool and I just moved. The CD and book for it are somehwhere. I think at my other house.

Also after plugging the scanner in last night, I see I left the dome light on. That explains the dead battery this morning.

Its on charge

 

Go to there website and download it. See what those blinking lites mean and we'll go from there.

 

I looked all over Innovas web site for the download.
You have the link??
I will look again and if no luck. I have already planned to go buy another basic scan tool.
Bought the one I have in 2000 or so.

the PDF online says the yellow light with the various blinking means the test did not run. There does not seem to be the sofware download. I am going to buy a new one right now.

Thanks for joining in this quandry with me.

Michael

 

I meant to download the manual. What model is it? Woops, sorry I see you looked at the pdf. And btw, if you are going out, get an IAC valve. Not a cheap pos from autozone or the like. Because usually when you have to give it gas for it to stay running that is usually to blame. But it sounds like you have other issues also. Don't we all? LOL JK. You might also want to get a fuel pressure tester if you don't already have one.

 

same thing happend to me. so i went to the local parts store and asked them to check my ele. system. the guy put the tester on my battery first, and said that i had a dead cell in the battery. even tho it cranked over just fine and didnt seem like anything was wrong with, well i guess it messes up the computer. so try a new battery and see what happens. hopefully this will work for u because this was that exact thing that happend to me

 

3 years ago it went dead, dead dead. I had it towed to 2 places the latter being an electronics expert place. the put a new ECM, ECU...computer...whetever you want to call it.
I have had intermitted probelms from that fix on. That shop towed it back 5 times. Kept it for a month and put 5000 miles on it. Used it for parts truck. Said it never had a problem. they would not replace the ECM. Me and that shop went round and round but I had to go overseas before I could really battle.

While overseas I put it up for sale running good. When I got back it had an idle problem and turned over real slow. Obviously the battery. I had it for sale it Birmingham, Al. Ilive in Florida.
I put a new battery in it last month after it running badly when I came home. It was like a new engine when I replaced the battery
Since I have driven home, then back to Birmingham, then back down here, all over B'ham and Pensacola, no problems at all until the gremlin Friday night.

Turned over strong yesterday and last night. Charger this morning would not charge it. Said replace so I did. Runs fine but still showing the C, O, OH caution light.
No decent OB2 scanners around here, no better than what I have anyhow.

So for now its running good again. Amazed the tranny lived through yesterday. I was goingto get it home and I was pissed. I need this truck.
Again new battery seemed to cure it again, it got a new one last month. I know I left the dome light on but...800 amp battery should handle .5amp bulb for 8 hours or so.

I ordered a new ECM for it anyhow. The fact I have had troubles since the rebuilt one and mine nor the shops scanner could read it.. hints toward the ECM...who knows.

I am 46, my urge is to yank this efi crap out and drop a carburated hemi in there.
I will keep you posted, thanks for the help.
Does this carp again a crate engine is my next fix.
I looked a new trucks. 35,000 to match what I already have....just newer.

 

ECM?...I would get the Alt tested.....when the alt goes lots of funny things happen

 

Thing is, it could be the wire harness. So replacing the PCM might do nothing. But, since it was a rebuilt unit , it could be defective. I would check the harness and clean the plugs to the PCM before I got another one.