I have this problem with my truck. (01 ram 1500 2wd) I have a p1281 code. I read on hear to change the Thermostate with a dealer one. So I Did!!! After I did this the code came back on, so I replace the sensor. Reset evertything. Now its Winter and its cold the check engine light is on (p1281) and when its below 20 degrees it will start for 2 sec. and die? When it is above 20 degrees it will start and run rough until the engine warms up and then it runs great. Am I missing sometheing?
Any ideas? PCM?

These are the thing I replaced:
Thermostate (dealer one)
sensor
full tune up
Fuel pump

Thanks
Joe

 

did you replace the thermostat? or did your mechanic?

theres a certain way to bleed these trucks of coolant. did you replace the 4 in bypass hose? and the sensors are very easy to crack and break.

 

I did the thermostate replacement myself. When the turck is warm I reset the code and it does not come back on until it cools or acouple of starts later. If the sensor was broke would it code trip right away?

 

not nessesarily....on my 95 5.9, i fried the abs sensor. did some work to it that required unhooking the battery, and it took about 10 minutes before it popped the ABS light after reconnecting, and funny thing is, the wire is not connected, and it didnt pick it up for that long.

So it all depends...might as well replace them...they are really easy to change...

 

OK, get this! I just went out there to see if it would start and It started for 2 sec. and died. I took one of the spark plugs out and it looked white (lean) I started it again with the spark plug out to see if the reason it stalls because of not getting spark. It was getting spark
Any Ideas?

 

what you can do is block part of the radiator off with a piece of cardboard so it heats up faster and runs at a sligltly higer temp

The computer is looking for at least 170 degrees you may also have a thermo that is opening just a little to soon.



the code 1281 code will mkae the truck go into limp mode. you may have to try a different Stat

 

What thermostat do you currently have installed? A 180 degree? 195? With an untuned truck, you need to stay with the stock 195 thermostat.

 

Its the 195 degree state!