My truck won't stay running, it starts and the idle drops and then dies. If I rev it up it stays running, and I hooked up some jumper cabels and it ran fine. Would it just be the alternator?

 

my truck does that with a weak battery. new battery should solve your problem.

 

have both the alternator, and the battery tested. Replace what tests as bad.

 

I tightened the battery post last night an still had the same problem.. I went out this morning and it started and ran fine... Both the alternator and battery tested fine. I have no idea why it wouldn't stay running last night..

 

When the idle drops, does your radio volume go down? Lights dim? Gauges dim?

If yes, and taking into consideration that your batt and alt tested good:

It could be grounding out somewhere serious (this would put extra load on batt and alt). Only place I know of that has wiring big enough to completely drain the system (which would give you this problem) would be the connection to the starter.

Possibly coincidental that it stayed running with the jumper cables, if this is the case, it may be the IAC.

 

when i had this issue on another vehicle it was due to my fuel pump, it was on a ford not a dodge though

 

The lights don dim at all, I was talking to a friend and he had the same symptoms and replaced the iac. I will replace it and hope for the best. Thanks for everything you guys saved me once again

 

The lights don dim at all, I was talking to a friend and he had the same symptoms and replaced the iac. I will replace it and hope for the best. Thanks for everything you guys saved me once again

 

If the IAC is to blame, a thorough cleaning of the throttle body and IAC usually clears it right up; no need to replace it in most cases (but do what you think is best).

 

I had same problem a couple monts ago, replaced the iac valve and solved the problem, but is the 3rd time this happen it start with rust in the battery, this time checked the starting wires and found the positive wire covered in rust and making contact with the engine