got a 1998 dodge ram (318/5.2), had the key turned back wards for about 2 minutes.i went to start it and nothing happened. got a jump and it started but once i took my foot of the gas it died so i got another jump (samething it died)when it gets the jump and give enough gas so it dosent stall everything works, but once its not theres nothing at all ,its like the battery died but the gauges say its fine . any ideas what could be going on. thax

 

check your battery connections, and clean them!

 

Your battery could need replaced. These trucks do some weird things with weak batteries. My truck did the same exact thing as yours. Try putting the battery on a charger and have it tested by autozone. I think a new battery for mine in the spring was $80 or something.

 

Bad alternator caused a dead battery? If the alternator can't charge enough to run the motor at idle and the battery is dead that's your problem. I would yank the alt and take it and the battery to the parts store and have them tested. If the alt is bad replace it and have them charge the battery.

 

Shouldn't the alt be able to run the truck once it gets started? I know my car is that way.

 

thanx every1 for the help ,and im sure i'll b bk

 

thanx 4 the help guys, i was thinking the alt would keep it running once started but hey iv'e seen stranger things happen in vehicles, i was going done that road but i wanted to see what other ppl were thinkin

 

depending on how long the battery was dead for the pcm could have reset itself. meaning that it would have to relearn idle. when i replaced my tranny last summer my battery went dead and everytime i would start my truck it would idle for about 2 seconds and then die. my alternator is fine, but it was just the pcm needing to relearn the idle position. get your truck started, take it for a spin non stop, and if you have to stop throw it in neutral, and give it some gas so it doesnt stall out. if your battery gauge is reading 14 volts or a little above 14 on the dash your alt is fine.