Hi all,
On my way home from work tonight, my check engine light came on. 97 Ram 1500 5.9L gas, auto trans 2WD.
Truck seems to run the same as far as I can tell.
Codes we as follows:12-31-17-55

The truck had sat for about 5 days this week,(drove my altima, better on gas!) I started it this morning, and it started right up after sitting for 5 days, and pretty much I drove away, not a good idea as it did not seem to like that as it hesitated some. It was about 55 degrees out, so not what I call cold.

Side note,
I stopped this morning on my way to work, and put in some gas, regular 87 octane, put in about a half tank as I was nearing empty.

So, from what I can gather from the DF and other internet sites, code 17 says "Runs too hot, or too cold" "insufficent warm up time", OR "coolant temp sensor bad", so I am guessing I confused the coolant temp gauge? It takes awhile for the truck to warm up, and I just put a new 195 T-stat in 2 weeks ago.
Temp runs normal, about 200. Before the new T-stat, it ran cool, really cool, about 160-170 and never got a code. Previous owner put in a diff T-stat.
Any thoughts?


Next code is Code 31, EVAP solenoid circuit...I have no clue what this even is? Any help is appreciated!! I did check the gas cap, and I just had the truck smogged a month ago and the gas cap passed the pressure test at the smog station.

 

if you recently had a t-stat problem, the 17 might be leftover from that.

evap circuit is the evaporative emissions purge solenoid that sucks the gas fumes from the canister. if it malfunctions it could be like a big vac leak. i don't know where its at on a 97, but on an 01 its the big cluster of vac hoses and valves on the passenger side fender.

i'd reset the pcm and see which ones come back. do a visual check on all the vac lines to see if any are split, chewed up, fallen off.

 

I did a visual on the lines under the hood, but could not see anything with the naked eye and I am still not sure if I found the evap solenoid, there isn't anything on my pasg, fender really.

Here are some pics of my engine bay and the areas I looked around marked by the red arrows.





And just an overall pic of my engine bay, pretty clean for a truck with 216K on it huh?
IF anyone can point out whre I should be looking, please feel free to school me!

The assembly on top of the gas tank where the fuel pump is I beleive, is not screwed on correctly, whoever put on the new pump misthreaded the plastic cap that goes on top of the fuel tank, I think this might be my issue...at least one of them.
The check engine light did not come on before I had the t-stat changed, so why would it now?

I actually have my truck in the shop now being looked at to see if they can narrow down the problem and see how much it is going to cost me...money I do not have:/

 

Your pointing right at it in the second pix, black thing with two hoses and a wiring plug.

 

lol, see I didn't even know I was looking at the right thing...I was guessing that was it, but now I know for sure! Thanks.
Actually the shop just called me and said they cleared the codes and we will see what happens now if the check engine light comes back on but he confirmed with the scanner what I did on my own without a scanner...Evap solenoid/emmissions system code 31 and code 17, engine running too cold...

 

Follow the vac lines down to the canister. The canister might be cracked. Check it too.

 

Great pictures.

 

You are correct....that is a nice looking engine bay for a high mileage Dodge...apparently you take care of your truck.

 

Thanks! Now if I can just find something to get that battery acid leakage /stains from under tha battery area, that would be great.
Any ideas on what may take that brown stuff off with out removing the paint?

 

I removed my battery box and it looked like this:




Cleaning with baking soda and wire brush, then rust inhibitor and paint....now looks like this: