I have a 2001 Dodge Ram 1500, automatic, with around 135k miles. Since new, it has had a minute mount plow that I use regularly for my own driveway. It usually takes 60 to 90 minutes to do my driveway.

For the past two years, it sometimes stalls when I put it in drive...the engine quickly shuts off like flipping a switch. I turn the key off and start the truck and it starts right up and runs fine until I put it in drive again.

It does not do it as much if I slowly go from neutral into drive. Also, it is more prone to doing it while the truck is cold...by cold I mean running for less than 45 minutes.

It has no issues going from neutral to reverse...it only does it when when quickly going from neutral to drive.

There are no issues with the truck when the plow is not connected. Battery and alternator are good. Is this a common problem...or should I consult my local Minute Mount dealer.

 

check engine lite on? How many miles on the truck?

Think I would start by going over the wiring for the plow...

 

CEL is on currently, but it think it has done it with it off as well...I could be wrong. The truck has around 135K. Got the truck and plow new together.

 

Not sure how to go through the wiring of the plow...it there something on the plow connected directly to "drive" but not reverse?

 

Are you saying it only does it when the power leads are connected to the pump for the plow?

 

Need to find out what codes you are getting then. You should be able to do the 'key trick', and the PCM will display codes on your odometer. (turn the key on, off, on, off, on, but don't start, on the third cycle, watch the odometer. Write down what codes you get)

I think it is more likely some that moves when shifting from neutral (or reverse) to drive.... For some folks, it was a sign that their torque converter was getting ready to grenade...... Changed your trans fluid recently? Might be time to have a look in the pan.

 

Moparite:
Correct, this issue only happens when the plow is plugged into the truck. There are three cables that get plugged into the truck when the plow is connected...two cables with a few small pins (a male and female end) and one cable with two large pins.

HeyYou:
The codes are p0442 and p0455...both for evap issues.
I had the trans and whole drive train serviced a few months ago...I didn't want to be having any issues this winter since I rely on the truck to get out of my driveway after a heavy snowfall.

 

I would suspect that there may be drain on the battery when it's hooked up that may be causing the issue. Not sure how it's wired in. You may want to ask the Minute Mount dealer or whoever installed it. May also look into the evap issues. If you have vac leak in one of the lines may also be part of the issue.

 

If the plow has a few different connectors, could you unplug each connector one by one until the problem goes away? That would give you an idea of which plug is causing the issue and let you troubleshoot further from there.