I just did a tune-up on my 1999 ram 1500 4X4 5.2 liter and it run like crap. In fact it wont stay running. I put champion double platinum sparkplugs gapped to 45 and bosch 7mm wires. plus a new rotor and cap. Before the tune-up the 8th cylinder was missing. When I took out the sparkplug on the 8th cylinder there was oil in the electrode. All 7 of the other plugs looked good. I'm at a loss! I checked my firing order and its fine. I took back the cap and rotor and replaced them, but that didn't help. I checked the TB but nothing wrong there. Could it be the sparkplugs? When I start it it runs great for 3 seconds, but when it comes down to idle it dies. If I press the accelrator it misses terribly and knocks. HELP

 

sounds like the rotor. I dont think it would do it right away but i have heard that platinum plugs suck in magnums but i have them in mine and dont have any problems.

 

Platinum plugs suck in general. Get some Champion Truck Plugs. I'm not sure that's the cause of your problem though.

 

Was it running bad before the tune-up? Is it starting to use excess oil?
http://dodgeram.info/tsb/2000/09-05-00.htm

 

I wonder if something is wrong with the fuel sending unit?

 

my cousin had a prob. like this in his 3000gt when he converted it from the 6-cylinder to the vr4 twin turbo engine. anyway he could start it and it would run for like 2 secs then die, but u could start it and rev it up and it would be kinda choppy until u let it go back to idle and then it would die. anyway it was his mass airflow sensor was bad. it was tryin to reprogram it wrong.this might help.

 

i replaced my ECT sensor after a CE came up... had to take off the air filter box .. after the maintence was done i put the box back on and took her for a spin... then drove the truck aroudn town ... ran like crap..did what your talkin about... come to find out .. im to retarded to put the airbox back on correctly. didnt seat it right and tightend it down and it was offset and a large gap on the left side... prolly not your case... im just retarded..... I LOVE CAKE!!!!!!!!!!

 

maybe just screwed up the plug wire order???

 

I agree, it's either the plug wire order is wrong, or your cap is not seated correctly on the distributor.

and if you have a stock ignition, your plug gap is too wide which will also cause it to run like crap. gap should be .035" to .040" for a stock ignition.

 

Allright, I figured it out. When i put on the rotor I didnt seat it all the way down, so when I put on the cap it damaged the center pin. Easy fix...new cap and rotor and a new airbox/TB gasket and it runs like a charm. But....... now I have a weird hum when I shift into reverse. Kinda sounds like a vaccum hose leak or something, but I cant see anything lose or figure out why a vaccum line has anything to do woth reverse. Again, I need your help all-mighty ones