Hi all, I have a 95 ram 1500 with the 5.2l and it's been a work in progress for a long time. Anyways I have replaced the motor and added a high lift can, which has now resulted in the truck stalling and sometimes having trouble starting. I have tried moving the distributor slightly and re arranging the plugs, but with these newer vehicles that does almost nothing. I've looked into getting a PCM flash, but I don't want to spent all the money on something I've heard very mixed reviews about. Just recently I was told by a mechanic that he had another customer with a similar problem. That customer ended up switching his camshaft position sensor and now his truck runs well. Mh questions are as follows:

1. In the Hanes manual it shows the camshaft position sensor is located inside the distributor. However Autozone and several other parts dealers do not show this part anywhere. Instead they either have a small circle felt type pad or a sensor that looks as if it would plug into the block somewhere. What is the right piece I'm supposed to replace?

2. If it is the part within the distributor, would I need a specially designed one to deal with the different cam? I assume just replacing the one that's already in there will just lead to the same issue.

3. I'm also worried about my distributor in general. It doesn't show any obvious signs of issues, but I was thinking of replacing the whole thing just to rule that out of the list of possibilities as well. Would j want some kind of "special" performance type distributor?

I'm learning as I go, so I appreciate the help.

 

The plastic plate under the rotor button IS the cam sensor. It has a hall-effect switch on the bottom side. Common problem with them is metal shavings collecting on the magnet and the window wheel being loose on the shaft where it's mounted.


A flash is not going to do anything for you. Flashes or Software Updates are a one time only thing and the majority of them do not significantly change anything that would cause a major starting or running issue.


If you can find someone with a DRB3, they can do a timing set for you. It's called a "Set Sync Signal"

 

I didn't see any metal shavings when j took it apart, but I also wasn't looking. Are these parts available separately r come as a whole unit? Also what is the machine u mentioned and what exactly is a sync set. Thanks

 

DRB 3 scan tool.

 

You have a 95, which is OBDI, no flashing the PCM for you. Changing the cam is your problem. The current programming in the PCM just doesn't know how to deal with it. So, you can send your PCM out to B&G, to have them reprogram it, possibly have to try that several times to get it right, or, you could go back to a less aggressive cam, that the PCM will be friendlier with, or, you could upgrade the electronics to an OBDII system, or... you could get a standalone engine management system.