Hey guys


I have an 01 ram with a 5.2 that I have recently replaced fuel pump, plugs, wires, coil, TPS, cap and rotor. The truck starts great about 50% of the time and runs great after that. But the other 50% it starts for about half a second and then the rpms go to about 150rpm and it stalls out. After it stalls it takes about 10 seconds of cranking to get it going, then it runs great after it finally starts. No check engine light and other issues that I know of. It hasn't been using any oil. It did this before I replaced all of those parts too. Any ideas at all?

 

Start with cleaning the throttle body. Take it off the truck to do so. (disconnect battery first please.) You want to pay particular attention to the IAC well, on the back side of the TB, pull the IAC, and clean things REALLY well. Be nice to the IAC motor, they are delicate. Put it all back together, hook the battery back up, turn the key to "on", (not start), count to ten, THEN start the motor, and let the truck figger out the new setup. Shouldn't take long. Don't touch the gas pedal until the idle settles down.

 

Ok I will try this next, is this a common issue?

 

Yup. Have you fixed your plenum yet? Blown plenum makes it a LOT worse.

 

the plenum looks like it may have been done once already it has 115k miles. Both valve cover gaskets are definitely aftermarket. Not sure if that has anything to do with though. Should I replace the Iac with a new one or clean the original. I'm blessed enough to run a parts store so I get pretty good deals

 

LOLOL. That's CHEATING!!

Our trucks really don't care much for aftermarket parts in critical locations.... I used a standard motor products IAC in my truck, and STILL had stalling, and unstable idle issues. Installed a 'spare' Mopar IAC, and all the problems went away. (and its still in there, several years later.....)

 

Am I going to need any special tools to take the throttle body and iac off? How big of a job is this going to be? Us parts guys aren't mechanics haha

 

Basic hand tools is all you need. Torx bit driver for the IAC screws though. (you should have them at work. ) Careful with the clips that hold the TV, Throttle, and Cruise cables on the throttle linkage though, if you break 'em, time for a new cable.

 

While I have the throttle body off I will look down for oil and try the magnet to see if I have a steel plenum plate. I will let you know what I find out

 

I replaced iac valve and tps with new mopar units from the dealer. The truck still sometimes just doesn't want to start. It will start for about 1 second and bog down and stall. The other 50% of the time it starts perfectly