Just bought a 1998 Dodge Ram 1500 5.9 with 188K on it for $600. It's lifted, no codes on the obd. From what I heard from the previous owner is when he bought it he could get it into 1st and it would stay in first, but if he took off in second he could shift through all the gears besides first, when he got to first it would stay in first. Said he drove it a distance in first and when he got home it would stall out when he put it in drive or reverse. Idles perfectly. Also if I sit it in neutral for a minute it'll drive forward and reverse a bit then shut off vs just shutting off when I throw it right into reverse and it shutting off right away. Any ideas guys. Heard a few say crankshaft position sensor? Others say torque converter clutch. Let me know soon trying to get this big old girl on the road. Thanks!

 

I suspect you have more than one problem.... Stalling when you shift from reverse to drive generally is blamed on the crank sensor. Don't bother with the aftermarket sensors though, get one from the dealer.

 

I'm gonna install the sensor in a bit, hoping that takes care of the engine shutting off. could driving it 20 miles in first gear screw up the TC clutch?

 

Nope. TCC won't engage in first gear.

 

So let's say this crank sensor doesn't work, and it still stalls when I throw it in reverse or drive.... safe to say the TC clutch is done for?

 

Nope.

TCC never engages in reverse, only third gear (with O/D disabled) or O/D. Now, if TCC isn't releasing, that still doesn't necessarily imply a bad torque converter, it may just be a stuck solenoid.

Can you two-foot while shifting into reverse/drive, and keep the engine running?

 

what do you mean by two foot? Like does it move forward a foot or two before shutting off? Yes it does, it'll jump forward a little like you're stalling out in a stick shift

 

Hhhmmm..... if you feather the gas can you keep it going?

It DOES begin sound like a TCC problem. Unplug the 8 pin connector on the drivers side of the trans, and see if that doesn't change things at all. While it may not stall when you put it in gear, the trans will not have ANY automatic function..... it won't shift till ya tell it to.

 

Ha, when I try to feather it it shuts off even faster. I can sit it in neutral for 5 minutes, THEN it will sit in reverse and drive for about 10 seconds then shut off. When I sit it in neutral and then go to drive it starts moving, I can hear a noise that sounds like a vacuum hose, then engine starts to shudder a little and it shuts off.

 

Getting any codes?