I really need some advice here. I have a 99 Ram 1500 with the 5.2 Magnum, 2wheel drive with an auto trans. The truck will not stay running. I have done a lot of work to it lately. Here is the list of parts I have replaced so far: new alternator, did the plenum gasket repair with the Hughes kit, new water pump, new timing chain and gears, new MAP sensor, new fuel pump in gas tank, new spark plugs, plug wires, new distributor rotor and cap, ignition coil, and new cam sensor in the distributor, I also removed the cat. I think the next thing I'm going to change is the crank position sensor.

The issue I'm having is that the engine will shut off on me, and if the engine is hot it will not start back up right away. If I start the truck and let it sit at idle it will die out after a few mins. To me it sounds like the truck dies at idle when the thermostat cycles, it's like it looses too many rpm's and can't recover. If I start the truck up and drive it, it will run for about 5-10 miles then the engine will die wile cruising about 30-40mph. At that point the truck will crank but not start for 20-30 mins.

I did the Plenum repair first, and the timing set was changed during that job. I did the Plenum fix because the truck would die out occasionally when it was being driven and it was burning a lot of oil. Since I did that job the engine dying has just gotten worse. I did the fuel pump after the truck died on me on the street and it seamed like I didn't have much fuel pressure up at the rail. Still didn't work. It died on my in the Lowes parking lot so I went and got a spark plug for a lawn mower and tested for spark. The truck cranked and cranked but didn't have any spark until the engine cooled down. The spark came back and it fired right up. Then I changed the Ignition stuff, plug wires, rotor, cap, plugs. At this point I really though it was going to be fixed, but drove it around and did the same dying thing. Now it popped a check engine light and a P0340 code. So then I changed the cam position sensor in the distributor. This is were I'm at now. I have not driven the truck yet. After changing the cam sensor the engine idles pretty rough and will die out much faster then before at idle. I know also have the check engine light set when it dies at idle with codes of P0340 and P1391. I think that I'm going to do the crank position next but I'm at a bit of a loss with this thing.

What do ya'll think??? and help will be greatly apricated.

 

See what's missing when it won't start. Fuel, or spark. I suspect that is going to be a failing crank sensor, or PCM. Use ONLY genuine mopar sensors please. These trucks don't like the aftermarket fellers.

 

I changed the crank sensor last night. I wasn't able to get one from the dealer due to time constraints. Ended up with a Standard brand one from O'Reilly's. Seams to have fixed the truck for now though. I let the engine run through a full heat cycle last night and had no issues with the engine shutting off or missing at all. I drove the truck to work today and it ran great. Hopefully the after market sensor will last for a while. Thanks for the help.

 

Standard use to make pretty good stuff, no idea about their quality these days, but, if it works, RUN WITH IT!