1998 Dodge Ram 1500. The truck ran fine until I changed the Spark plugs, wires, distributor cap, and rotor button. Now it acts cold natured even when its warm outside. It also randomly hesitates during acceleration to the point where it sounds like the truck has quit running, but then it keeps going. The hesitation only lasts for a couple seconds.

 

Welcome to DF!

What spark plugs did you install? Are you ABSOLUTELY SURE you got the firing order right? Does the truck feel like it is trying to shake itself apart when it shifts into Overdrive?

Moving this to the second gen ram section for ya.

 

Champion copper plus spark plugs. I double checked the firing order again. It doesn't shake. It almost feels like the fuel is being shut off for a second or two then goes back to normal for a few minutes and does it again. I never drive this truck over 50 mph but it does seem like when it does this , that it does run smoother at lower speeds.

 

Try swapping the ASD relay, and the Horn relay. See if that makes any difference.

 

I'm not a mechanic just doing it myself.

Ive had similar experience. Found this tsb here in the forum.

The TSB does state with these symptoms before you perform any other repairs , perform the TSB repair.

It didn't help me with my 25 yr old second Gen it could be a lot of things. While performing the TSB I found a bare wire along the valve cover coming out of a harness. Insulation just wore off.

Today's project.......

Good luck

 

Hey You,

Still, attempting to diag my 97 Ram 360 Magnum.

I ended up replacing the fuel module, the pressure was all over the place, dash gauges never worked from day one, it was about 6 years old, cheapest I could find at the time.

I installed a Delphi

Fuel Pump Assembly - Electric In-Tank Type - Actual MFG OEM.

It' nice to have a fuel gauge again and not have to track miles driven. Runs a little stronger.

And that wasn't "the" problem, either. It's an old neglected truck, I accept it could me multiple components at 250k miles, I just hope it's not the timing chain or some small plenium or head gasket leak. Tail pipe exhaust is as clear as a bell, I never get so much as a puff of smoke. I love my dodge they'll have to pry it out of my cold dead fingers.

Been through everything electrical except for the Pick Up Coil, which I got a glimpse of and the wiring look hagered, but no visible break. I can't get eyes on the crank sensor yet.

I went back to evap and the EVAP Cannister Purge Valve. Last week I got zero vac on the ECPV, several times using a vacuum gauge connected to ECPV @ cold and after warm up. Then, the next day I checked it again, I got 5 hg @ cold and warm. Then, I took it off and ohm'd it and ran 12 volts through it, weak intermittent click, I thought. But I couldn't suck through it, seemed closed. It ohm'd out, it was in the range, 0.04. It still seemed sketchy so I took it to Oreilly's they ran 12 volts through it and got it to click, dropped it a couple times too, sucked air through it. Then, I went to a mechanic to try to get a vacuum pump put on it, but, he ran 12 volts through it, got clicks, was able to suck air through it while activating it and but said he thought it was a weak click and intermittent as well, he suggested changing it. But, I haven't put a vacuum pump on it yet.

But I have connected my vacuum gauge several times over the last week, and the last time, yesterday and today, I get a serious pulse, IS THAT NORMAL. It pulsed from -zero to about 10 hg, at about heart beat speed.



Thanks in advance.

 

Hey you,

And, I bought the EVAP purge solenoid, $50, echlon, should I just go ahead and install the new one. It hasn't come out of the box yet, I can return it.

 

Can you return it if it doesn't solve the issue?

You could just try running with it disable, see if it runs any better.

 

I have run it with the CPVS disconnected, it doesn't run any better, if this is what you mean by disabling it.

Do CPVS's pulse a vacuum gauge or should it remain at a steady psi? As I pointed out, it has definitely worked intermittently according to my tests, the truck is old, neglected, the part is 27 years old. At this point I wouldn't be surprised if it's several issues. The truck does run better than when I started working on it by change plugs, wires, rotor, cap, coil, fuel pump, especially at higher RPM.

The OBDII O2 sensor is still show short and long rich fuel trim, fyi.

Thanks in advance.

 

Have a look at the elbow tap(evap) in front of the throttle body. They crack and leak.