2001 RAM 1500 won't start when damp
#1
2001 RAM 1500 won't start when damp
Hello,
New to forum.
I have a 2001 ram quad cad 1500. 5.2L, stock except for K&N air filter. 44,00 miles.
The problem is when it's been raining or just really damp (heavy dew overnight) the truck doesn't want to start, and when it does (takes alot of cranking) it want to stall out. Hasn't thrown a code, dealership clueless. Father in law had gen 1 with same problem but traded it in before resolving. Any clues or help would be great.
Thanks.
Jim
New to forum.
I have a 2001 ram quad cad 1500. 5.2L, stock except for K&N air filter. 44,00 miles.
The problem is when it's been raining or just really damp (heavy dew overnight) the truck doesn't want to start, and when it does (takes alot of cranking) it want to stall out. Hasn't thrown a code, dealership clueless. Father in law had gen 1 with same problem but traded it in before resolving. Any clues or help would be great.
Thanks.
Jim
#2
RE: 2001 RAM 1500 won't start when damp
Pull the distributor cap off and see if the contacts are corroded up as well as the rotor.
I'd just go ahead and change cap,rotor,plugs and wires, being sure to use di-electric grease inside all the plug wire boots.
Spray down the inside area of the distributor with a can of silicone spray while the cap and rotor are removed.
I'd just go ahead and change cap,rotor,plugs and wires, being sure to use di-electric grease inside all the plug wire boots.
Spray down the inside area of the distributor with a can of silicone spray while the cap and rotor are removed.
#3
RE: 2001 RAM 1500 won't start when damp
You don't say how old the plug wires are, but I would check those as well. My brother used to have problems with his Volare in the 1980's. On very humid midwest days, that car wouldn't start. The old, brittle plug wires meet too much resistance with moisture in the air. Like you, if it rained, he was screwed. When all of the ingition components were replaced, it was like a new car.
#4
RE: 2001 RAM 1500 won't start when damp
Thats why I hate Stealerships....they say they're clueless. Its obviously an ignition problem, and mine does the same thing.
I get moisture inside my wires and it just cranks forever. It actually just happened yesterday. I carry a spare coil to distributer wire in my truck that I can just swap in and I'm good to go.
Do yourself a favor and invest in some really good wires like MSD, and like said above use di-electric grease. You won't have this problem again unless the waters in the cap not the wires
I get moisture inside my wires and it just cranks forever. It actually just happened yesterday. I carry a spare coil to distributer wire in my truck that I can just swap in and I'm good to go.
Do yourself a favor and invest in some really good wires like MSD, and like said above use di-electric grease. You won't have this problem again unless the waters in the cap not the wires
#5
I just had the same exact problem 10 min ago. once I got the truck started I took a water bottle and sprayed the coil no miss sprayed the distributor no miss then I hit one quick spray on the ecm and it died immediately so now I know its probably the connectors going into the computer module