98 Ram 2500 - 5.2L V8 Gas - 102015 miles

Ok, I am getting frustrated now. I started out getting a P0306. I researched on here and on various other sites and determined most times on this code it is a bad injector. I just had the plugs and plug wires replaced when I bought the truck. I got a new injector from my FLAPS and new o-rings and new intake manifold gasket and got everything disassembled, installed, and reassembled and the injector is working (I put a stethoscope up to it and it is clickin away. The fuel rail was sparkly clean and I even went as far as to clean each injector by hand with carb solvent and things looked good. So my question is this...as the injector probably was bad could it have screwed up the plug and/or plug wire when the old injector was in there? I also put in a new distributor cap so I know the spark is happening. I am getting frustrated because I can't keep spending money to solve this problem and need some SERIOUS help! Thanks in advance...

 

do youknow about the wire re routing tsb?
can cause misfires. i guess in cylinders 1,3,5,7,8 but i could imagine it could cause a misfire in the other 3 wires too.check it out, the site is http://dodgeram.info/tsb/1998/18-48-98/18-48-98-v8.htm. if it's your problem the fix is only a couple bucks and some of your time.

 

If the routing of these wires does not solve your problem, do a compression test on your truck. I have a 2000 Ram 2500 5.9L V8 and I had both heads cracked (error P0306 and P0305). Good luck.

 

I would check out the harness on that connector. You may have intermittent contact, causing the computer to not register firing on that injector.

 

Just another thought this morning. Definitely double-check the wiring per the TSB for misfire problems. #6 and #8 have to be routed "just so" as #6 and #4 are the two culprits that will report a misfire.

 

have you done a compression checkon the cylinder? that might be your next step if the wiring does prove to be correct.

another thought is that the heads are prone to cracking and will cause a miss that cant be troubleshot the normal ways...(plug, cap wires, injector etc...)

 

Well, I spoke to the mechanic and he said they pulled the spark plug and said it was lightly coated in coolant, so they believe the head gasket is blown and the cylinder head might be cracked. So what I would like to know from the masses out there is how difficult is it to remove the cylinder head and replace the gasket and how to tell if the head is cracked? They said that the compression test showed the cylinder showing full pressure but there was obviously a leak somewhere because the liquid on the spark plug was coolant as it wouldn't even light when they held a lighter to it. They said just to replace the head gasket is $850 and I would sure like to not spend that much!

 

heads are easy to swap, just like most of the rest of the motor... just takes time. my suggestion since you ahve to pull it appart is to yank both heads, get them checked for cracks and if they are do the heavy duty head swap. heads will run $725+ shipping, head gaskets get from summit racing, exact same gasket as the mopar HP ones... ask me how I know... damn long story. i'd also get a set of arp head bolts for around $65 bux from summit... relates to the damn long story... add in the felpro plenum gasket and intake gasket sets and your probably sitting at about $850 in parts.

toss in the few tools that you dont have that you will need and you should be set to go. I recommend that the timing chain be swapped while you do it, the stockers stretch and suck... double roller is the way to go.

there is a plenum gasket writeup in the DIY forum that will be very helpful and there are plenty of motorheads here that can help. last year Sehr916 did a timing chain swap and ran into a jam... he was able to work thru it ok with help from DF and just finished his plenum gasket repair w/o help IIRC...

anyways, count on your truck being down for 3 to 4 days UNLESS you have every part you think you 'll need (and the ones recommended) in hand ready to go. if you do, count on 2 very long days.

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oh yeah, another thought... to spend the 850 and have the repair shop do it will still leave you with another head that is also **** to cracking. that is why I say go for the upgraded HD heads... really your best bet. plus you can take the time to fix the plenum gasket if it is leaking....

 

Just a pure joy trying to muscle them in and out of the engine bay