I have a Dodge Ram 1500 4x4, 4.7L-V8. Three days ago, I accidentally drove through a puddle during a rain storm. Big splash, but nothing crazy (I thought). In a matter of minutes, I lost all power to the vehicle (though accesories & lights were working).

Pulled over and the truck cranked, but would not start. Gave it a few days to dry out, hoping it was a wet connection somewhere. Still would not start on 3rd day. My father-in-law (who is an autobody guy w/ a good head for mechanical) came over.

* We hooked it up to his diagnostic computer and got no codes.
* He checked fuses for a short - all were good.
* He pulled plugs to check for spark - good.
* For the relays under the hood that we could see, we disconnected, sprayed wire dry, then reconnected.
* Then he called a friend who is a mechanic by trade & he said to check the crank placement sensor. We did - took off the connector, sprayed some wire dry, and rehooked the connector. Truck started for a few minutes then stalled & wouldn't start. We assumed we found the problem, so we replaced crank placement sensor. At first, truck still wouldn't start...but when we disconnected the battery to reset the computer, the truck ran fine...for 10 minutes, then same it died all at once - no sputtering or anything.

* Reset computer again, truck started fine, checked codes and there were none. But after a few minutes, the fuel gage went from 1/4-tank to "Empty" and the Low Fuel light went on. Turned truck off, then restarted it. Fuel gage went back up, but truck died within 30 seconds.

I am by no means a mechanic , but I'm thinking that if the truck starts fine when the computer is reset - and has no "memory" from the components it's connected to - then when it starts, one of the components must be sending the computer a "shut down" signal while the truck is running.

Some threads I've read seem to point to the ASD, PCM, or Camshaft Position sensor. Are these potential causes? If these are not places I should be checking, what should I look at? Any help or suggestions would be appreciated! Thanks!

 

I let the truck sit overnight after replacing the crank position sensor. The truck started this morning for about 60 seconds, then died. I left it for an hour, then it started for 60 seconds and died. Any ideas?

 

Unhook the battery then remove all of the plugs on the PCM on the firewall and dry them out. Reconnect and try again.

 

Thanks for the advice lxman1....unfortunately, I had it towed to the dealer earlier today (8/17) because I've been without a driveable vehicle. I will post whatever the dealer finds here.