I have a 96 dakota, 3.9 Lt SFI. That would not stay running after it was started; with the motor Warm or Cold. Did some searching and found the Evap. Surge Solenoid was shot. I replaced the solenoid located on the back left side of the intake, earsed the MIL and the truck ran fine for a couple of days. Now when the engine is cold I have to give it gas and feather the pedal to keep it running. Once the motor warms up slightly it runs fine, idles around 700. Funny thing is when I first check it after replacing the solenoid, I remove the Vac. hose from the PCV valve when it was cold and the truck ran fine. As soon as I placed the Valve infront of the hose it stalled. Replace the PCV valve twice with new ones and the same problem. Right now I am running it with a screen on the end of the PCV hose (not a good idea) but it stays running after it starts - the gas milage sucks now! All the hose are in great shape with no blockages. Any suggestion on a solution

 

Found my problem. I was checikng the voltage at the MAP sensor and the Surge solenoid and found the voltage real low at High RPM. It is supposed to drop to around 2 volts but both were below .75 volt. I disconected my MA audio amp (1500 watt) and the truck ran fine for a day. Next morning same problem - what gives? I then checked the battery, the starter just didn't seem to turn over very fast - Only 10.53 Volts. Cleaned the posts. Got it to run and checked the battery and was at 14.5 volts with it running. Alt is doing it thing. Shut it off after a few minutes and checked the battery - now 10.22 volts. Took the battery out of the Stealth - 12.7 volts and the truck runs great. Put the old Surge solinoid on and stalled right away. Put the new one on again and runs great now.

 

I guess that is what is wrong with my truck. I got code 31 on the key test, "Bad evaporator purge solenoid circuit or driver". It has bad mileage, but it always starts, and never stalls. I was told to empty the canister or something, but I don't know where it is. How much do you know about these things?