I know this was stupid but I disconnected of of the three connectors to the PCM (farthest right) because I was going to try and put some contact cleaner on because I had read that it helped on another thread. I only pulled it out and plugged it back in but now the van won't start. It's trying to turn over but it wont come to life. It's my daily driver so I need help ASAP.

Thanks,
Bill

 

Did you try disconnecting the battery for a minute or so to allow the PCM to reset?

 

Yeah I did. Could I have blown a fuse? And should I go leave it unhooked for a while longer? Like I said, all I did was unplug it and plug it back in...

 

There's no reason for a fuse to have blown, but hey, it can't hurt to check.

If the fuses check out, then all I can think of is that something in the connector isn't making good contact after being plugged back in. Also, unplug all 3 connectors and hit them with the contact cleaner, then plug them back in. The problem could be one of the other connectors. Maybe you jostled it just enough to cause a problem when unplugging the first connector.

 

No such luck. I used the contact cleaner, unplugged all three plugged them back in and she still won't start. I did put in a new TPS and IAC but she ran fine this morning and earlier today.
I looked in the manual and decided to try cranking with the accelerator depressed. It started and the RPM's jumped up but I took my foot off the pedal and she died.

I think my PCM is shot. Probably the cause of my misfire and everything else.

****.

Bill

 

Billy, when I was trouble shooting my PCM I ran into a similar problem. I ended up letting the key on for a min so the electric fuel pump caught up and then held the petal down part way and cranked it. Once it started I had to continue to hold the petal down until it warmed up a little and then it straightened out.

You may have to do the same.

If you can find my previous threads you will see what my symptoms were, and how I trouble shot the process.

My PCM ended up needing repair and the place that I sent it off to is listed in my posts.

Jasons

 

Just FYI if you hold the trip odometer reset button down while turing the key from off to on (dont start it) the PCM will check itself...If it doesn't complete the test, you know it is toast. The PCM will check the gauges going from 1/3 to 2/3s and then full. After that it will check all of the systems and each idiot light will be on showing you what system it is checking...

Good luck BTW did you unhook the negative battery cable before you disconnedted the PCM....careful out there!

 

Seriously? I have to admit that I have never heard of this.

 

This should work on Ram Vans with OBDII. I've seen this posted before in the Ram Truck section.

 

Exactly. NEVER unplug the ECM/PCM without disconnecting the battery.

There is also a chance that one of the (3) three wire-harnesses have a faulty wire too. The PCM and wire-harnesses sit in the engine bay atop the engine area. Extreme under-hood heat ages these components. Moving the wire-harnesses while they are aged brittle can do more damage than the idea of spraying the connection with contact cleaner.

Hope that the problem works itself out.