I have a 1993 Ram 350 van. On random occasions while driving the engine will quit running like it’s lost it’s spark / electrical. I put it in neutral, turn the key and it starts right up and runs fine. Any thoughts? Thank you!

 

Do you notice the van being at a particular temperature when this happens? I could drive by 88 b350 around in the winter forever but in the summer, it would get to around operating temperature and quit just like you're describing. Sometimes I could turn it back on but sometimes it wouldn't. Was never able to figure it out.

 

It doesn't seem to be effected by temperature. It has happened Winter or Summer. I can sometimes drive a few hundred miles between times when the engine stops. Speed doesn't matter either - it has happened at idle and at highway speed. Totally random.

 

Does it die at idle or under load going down the road? How many miles on it and what engine do you have?

 

Sometimes it will die at idle, sometimes on the road, but very randomly - sometimes days, sometimes weeks in between. It's a 318, 168K miles.

 

Bad ignition switch, bad crank sensor, or bad ECM would top my list and in that order.

 

The crank sensor has been replaced, and I was thinking the ignition switch would be the next to go after, and then the ECM. Thanks for confirming my suspicions!

 

Before you start replacing parts, and spending money, try cleaning the throttle plate in the throttle body. I had a truck that would die at idle or when you let off the throttle as you were going down the road. Never with throttle pressure. The dealer took care of it twice under warranty. When the warranty expired, I did it myself. All you need is some spray throttle body cleaner and some paper towels.

Take the air cleaner body off so you can access the throttle body. Open the plate by hand and spray some cleaner down the throat. Rub the paper towels around and clean it up. Once the towels come out clean, reassemble everything. It will be hard to start at first. All the crud you washed down came from the EGR and PCV valves. One the crud burns off, it will smooth out.

 

Thanks for the tip!

 

did you ever find a solution? im having the same problem with my 97 b3500.