i have an 86 doge van with terrible, random detonation, it has a mind of its own. its like 3 seconds of ping and clatter 3 seconds off 2 seconds ping and clatter it is totally random and when it pings it is nasty! it seems to have fluctuating timing. on some rare ocassiions it will run perfectly but mostly the random detonation. i have good vacum, a new fuel pump, a new spark control computer, and a bill i paid to the dealer who did not find the problem. any ideas? i would greatly appreciate an answer. Thank you Steve

 

I know this doesn't apply to your year but it's a cheap fix if it works.

V6 - http://dodgeram.info/tsb/1998/18-48-98/18-48-98-v6.htm
V8 - http://dodgeram.info/tsb/1998/18-48-98/18-48-98-v8.htm

 

if that is the problem and this doesnt fix it, he may have bad wires too. In the work that was done, that doesnt seem to have been looked at. The dealer *should* have looked at this, the plugs and the coil though. Most dealers at this point don't have techs old enough to understand a carborated engine. At least that is my impression from my rare visits to thir parts departments.