Hey everyone. I have a 99 B3500 5.2L and a few weeks ago while driving, the van started to sputter out. I was able to give it gas and it caught itself and ran fine. It ran great for a while and then a few days or weeks later, while at a stop light, the van started to sputter. I pulled over and the van just sputtered like it was going to die, but it didn't. I shut it off and waited a few minutes and restarted it--it ran fine and I got it home (check engine light came on). Wanting to check it out, I let it sit and a few days later went out to start it--it wouldn't start. It wanted to turn over, but wouldn't. Then it would turn over but not idle--I had to hold the accelerator down to keep it running. Checked it for a code and got none. It did that about 5 times so I gave up for the day. Changed the AIC, distributor cap and rotor, spark plugs, PCV valve, and air filter. Started right up. Drove it around and it ran perfectly. A few days later I took it out and the same thing sputtering like it was going to die on me. Brought it home and went to start it again, would not start. Tried to restart about 5 times, same story--no start. Ohm checked the coil and it was within tolerance. Reconnected it and the battery, van starts right up. Idles smoothly and I take it out for a long ride with no problems. I drive fast, slow, in reverse, stop the van and restart, shift in and out of overdrive, quick take offs, anything I can think of to get it to stall, die or give me an error code--no such luck. Bring it home thinking I have it fixed and the next morning I go out to start it, it starts, idles rough for about 3 minutes and then dies. I check the OBDII and get a P0753 Trans 3-4 Shift Solenoid Relay Circuit code.
Whew--what a mouth full. Now for the question, does a shift solenoid sound like the problem here? Seems to me it must be something else causing the engine to stall. I'd appreciate any input you can give as I am clueless.
Thanks!
stev
03-09-2007, 07:56 PM
D&S,
When you said that you had changed the AIC, did you really mean the IAC ???
Anyways, if it was the IAC, then you onlt did half the job. You need to clean the IAC port hole and basin slot. See the sticky in this forum for Ram Vans or look here:
http://www.dodgetalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=114679
Now that the IAC is fully looked at and cleaned, next check the iginiton coil. AutoZone or Pepeboys should be able to test the coil for the proper Ohm output range for FREE. :)
One last thing that could cause the ignition coil to die prematurely is, performance ignition wires. They will send a stronger blast to the coil and cause it to stay warmer electrically. Over a sort time, the coil will have lived a short life.
There is an earlier TSB (Tecnical Service Bulliten) that states how the ignition wires are to be routed on the engine. If they are routed another way, the ignition system will find a way to short out or cut out the engine from running. I tried hunting for it, but I know it's found at this site: http://dodgeram.info/tsb/index.html
van-nut
03-09-2007, 11:13 PM
I think this is the TSB Stev is talking about.
Oddly, if you look at the list of affected models, nearly every vehicle with a 3.9/5.2/5.9 is listed EXCEPT the AB (Full Size) Vans. I don't know if somebody forgot to put the vans on the list, or if in fact it is correct as is. Strange....
http://www.dodgeram.info/tsb/1998/18-48-98.htm
Pete
gsmagnum
03-10-2007, 01:22 AM
The B-vans get lumped with the Rams with TSB's and recalls.
van-nut
03-10-2007, 08:10 AM
Grant -
Are you sure? The other TSB's specify the van as a specific vehicle when it is applicable to them. Like this one, for example :
http://www.dodgeram.info/tsb/1998/07-09-98.htm
Pete
gsmagnum
03-10-2007, 03:19 PM
When I look stuff up on the NHTSA site, they are lumped.
stev
03-10-2007, 04:51 PM
I agree, the vans are lumped with the trucks. The engines are basically the same with the exception that the vans have the lower profile air-cleaner housing and the air-cleaner hose to the front of the van.
duckandsock
03-18-2007, 04:28 PM
UPDATE
Well I cleaned out the TB and the IAC housing. I also replaced the throttle posisiont sensor. The van starts up everytime now but when I let it idle, it will die within 5-30 minutes. I no longer get the P0753 code--I thought it might be bogus anyway. In fact, I don't get any codes. I will get a check engine light but when I connect my OBD2 reader (Innova 3100c) I get no codes. I am thinking about changing the following parts:
Crankshaft position sensor
Ignition coil
oxygen sensors
but I don't really know in what order I should try these. I guess the coil first since it is the cheapest and easiest--even though it ohmed out ok.
Any suggestions? Thanks!
Parts changed so far:
Cap
Rotor
Plugs
TPS
Air filter
PVC valve
ohmed out ignition coil
ops checked the relays
duckandsock
03-18-2007, 08:16 PM
Update II
It is not the ignition coil. I figured for $30 and a quick install, I might as well try it. Well, it didn't correct the problem. However, the stalling seems to have become a recurring problem which is much easier to troubleshoot than something intermittent. It looks as if from a cold crank, the van will idle great for about 30 minutes. Around 30-35 minutes it will start to stumble and usually dies out in about another 2-3minutes. If I restart the van within 2-3 minutes, I will get about 10-15 minutes of good idle before it starts to stumble and die. So, what I am thinking is that it might be temperature related. It seems like once something warms up, it causes the van to stumble and die. Now I only need to figure out what the "something" is. Any help would be appreciated--it's almost time to take it to the dealer. :(
Thanks
Parts changed so far
Cap
Rotor
Plugs
TPS
Air Filter
PVC valve
Ignition coil
ohm checked the relays
ohm checked the O2 sensors
stev
03-19-2007, 12:28 AM
What oil are you running in that van??? For warmer temps, 10W30 and for cooler temps 5W30. If you have 10W40 in it, I can see why it would heat up too much. But at idle, that shouldn't be an issues I would think.
Have you check the water tempature gauge when this starts to occur? Is the thermastat an issue?
Yes, this does sound strange why it would shut down after time. Hey, why do you need the van to idle that long anyhow???
:)
duckandsock
03-19-2007, 07:44 AM
Stev,
I don't need it to idle that long but the problem was so intermittent before that I am happy to find that I can make it repeat. Before, it would stall out while driving down the road, sometimes after 10 minutes or 30 minutes, or never. Sometimes there would be days between stalls and other times it would stall and then not restart for days. I'm starting to lean towards the PCM.
