Help! Truck dies suddenly

Hi I am new to this site and have done TONS of searching. I have a 95 Ram 5.2 and I am having a bunch of issues. First I have changed the crank sensor, IAC, and ignition coil. I am having a problem with the truck dieing almost like light switch, it will only do it within the first 15 minutes of driving then i have to pull over and crank and crank until it fires up then it will run fine. Also now i am getting RPMs jumping all over like 500-1500. It has become a daily occurrence now. I feel it is and electrical problem the way it just shuts off driving down the road, but also the trans is a little rough in 4th so maybe TPS? but the way it shuts down seems more electrical. Any help would be much appreciated.

Might be worth doing a basic tuneup first, rotor cap/plugs/wires before further diagnosis.
Also might help to view the engine running at night to see if you can eyeball any arcing. If you are not getting a CEL, probably not a sensor.

when it dies have you tried to see if you are getting any spark before it starts

No it usually does it about 10-15 min into driving so Im usually on the road. It is now having the RPMS jump around like crazy while dying and was even dead and they were jumping then just zeroed. Its weird because its usually in the first 10 mins but now getting more frequent. Ive also swapped asd relays to see if that would work with no luck.

Also like to add the rpms were jumping up, first to 3000, then 4, then 5 then buried the needle then just back to 0. All while the truck was coasting down the road dead while trying to pull over.

Im thinking Cam sensor, any thoughts?

Im thinking Cam sensor, any thoughts?

You should have replaced the cam sensor along with the crank. They work in tandem.

well i replaced the cam sensor and it still dying. Except now when it dies the fuel pump stays on and I can hear the plugs firing and the rpms still jumping( all while the key is in the start position. )

I swear it almost exactly the same time, roughly 10-15 after starting that it dies. But now it does it more frequently after the initial stall.

try replacing the engine computer

Originally Posted by 95ramjersey

well i replaced the cam sensor and it still dying. Except now when it dies the fuel pump stays on and I can hear the plugs firing and the rpms still jumping( all while the key is in the start position. )

If you can hear the plugs firing then it must be jumping spark some place, that is the only time I have ever heard sparking. You might be hearing the injectors clicking

since it is doing it more often have some one crank it while you check for spark at the plugs while cranking? If it shuts off at home I would also check to see if you are getting power to the coil after it shuts off

ok so now im stuck, Ive replaced the plugs, cap, rotor, cam sensor, TPS, crank sensor, IAC. Today i did the plugs,cap, rotor, and TPS and i fired right up then died. Now i cant seem to get it started again, I am trying to get someone to come over so i can test for spark but right now im stuck. It was at least running on friday now i did those few things and we wont restart after it died. I replaced the crank sensor about a month ago, is there a chance that my problem is that, maybe faulty or damaged. Thanks any help greatly appreciated.

also now im getting a 11,12, and 37 code
11-no crank reference signal at PCM
12- Battery diconnect( I had the battery disconnected)
37- Trans temp sensor voltage

Starting to sound like a PCM issue, or a wire feeding it, or somewhere else in the electrical system.

You can check spark single handed. Pull a wire and stick a screw driver in.
Balance it in such a fashion that the plastic handle only is on any metal, and part or all the metal stem an inch or so from metal - Might help to have a block of wood or clothes pin to make sure it doesn't touch metal, yet is no further than an inch away.
Do this in a position where you'll be able to see it in the large gap when the hood is popped, and give her a crank - Helps alot if it is a bit dark.

Just got done doing that the old fashion way testing spark and I am not getting any spark from to the wire from the coil.

Is there any way to test with a meter for a bad PCM or should i test all the connections for the crank/cam sensor and coil connection?

11-no crank reference signal at PCM

I have 11 as a intermittent loss of either cam or crank sensor. The pcm needs both signals to know when to fire the coil.

Is there a way to test the crank sensor without just replacing it? Its not the cheapest sensor and only a month old

Ok so its been a little while but i finally had time to swap PCMs and its still stalling, tach jumping, at first it fired right up and then in about 10 mins it just stalled then hits hard to start or will then just die or crank and crank, im lost. As stated above i've replace crank sensor/cam sensor/rotor/cap/plugs/IAC/TPS/swapped ASD relay and now PCM. Disconnected the battery and then checked codes and still have 11, 12, and 37 stored.