2000 Dodge Ram died

MWHITE14

MEMBER
2000 DODGE RAM
V8
2WD
AUTOMATIC
125,000 MILES

2000 Dodge Ram. My husband was driving the truck one day when it died. He said he was able to come to a rolling stop but now it wont even turn over, all it does is sort of one click sound or maybe even a locked up click sound (if that makes sense) He did have an oil leak prior to this, where he had to add oil weekly, but he swears it wasn't out of oil. On top of it all, this happened over 45 miles away so you can imagine the tow bill. We have not had it checked out assuming the engine is locked and needs replaced. Someone told him that a dodge engine had some kind of auto shutoff if the oil pump quits so the engine will not lock. Can you tell me if this is true, where it is, if it could be something else or what you think is going on.

1 Reply

CARADIODOC

MECHANIC
33,911 POSTS

The multiple symptoms are not consistent with one single problem. Two things that come to mind are a failed alternator that would cause the battery to run down while driving so the engine would eventually stall, and a failed crankshaft position sensor or camshaft position sensor. A missing signal from one of those would tell the Engine Computer the engine had stopped running, (potentially due to a ruptured fuel line in a crash), so it would turn off the automatic shutdown (ASD) relay to turn off the fuel pump and ignition coil. Those sensors often fail when they get warm, then work again after they cool down for about an hour.

The place to start is by measuring battery voltage with an inexpensive digital voltmeter. If it is considerably less than 12.6 volts, use a battery charger to recharge it at a slow rate for an hour, then see if the engine will start.

There is no low-oil shutdown. The driver is supposed to watch the gauges and warning lights on the dash.