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1998 Dodge Ram engine will not shut off

Tiny
SADAMS2
  • MEMBER
  • 1998 DODGE RAM
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 129,000 MILES
I recently bought a a 1998 Dodge Ram 1500 at an auction. The engine starts and runs fine but when I turn the key to the off position, the engine will not shut off. I have to pull the engine control fuse on the main fuse box under the hood to kill the engine. It is not the key cylinder or the wheel lock control. With the key in the off position, the electric windows and turn signals do not operate but the abs, air bag, and brake warning lights stay on and the set belt warning bell keeps sounding. I have to disconnect the battery to get these lights to turn off. I would like to know what it is exactly that is supposed to kill the engine when the key is turned off. That way maybe I can back trace the problem.
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Monday, November 3rd, 2008 AT 5:17 PM

20 Replies

Tiny
JAMES W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 2,394 POSTS
When you reconnect the battery cable, is everything normal until you start it again? When you turn the key to "on" not start, do all the warning lights come on normally and then go off when you start it?
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Tuesday, November 4th, 2008 AT 2:21 AM
Tiny
SADAMS2
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  • 17 POSTS
No. When the battery is re-connected, all the dashboard warning lights come on even though the key is still in the off position. The lights go out once the engine is started.
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Tuesday, November 4th, 2008 AT 7:57 PM
Tiny
JAMES W.
  • MECHANIC
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Everything points to a bad ignition switch. Apparently, when you turn the key to "off" the contacts in the switch are not opening the ignition contacts.
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Wednesday, November 5th, 2008 AT 2:06 PM
Tiny
SADAMS2
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  • 17 POSTS
Sorry, I have already tried replacing the ignition switch. It did not solve the problem. In fact I have had the entire ignition switch assembly completely disconnected and the truck continues to run.
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Wednesday, November 5th, 2008 AT 7:24 PM
Tiny
JAMES W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 2,394 POSTS
This is a good one. It's problems like this that keep me awake at night. Do you have any aftermarket equipment hooked up, ie; CD player, radio or tach? I'm looking for something that would backfeed the ign system.
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Thursday, November 6th, 2008 AT 11:10 AM
Tiny
SADAMS2
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  • 17 POSTS
It has me completely stumped too. No aftermarket equipment-radio has been removed.
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Thursday, November 6th, 2008 AT 7:57 PM
Tiny
JAMES W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 2,394 POSTS
I've got to see this on through. When find the problem, it's going to be interesting. Have you tried this? Start the vehicle, turn the key off letting the motor run and srart pulling fuses one at a time until it dies. If it dies, what fuse killed it? If it doesn't die after all the fuses are pulled, then we have to look at fuseable links. Let me know, Jim.
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Friday, November 7th, 2008 AT 5:40 AM
Tiny
SADAMS2
  • MEMBER
  • 17 POSTS
As stated in November 3rd entry, I am currently pulling the engine control 2 fuse to kill the engine. I will have to experiment to see if others will kill it also. I believe the engine control 2 fuse corresponds to the fuel pump but not sure. I will test this out and get back to you.
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Saturday, November 8th, 2008 AT 6:35 AM
Tiny
SADAMS2
  • MEMBER
  • 17 POSTS
With the key in the off position and the alternator disconnected, I found that the fuses marked BATT, Engine Control 1, Engine Control 2 all killed the engine. I also found that pulling the fuel system and ASD relays killed the engine. The only one I found that killed power to the dashboard lights was the one marked BATT. Any idea what this means? With the BATT fuse out I could start and run the engine normally and could turn the engine off with the ignition switch!
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Sunday, November 9th, 2008 AT 3:18 PM
Tiny
JAMES W.
  • MECHANIC
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Do you have or have access to a fax? My cut and paste is down, but I could fax you some diagrams if you want, Jim.
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Monday, November 10th, 2008 AT 7:18 AM
Tiny
SADAMS2
  • MEMBER
  • 17 POSTS
Jim,

You can fax diagrams to. Attn: Steve. Thanks
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Monday, November 10th, 2008 AT 7:54 AM
Tiny
SADAMS2
  • MEMBER
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Not sure if "pm" I sent got through. Not sure what I am supposed to do with the diagrams you sent. Too small and faded to make anything out. If the problem is in the computer itself, and the fuse feeds the computer, I would think the engine would not start and run with the fuse removed. Any ideas about what I should do next?
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Monday, November 10th, 2008 AT 7:27 PM
Tiny
JAMES W.
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Steve, a couple questions. Is this a conversion van? You have 2 fuse blocks. 1- power distribution block, under the hood. 2-power junction block, under the dash. What # fuse did you pull out of which block to kill the motor? Please let me know, asap. Jim
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Tuesday, November 11th, 2008 AT 2:17 PM
Tiny
SADAMS2
  • MEMBER
  • 17 POSTS
Jim,

No this is not a conversion van. It is a quad-cab pickup. Yes, there is one fuse block under the hood, left of the steering column and two under the dash, one on each end. I pulled fuse #1 from the fuse block under the hood. That killed power to the ignition system when the key is off. Everything seems to be working normally now with the fuse out.
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Tuesday, November 11th, 2008 AT 3:52 PM
Tiny
JAMES W.
  • MECHANIC
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Steve,
I found some different wiring diagrams for your pickup. When you get a chance, would you check both terminals of the socket for #1 fuse (fuse out) with a test light? Key on, engine running. If my hunch is correct, both sides will be hot. Let me know. Jim
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Tuesday, November 11th, 2008 AT 7:54 PM
Tiny
SADAMS2
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O.K. With the key on, engine running, both sides of the #1 fuse socket are hot. With engine and key off, one side is hot.
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Wednesday, November 12th, 2008 AT 7:29 AM
Tiny
JAMES W.
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OK, When the key is turned to "off" the #1 fuse, coming from the battery, is back feeding the ignition circuit. That is why it won't kill the motor. I'll search some more and get back to you, Jim.
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Wednesday, November 12th, 2008 AT 11:41 AM
Tiny
DOCFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
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Ithink you have a faulty PCM
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Wednesday, November 12th, 2008 AT 11:54 AM
Tiny
SADAMS2
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That doesn't sound like good news. Any way to confirm that besides replacing it?
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Wednesday, November 12th, 2008 AT 9:33 PM
Tiny
JAMES W.
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It's not a big deal. The power control module. PCM, is located on the firewall by the wiper motor. I wouldn't be afraid of putting in a used one. They very rarely go bad.
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Thursday, November 13th, 2008 AT 11:19 AM

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