It stalls when I drive it sometimes it starts right away?

JEFF DUESTERBECK

MEMBER
DODGE RAM

Hi, I have 1999 1500 dodge ram truck with a 5.9 gas engine, auto trans, with 125,000 miles on it. My problem is it stalls when I drive it sometimes it starts right away, sometimes it has to sit awhile, then it will start. Sometimes it will stall at an idle also.I thought it was the fuel pump so I replaced it.I drove it for a couple weeks with no problems, then it started to stall randomly again.I took it to a local mechanic for diagnostic check and he found no code alarms. They went over the truck looking for ground problems and said it was the connection to the computer.I got the truck back and it is the same, stalls then starts up and runs fine.I called the mechanic back and he said it is the computer and I should replace it.I am getting the feeling he doesn't know what the problem is either. Should I take it to a dealer mechanic?One of the times it stalled, in the odometer window it said "no bus". When it does stall the fuel gage reads empty, when I know there is fuel in it.I turn the key off and back on and if the gas gage reads there is a fuel level it will start, if still no fuel level it will just crank over with no start up.
any help will be appreciated, jeff

1 Reply

DPWD23

MECHANIC
136 POSTS

I would take it to a dealer or a mechanic that specializes in Dodge vehicles. They will have a scan tool that can identify all the components on the BUS network, and compare that to what's in the vehicle to identify where the problem is.
You could try taking out the PCM and plugging it back in to see if that will help, but I bet that's what your mechanic did.
You can try unplugging the instrument cluster, leaving it disconnected for a short while and plugging it back in. I have read numerous situations where this actually works. The only other way is to try unplugging each and every component one by one (which you have to take out panels and stuff to get to). I'd recomend taking it to someone with the proper scan tool (not cheap little one, the dealer ones have modules they put in for vehicle specific stuff).