Truck shuts off randomly

MICHAEL WILSON2

MEMBER
2000 DODGE RAM
5.9L
V8
2WD
AUTOMATIC
221,000 MILES

Engine shuts off, like Turing key off, while driving. Usually starts back up within couple minutes. Sometimes shuts off two or three times or four mile trip. On a few occasions I have driven a month without it shutting off. I only put about 100 miles a month on the truck. I have replaced battery, coil pack, distributor cap, rotor, distributor pick up coil, ignition switch. It has been doing this for about two years. What could it possibly be?

3 Replies

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

MECHANIC
109,885 POSTS

Welcome to 2CarPros.

What you are describing sounds like a bad crankshaft position sensor. When they go bad, often times the vehicle will stall and then you can restart it. Also, they usually they are affected by heat. If this happens when the vehicle is warm, that can be a contributing factor.

Take a look through these links. They explain symptoms, the sensor purpose, and in general how one is replaced.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-a-crank-shaft-angle-sensor-works

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/symptoms-of-a-bad-crankshaft-sensor

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/crankshaft-angle-sensor-replacement

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Here are the directions for replacement specific to your vehicle. If you have a live data scanner, plug it in and drive. When the engine shuts off, my guess is that you will loose the RPM signal to the scanner. Have a helper hold and watch it while you drive.

PROCEDURES
Crankshaft Position Sensor

Pic 1

REMOVAL
The sensor is bolted to the top of the cylinder block near the rear of right cylinder head.
1. Remove the air cleaner intake tube.
2. Disconnect Crankshaft Position Sensor pigtail harness from main wiring harness.
3. Remove two sensor (recessed hex head) mounting bolts.
4. Remove sensor from engine.

INSTALLATION
1. Position Crankshaft Position Sensor to engine.
2. Install mounting bolts and tighten to 8 Nm (70 in. lbs.) torque.
3. Connect main harness electrical connector to sensor.
4. Install air cleaner tube.

__________________________________

Let me know if this helps or if you have other questions.

Take care,
Joe

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Friday, July 12th, 2019 AT 8:56 PM

MICHAEL WILSON2

MEMBER
9 POSTS

Sorry, that part I failed to mention was replaced. It also does not throwing any codes. I’ve had it into a couple of shops but they said as long as it was running good they didn’t have any way of checking it. Of all the times that it has died which I’ve been a lot over the last two years three or four times on the dash it will pop up no bus.

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Saturday, July 13th, 2019 AT 1:00 AM

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

MECHANIC
109,885 POSTS

Welcome back:

When you get that message, is that when the engine stalls? No bus simply means a loss of communication between modules. Since the engine stalls, I suspect it has to do with the power control module. I attached a brief diagram which is a flow chart to help identify that type of issue. Also, the following was listed below the flow chart.

______________________

SYMPTOM
NO RESP POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE

POSSIBLE CAUSES
- No response PCM bus(+) CKT open
- No response PCM bus(-) CKT open
- Does engine run

_______________________

Now, the first thing I would check is to make sure the connector at the PCM is tight, clean, not corroded, or damaged. Also, don't disconnect it until the battery is disconnected and the PCM must be reconnected before the batter gets reconnected.

Start there and let me know if this helps.

Joe

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