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95 1500 5.9 Ram Timing issue.

3K views 31 replies 10 participants last post by  mopar96 
#1 · (Edited)
My 95 Ram 1500 4x4 5.9 360 V8 acts like it is stalling while at 1/2-3/4 throttle, typically when I move my foot a little, typically after a few miles driving at full temperature, but its not consistent, and I cant cause it when I have time to look at it. Some times it back fires, some times it just falls on its face then picks right back up, sometimes it takes a bit of cranking to start, some times it starts right away. Its also developing a rough idle and stalling condition when it idles for a minute in park or neutral. Exhaust smokes white when cold but its not using coolant, burns about 2 quarts of oil every few thousand miles exhaust pipe has a nice sooty black, as it always has been.
Problem started occurring after my trip to Silver Lake last weekend.

So, I am leaning to the Crank Sensor, might explain the white smoke as not enough advance and unburnt fuel, and not burning hot enough would also explain the carbon build up, and the occasional miss, also had a tune up about 10K miles ago.
 
#2 ·
I think I was wrong, got it to act up again today, when I unplugged the TPS it started and ran down the road, but for obvious reasons stalled when I came to a stop.

I don't even think this truck has a crank sensor TBH, I can't find the damn thing if it does...
 
#4 ·
Cat? I killed that a while ago...
My truck hasn't thrown a code since this started, it was throwing 02 codes before, but that is because the cat is hollow and its not in the direct stream of the exhaust... can change the 02 sensor and get another 02 code 5 minutes later. I guess this could point to another problem... but I haven't been able to pin anything down and it ran GOOD until the last few weeks, however, it wasn't until on the way home last Saturday that it became nearly undriveable.
Also, when its acting up it wont idle. The idle was good up until 2 weeks ago but it wasn't erratic enough to warrant any investigation until now.
 
#7 ·
Do you have a IAC on that, cause mine did that stall at stop signs and what have you and I unplugged it and ran fine, so left it that way.

Can't say I know much about Dodges, as they are built by a crap company :sonicjay:
 
#12 ·
PCM controls the timing, the only sensor inside the distributor is a cam position sensor.
Also, the truck should have a crank position sensor, on the trans bellhousing, somewhere near the oil pressure sender, as the service information I have states that the OPS and EGR tube may need to be removed for access.
 
#19 · (Edited)
the gauge in the dash is showing 200-210 there is only one temp sensor on this motor. If I could get a scanner on this one I would have done it :( damn thing is 2 peace plug, and I dont have the right connector for it, nor can I find one

sounds like a case of dead pedel ?
ok, explain more?

It was running fine around town in the cooler weather, but when I ran up to Fremont today it flipped out on me as soon as I got off 131 @ post drive, backfiring and feeling like I was stomping the pedal then letting go... When I unplug the throttle position sensor it stops backfiring and there is a narrower area where the throttle jumps up and down.
 
#21 ·
Already changed it. Replaced the MAP sensor and tried a alternate IAC checked electrical connections, even checked my air filter and PVC valve.
It gets resonalbe to run down the road (still no really drivable) when I unplug the TPS because it stops backfiring at 3/4 throttle, still get the bad slamming like the fuel pump is switching on and off. But if it was the pump I dont think it would back fire, and if it was the regulator I think it would be more consistant.

I am going to try picking up a computer for it next because at this point it just seems like its not reading the sensors right.
 
#23 ·
things that control timming- crank sensor ( bellhousing) cam sensor ( dist), tps, map, coolant temp, iac, egr. i belive there is more but i can not remeber them. you hollowed out your cat? this did not start then? on the 95 i belive there is only one 02 sensor before the cat. so the cat should nto affect anything, becasue nothing is monotoring it afterwards. so your fuel pressure is a little low, but acceptable. if you are throwing a 02 code i would chase the wires, could be a broken wire causing it to miss fire.
do you have a oil leak? on my 94 it was sputtering and then just quit and would not run, took me 2 months to find the probelm. the crank senor got shorted out by oil from my rear mail oil leak. this will affect the timming and cause it to back fire.

do you smell fuel? if you smell fuel then you need to lean towards air. i mean, look for the sensors that control fuel to air ratio. i.e. tps, iac, fuel pressure, egr.

it sounds like the egr is stuck open. or partialy open. and my guess is when you unplug the tps the computer freaks, goes in to a base mode where it fuels according to rpm and doesnt worry about emmissions. so you can increase the air intake amount and correct the air to fuel ratio.


also check your grounds, dodge uses one ground for mutilpe sensors. they also like to use power for multiple sensors.

i have also heard of the plenum gasket leaking, causeing a rought idle, backfire and using of oil. the plenum is under the intake.

btw, you can reach the crank senor with out removing anything. ive done it many times.
 
#24 ·
Thanks for the tips.

Long story short the O2 was shot, I unplugged that and my fuel economy went way up, EGR is also blocked off but I don't think that was the problem, my truck is burning oil and I think the 02 was leaning out the mix too much. The EGR can stay blocked off since apparently I am getting oil and junk inside my intake so why make it worst? Not to mention that I might be getting more than 10mpg with it blocked off so it can just stay that way, that 9mpg shit sucks. This also effected my Torque converter lock up and my automatics shifting, why? who the fuck knows, but the trans that I thought was going to take a shit on me now acts like its almost new.

And yes, the 95 has 1 o2 sensor before the cat.
 
#28 ·
i just read this and i was going to point it at the O2 my self.. my ranger was doing the exact same thing and i was thinking all of the same things.. i also never changed o2s because i wasnt getting codes for o2s but a friend of mine looked and it and unplugged the o2 and it runs great now..

but glad you got it running good again ready to go play in the water up at silver again ?
 
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