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Spitting and sputtering

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My truck started acting up recently. While driving it will stall or die. I have 19 psi fuel pressure, the fuel filter is new, no codes. It starts fine and idles fine, but once I'm driving it will stall out for just a second and come back or completely die. If it dies, then it won't start again for anywhere from hours to days. Any help is appreciated. 

99 Dodge Ram 3500 5.9l diesel

Here is a video of 6 times it stalled today.
https://youtu.be/jkYmQii0C4c

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  • dripley
    dripley

    The ECM controls the WTS light. Could be in there also. I had an ECM failure but did not set a code for it either.    When it dies for hours or days does the WTS light come on at key on. If

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Hard to tell whats going on in the video. I do see the WTS light flashing on and off thru it all. How are you checking for codes? How are you monitoring the fuel pressure?

  • Author

I cropped the video to just show the stalls. I can upload the whole thing. I am getting no codes with my obd2 scanner. I'm monitoring the fuel pressure with a gauge tapped into the fuel rail and had it under the wiper. Whenever it stalls the WTS comes on like I just turned the key on. The ABS and Brake light have been on since I purchased the truck but have never been an issue.

https://youtu.be/v1vHygPkOpQ Here is the full length if it helps any. I just cut out all of the in between driving for the shorter video.

When I am thinking "stall" i am thinking shutting down. I saw them WTS flash on and off 4 times while the engine was running. That seems odd to me but dont really know what it could mean. Maybe an ECM issue, just dont really know.

It's almost like a lose wire, I believe there is a relay in PDC for the pump, you can check that. 

  • Author
  On 4/23/2019 at 11:23 AM, dripley said:

When I am thinking "stall" i am thinking shutting down. I saw them WTS flash on and off 4 times while the engine was running. That seems odd to me but dont really know what it could mean. Maybe an ECM issue, just dont really know.

Yeah, it cuts out completely and that's what causes the wts to come on. You can hear it in the video.

  On 4/23/2019 at 11:53 AM, Dieselfuture said:

It's almost like a lose wire, I believe there is a relay in PDC for the pump, you can check that. 

Okay, I'll look into the relay. I've been chasing wires but haven't found anything loose yet.

It wouldn't be the IP would it?

  On 4/23/2019 at 7:07 PM, Duffamongus said:

It wouldn't be the IP would it?

Possible, sometimes the problem is in PSG on top of vp, with time solder crystallizes and causes loose connection. Some say you can run cold water over the computer when it attacks up and see if that helps. Sometimes they don't set codes and hard to troubleshoot. 

The ECM controls the WTS light. Could be in there also. I had an ECM failure but did not set a code for it either. 

 

When it dies for hours or days does the WTS light come on at key on. If its warm outside it will only light very briefly so watch closely. 

Edited by dripley

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    • Author

    Yeah, the WTS still comes on briefly. It cranks when its acting up, just doesn't fire. I've been messing with it today. No lose wires, relays are good, alternator is good, fuel pressure is good. Is there a way to test the PSG?

    You might try giving ACS a call and describe the problem to them. They are in the vendors list. That WTS light has me thinking ECM. But I would not condem one on one of my hunches. 

    So with hot wiring VP it runs fine? And if it sits and idles all plugged in factory way, it acts up? If so maybe your ECM is going out. When you do hot wire test ECM is not in control of it anymore. But it's kind of sucks you can only idle it with that test.

    • Author

    Here's the rub though, it usually only happens when I'm driving. The only time it's happened while I'm in park is if I stop while it's happening. It idles in park just fine. 

    Al the more reason to talk with ACS or someone that knows these ECM's. You might have to send it off and have tested. It would be worth the phone call. These ECM's do some strange things when they start to fail. 

    • 2 weeks later...
    • Author

    Hey all, sorry I haven't responded in a while. Life got hectic and have been running about 4 hours of sleep a night.  I haven't had a chance to call ACS yet, hopefully this week. I have a crankshaft position sensor I'm going to replace this week and see how that helps. I have gotten no farther in figuring this one out yet though.

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