Dodge B150 dies when driving and starting problems

Ask our auto mechanics for help to all your Dodge and Chrysler questions.
MichaelBanzer
Posts: 1
Joined: Sat Jul 20, 2013 3:43 pm

Dodge B150 dies when driving and starting problems

Unread post by MichaelBanzer » Sat Jul 20, 2013 3:44 pm

I have 1989 dodge b150 6 cylinder that i bought 3 months ago and it worked fine and then one day i try to start it and just got a clicking noise and the next morning i tried to start it and it ran fine for a month then a month i drove around and parked car to talk on phone and it wouldnt start again and had clicking noise and i had to have it towed home.

The next morning it started fine and ran for 2 weeks then it wouldnt start and had clicking noise again so i asked people what to do and the battery voltage tested okay and i got a new starter from autozone and installed it and it still had the clicking noise after the new starter.

So i asked autozone what to do and i tighten and clean the battery terminals and it started but it was stubborn to start but it started so i drove it around the block and 1 hour later i tried to start again and it wouldnt start so i tightened the battery terminals more and added petreleum jelly and it started. The next day wouldnt start again with the clicking noise... i am not sure tightening the battery cables was related to it starting because it seemed to be starting unpredictably anyway.

So it wouldnt start anymore no matter what I did so i charged the battery and jump started it and tested it's voltage (said it was okay) and it still would not start and it had a new starter and everything.
I went to autozone with the old starter (the new one was installed in the vehicle) and the battery and they both tested fine and autozone charged the battery and said:
1. try to start with the charged battery
2. try to use a screwdriver and press it onto both terminals of the starter to start it that way
3. if it still doesn't start follow the clicking noise to locate it

I did all 3 of those things and #2 just made sparks but it wouldn't start and #3 i followed the clicking noise to an item i took a picture of... later they looked at the picture and told me it was the starter relay so i bought a new one... before replacing the starter relay i brought the battery to be tested for a 2nd opinion and it tested fine and on the way out i accidently dropped it and it cracked so i had to buy a new one... i also bought new battery terminal connectors.

Before i installed the new starter relay i installed the new battery and the same exact clicking noise happened... no turn over etc.
After i installed the starter relay the clicking noise disappeared but it was basically the same problem... it was just a faint grumbling noise and the engine would not turn over and van would not start.
i was still using the battery terminal connectors from the old battery so now i removed the old negative one and unsheathed some wires and put it in a new one and after replacing the negative battery terminal connector the car turned over and the engine sounded like it was very close to starting but wouldn't start but at least now it was turning over.

I replaced the positive terminal connector and the same thing happened.
I tightened and made sure all connectors were very clean and nothing would start and i jump started the battery and volt tested it to be okay because i figured i was draining it from attempting to start so many times.

I took a break and 2 days later i tried to start the van and it started instantly on the first try so i went to drive it to autozone immediately to have alternater and everything tested but on the way there (it is a very short trip) when i pushed on the gas pedal the engine did not rev up but i pushed on it again and it worked and i drove through a park with very steep hills just fine and after going through the park i pushed the gas and it wouldnt do anything and eventually the van stopped and i couldn't get it to start no matter what... the engine would turn over and sounded very close to starting but wouldn't start.

I had to have the van tolled home and i took a break and 2 days later i turned the key and it started instantly but i am too afraid to drive it and i waited 5 minutes and turned the key again and it started instantly so i turned it off and now i am not sure what to do next.

I am novice at auto repair so this is first project for me... i realize that 1989 b150 is old and, financially, i can get a better replacement vehicle but i want to fix this van for personal education purposes.
review:
1. wouldn't start with clicking sound... car ran fine for 1.5 months after buying it without any problem
2. new starter, new battery, new battery connectors, new starter relay
3. now it starts but unpredictably... no more clicking sound and the engine turns over and i am afraid to drive it because it might die again.
Any help is appreciated.

User avatar
carriedi
Posts: 2573
Joined: Wed Apr 10, 2013 12:42 pm

Re: Dodge B150 dies when driving and starting problems

Unread post by carriedi » Sat Jul 20, 2013 11:17 pm

In order to find your problem you are going to have to run the truck until it dies and check for what is missing. Spark, fuel pressure and injector pulse. Auto shut down relay, fuel pump, distributor pick up signal, SMEC, coil, distributor rotor, shorting injector... But you can only check when the vehicle turns over but won't start.
start it up and just let it idle for a while. maybe half an hour. then turn it off and see if restarts. If it cranks over and doesn't restart then you can start testing.
Browse "SIMILAR TOPICS" At The Bottom Of This Page.

dickt
Posts: 2
Joined: Sat Sep 19, 2015 7:41 am

engine stall while idling

Unread post by dickt » Sat Sep 19, 2015 7:45 am

89 B250 5.2L, auto. While idling to warmup engine, sometimes now, it will die, most times it will startup immediately. check engine light comes on and stays. At wits end and need some help to figure out what is the problem. dick

User avatar
carriedi
Posts: 2573
Joined: Wed Apr 10, 2013 12:42 pm

Re: engine stall while idling

Unread post by carriedi » Tue Sep 22, 2015 9:58 pm

if the check engine light stays on the best thing to do is scan for codes and see what the engine computer says. It may tell you what the problem is. Or at least point you in a direction to go.
Browse "SIMILAR TOPICS" At The Bottom Of This Page.

dickt
Posts: 2
Joined: Sat Sep 19, 2015 7:41 am

Re: engine stall while idling

Unread post by dickt » Wed Sep 23, 2015 6:54 am

Good morning, thank yu for your reply. I, at this time, believe the problem may be solved, with a pickup coil in the distributor. I have a donor van and started replacing some parts, according to what I could figure out with the factory manual, and for the last couple days, the van is or seems to be back to normal. Regarding "codes", I never received any codes using the "check engine light" cycle, it always came on, then almost immediately disapeared. Thank yu again for your help. dickt

User avatar
carriedi
Posts: 2573
Joined: Wed Apr 10, 2013 12:42 pm

Re: engine stall while idling

Unread post by carriedi » Wed Sep 23, 2015 8:36 pm

Congrats. glad you found the problem. Many times chryslers with fuel injection have a problem with throttle body coking. The dirt build up in the throttle plates and the throttle body will reduce your minimum air flow and will cause stalling if the computer cannot react fast enough and open the idle air control before the air is cut off to the engine.

so, your check engine light may have come on because the engine died. It will stay on until you restart the engine. Once the engine is running the light should go off again. So there wouldn't be any code. Check engine light comes on when the key is on and the engine isn't running.
Browse "SIMILAR TOPICS" At The Bottom Of This Page.

  • Similar Topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post