Nobody Can Fix This Recurring Misfire in My 1996 Dodge Ram B2500 Van
From : jep
Q: hello i have a 1996 dodge ram b2500 conversion van. i bought it back in 2001 with 30k and had to put in a new transmission at 60k. that needless to say was lame. but now im having an ongoing problem that started half a year ago and wont go away a random misfire on two of the cylinders. so far several different mechanics have done the following -- replaced the rotor & dist. cap 3 times -- replaced all of the plugs 2 times -- replaced the wires 2 times -- replaced the coil 2 times -- both of these times they noticed it wasnt putting out enough power. -- done a full check on the distributor it was fine -- done a full compression check on all cylinders they were fine -- checked out the o2 sensor it was fine here are some other facts about it forgive me im not so mechanically inclined -- it *seems* to occur when the vehicle is low on gas -- it sometimes has appeared to occur when going over bumps...maybe -- once it starts the whole car will shake. i can get rid of the shaking by putting in high-octane gas and fuel system cleaner usually but the check engine light stays on i.e. the misfire still occurs -- it seemed to start when i took it to a dodge dealer for a tune-up. when i took it to my neighborhood mechanic he noticed they had wired the plugs incorrectly. this was the first time i fixed it though and its been back about 10 times now. has anyone seen this before could it have anything to do with that second transmission with the fuel system the engine mounts these are all theories that friends have posited. help! .
Replies:
From : darklon1
i have a 96 ram and it was badly misfiring. i had a lot of work done on it. the thing that finally fixed it was new injectors. when they were replaced it had 100000 miles on it. if you have a lot of miles it might pay to replace those anyway. you could at least get better gas milage and performance if you plan on keeping the vehicle. hopefully this will help. sean charles atlanta .
From : tom lawrence
by the way -- they also looked at the knock sensor which was fine i guess. is that what they told you the 360 and the 318 for that matter doesnt have a knock sensor... did anyone ever retrieve the codes when the check engine light was on if so what were they .
From : joseph myers
if the misfire is on 5 & 7 drivers side back try separating wires in the loom you are getting cross-fire. this is an old problem with the 360. even if not a 360 it still sounds like crossfire. joe on 22 dec 2003 194956 -0800 jasonpace1@yahoo.com jep wrote hello i have a 1996 dodge ram b2500 conversion van. i bought it back in 2001 with 30k and had to put in a new transmission at 60k. that needless to say was lame. but now im having an ongoing problem that started half a year ago and wont go away a random misfire on two of the cylinders. so far several different mechanics have done the following -- replaced the rotor & dist. cap 3 times -- replaced all of the plugs 2 times -- replaced the wires 2 times -- replaced the coil 2 times -- both of these times they noticed it wasnt putting out enough power. -- done a full check on the distributor it was fine -- done a full compression check on all cylinders they were fine -- checked out the o2 sensor it was fine here are some other facts about it forgive me im not so mechanically inclined -- it *seems* to occur when the vehicle is low on gas -- it sometimes has appeared to occur when going over bumps...maybe -- once it starts the whole car will shake. i can get rid of the shaking by putting in high-octane gas and fuel system cleaner usually but the check engine light stays on i.e. the misfire still occurs -- it seemed to start when i took it to a dodge dealer for a tune-up. when i took it to my neighborhood mechanic he noticed they had wired the plugs incorrectly. this was the first time i fixed it though and its been back about 10 times now. has anyone seen this before could it have anything to do with that second transmission with the fuel system the engine mounts these are all theories that friends have posited. help! .
From : jep
by the way -- they also looked at the knock sensor which was fine i guess. is the crossfire fixed when they reset the computer and then it returns after awhile if the misfire is on 5 & 7 drivers side back try separating wires in the loom you are getting cross-fire. this is an old problem with the 360. even if not a 360 it still sounds like crossfire. joe on 22 dec 2003 194956 -0800 jasonpace1@yahoo.com jep wrote hello i have a 1996 dodge ram b2500 conversion van. i bought it back in 2001 with 30k and had to put in a new transmission at 60k. that needless to say was lame. but now im having an ongoing problem that started half a year ago and wont go away a random misfire on two of the cylinders. so far several different mechanics have done the following -- replaced the rotor & dist. cap 3 times -- replaced all of the plugs 2 times -- replaced the wires 2 times -- replaced the coil 2 times -- both of these times they noticed it wasnt putting out enough power. -- done a full check on the distributor it was fine -- done a full compression check on all cylinders they were fine -- checked out the o2 sensor it was fine here are some other facts about it forgive me im not so mechanically inclined -- it *seems* to occur when the vehicle is low on gas -- it sometimes has appeared to occur when going over bumps...maybe -- once it starts the whole car will shake. i can get rid of the shaking by putting in high-octane gas and fuel system cleaner usually but the check engine light stays on i.e. the misfire still occurs -- it seemed to start when i took it to a dodge dealer for a tune-up. when i took it to my neighborhood mechanic he noticed they had wired the plugs incorrectly. this was the first time i fixed it though and its been back about 10 times now. has anyone seen this before could it have anything to do with that second transmission with the fuel system the engine mounts these are all theories that friends have posited. help! .
From : Annonymous
there is a chrysler service letter out that may cover this problem. look up tsb 19-48-98. this reroutes the plug wires to stop cross firing. it worked fine on my sisters truck. the dealer would replace the spark plugs and fix the problem for about 5000 miles then it would come back. i printed the tsb out and mailed it to my sister. her dealer said that the tsb had been done but they lied. i installed the tsb fix when she came for a visit and the problem was solved and the fuel milage increased about 10 to 15% to boot! it is still working well 70000 miles later. if the spark plug wires are bundled tightly and look neat then you have a problem. i do not think this engine version has a knock sensor. better look it up in a fsm for that year. on 23 dec 2003 070712 -0800 jasonpace1@yahoo.com jep wrote by the way -- they also looked at the knock sensor which was fine i guess. is the crossfire fixed when they reset the computer and then it returns after awhile if the misfire is on 5 & 7 drivers side back try separating wires in the loom you are getting cross-fire. this is an old problem with the 360. even if not a 360 it still sounds like crossfire. joe on 22 dec 2003 194956 -0800 jasonpace1@yahoo.com jep wrote hello i have a 1996 dodge ram b2500 conversion van. i bought it back in 2001 with 30k and had to put in a new transmission at 60k. that needless to say was lame. but now im having an ongoing problem that started half a year ago and wont go away a random misfire on two of the cylinders. so far several different mechanics have done the following -- replaced the rotor & dist. cap 3 times -- replaced all of the plugs 2 times -- replaced the wires 2 times -- replaced the coil 2 times -- both of these times they noticed it wasnt putting out enough power. -- done a full check on the distributor it was fine -- done a full compression check on all cylinders they were fine -- checked out the o2 sensor it was fine here are some other facts about it forgive me im not so mechanically inclined -- it *seems* to occur when the vehicle is low on gas -- it sometimes has appeared to occur when going over bumps...maybe -- once it starts the whole car will shake. i can get rid of the shaking by putting in high-octane gas and fuel system cleaner usually but the check engine light stays on i.e. the misfire still occurs -- it seemed to start when i took it to a dodge dealer for a tune-up. when i took it to my neighborhood mechanic he noticed they had wired the plugs incorrectly. this was the first time i fixed it though and its been back about 10 times now. has anyone seen this before could it have anything to do with that second transmission with the fuel system the engine mounts these are all theories that friends have posited. help! .