not a chevy question but i really need help - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

grady5 · 08-19-2009, 07:11 PM

my 97 dodge ram keeps cutting off and starting back instantly without me doing anything about a year ago it did this and i cleaned the battery terminals and it quit now its back i just replaced the ground cables and no luck. i know this is a chevy forum but there are alot of knowledgable people on here so any help is greatly appreciated

mclairmo · 08-19-2009, 07:14 PM

Check for trouble codes.

cableguy0 · 08-19-2009, 07:43 PM

Is it loosing all power? lights go off gauges die etc? the first place to look is to make sure the wiring harness or wires arent melted on the exhaust or rubbing through and randomly grounding out somewhere. some more details will help narrow it down

chevyboy55 · 08-19-2009, 07:56 PM

Here's a great site for Dodge help. http://www.dodgetalk.com/forums/tech.php

grady5 · 08-19-2009, 08:14 PM

it happens so fast its hard to tell what all goes off its really like less than a second it cuts off and starts back i do know the dash lights all come on then go right back out and the ac will stop blowing actually it sounds like its still blowing but not out of the vents. it does it while coasting or accelerating and sometimes backfires if im on the gas which i guess is expected when it shuts off

cableguy0 · 08-19-2009, 08:23 PM

its got to be a shorted wire to instantly drop and come right back. no one component controls everything that could cause everything to shut off all at once. any particular time it does it?

grady5 · 08-19-2009, 08:25 PM

all the time i live 3 miles from work and it does it at least twice from here to there

cableguy0 · 08-19-2009, 08:27 PM

its possible its a bad ignition switch. play with the switch while the truck is running and see if you can get it to shut off just be careful not to turn the key off

grady5 · 08-19-2009, 08:29 PM

thanks ill try that i also read it could be weak battery so i"m going to let it charge overnight but the battery is only a couple of months old

cableguy0 · 08-19-2009, 08:35 PM

the battery does nothing but start the vehicle. i wouldnt worry about charging it. the alternator runs the electronics while the vehicle is running but still wouldnt cause the truck to cut out like you describe. if the alternator was bad the truck would run until the battery finally died

grady5 · 08-19-2009, 08:40 PM

thanks tomorrow i will play with the switch and check for any signs of a shorted out wire thanks for your help

08-19-2009, 07:11 PM	#1
grady5 Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: north carolina Posts: 80	not a chevy question but i really need help my 97 dodge ram keeps cutting off and starting back instantly without me doing anything about a year ago it did this and i cleaned the battery terminals and it quit now its back i just replaced the ground cables and no luck. i know this is a chevy forum but there are alot of knowledgable people on here so any help is greatly appreciated

08-19-2009, 07:14 PM	#2
mclairmo Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Take Off Posts: 1,908	Re: not a chevy question but i really need help Check for trouble codes.

08-19-2009, 07:43 PM	#3
cableguy0 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Delta,Pa Posts: 14,950	Re: not a chevy question but i really need help Is it loosing all power? lights go off gauges die etc? the first place to look is to make sure the wiring harness or wires arent melted on the exhaust or rubbing through and randomly grounding out somewhere. some more details will help narrow it down __________________ Owner of North Point Car Care in Dundalk Md. We specialize in custom exhaust on both modern and classic vehicles. We are a full service auto shop from classics to modern vehicles. Feel free to contact me with questions. I will give a 10% discount to any board member.

08-19-2009, 07:56 PM	#4
chevyboy55 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Kelso,Wa Posts: 3,637	Re: not a chevy question but i really need help Here's a great site for Dodge help. http://www.dodgetalk.com/forums/tech.php __________________ Great minds think alike,So do ours

08-19-2009, 08:14 PM	#5
grady5 Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: north carolina Posts: 80	Re: not a chevy question but i really need help it happens so fast its hard to tell what all goes off its really like less than a second it cuts off and starts back i do know the dash lights all come on then go right back out and the ac will stop blowing actually it sounds like its still blowing but not out of the vents. it does it while coasting or accelerating and sometimes backfires if im on the gas which i guess is expected when it shuts off

08-19-2009, 08:23 PM	#6
cableguy0 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Delta,Pa Posts: 14,950	Re: not a chevy question but i really need help its got to be a shorted wire to instantly drop and come right back. no one component controls everything that could cause everything to shut off all at once. any particular time it does it? __________________ Owner of North Point Car Care in Dundalk Md. We specialize in custom exhaust on both modern and classic vehicles. We are a full service auto shop from classics to modern vehicles. Feel free to contact me with questions. I will give a 10% discount to any board member.

08-19-2009, 08:25 PM	#7
grady5 Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: north carolina Posts: 80	Re: not a chevy question but i really need help all the time i live 3 miles from work and it does it at least twice from here to there

08-19-2009, 08:27 PM	#8
cableguy0 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Delta,Pa Posts: 14,950	Re: not a chevy question but i really need help its possible its a bad ignition switch. play with the switch while the truck is running and see if you can get it to shut off just be careful not to turn the key off __________________ Owner of North Point Car Care in Dundalk Md. We specialize in custom exhaust on both modern and classic vehicles. We are a full service auto shop from classics to modern vehicles. Feel free to contact me with questions. I will give a 10% discount to any board member.

08-19-2009, 08:29 PM	#9
grady5 Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: north carolina Posts: 80	Re: not a chevy question but i really need help thanks ill try that i also read it could be weak battery so i"m going to let it charge overnight but the battery is only a couple of months old

08-19-2009, 08:35 PM	#10
cableguy0 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Delta,Pa Posts: 14,950	Re: not a chevy question but i really need help the battery does nothing but start the vehicle. i wouldnt worry about charging it. the alternator runs the electronics while the vehicle is running but still wouldnt cause the truck to cut out like you describe. if the alternator was bad the truck would run until the battery finally died __________________ Owner of North Point Car Care in Dundalk Md. We specialize in custom exhaust on both modern and classic vehicles. We are a full service auto shop from classics to modern vehicles. Feel free to contact me with questions. I will give a 10% discount to any board member.

08-19-2009, 08:40 PM	#11
grady5 Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: north carolina Posts: 80	Re: not a chevy question but i really need help thanks tomorrow i will play with the switch and check for any signs of a shorted out wire thanks for your help



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