91 Dakota intermitent stalling problem-HELP

Romes99 · #1 04-03-2006, 05:52 PM

1991 Dakota SE (plain jane model, no cruise, elect. anything). Driving down road about a month ago.....stalled. 2 min. later, started and went just fine. Now doing it every few blocks. Anybody ever run into this problem and figure out what it was??? I already replaced the coil and ECM (computer). No luck. I've got plenty of fuel pressure. Having trouble with intermitent spark. Now it won't start at all.

OneBadKota · #2 04-04-2006, 02:42 AM

It could be the fuel pump. I had a similar issue with that.

moparmanewulm · #3 04-21-2006, 08:09 AM

thats the only thing i can think of to. the pump may have the right psi but its so shot that it will cut out and not work.

moparleyj@yahoo.com · #4 05-12-2006, 08:29 PM

Same problem but now it will not fire. Changed the fuel pump and fuel filter but now no power to the coil. Any ideas out there. It only has 211.000 on it so barely broken in.

dodgerules86 · #5 05-13-2006, 02:41 AM

"no power to the coil"
// Info coming from a 96 Dakota. I'm sure operation hasn't changed too much.//
It may be the Automatic Shutdown Relay (ASD).
Check, of course, to make sure all your fuses are good. (The ones in the engine compartment and passenger compartment)
The ASD provides battery voltage to the ignition coil. The PCM opens and closes the coil ground for its operation.
Cavity B should always have battery voltage (provided via Power Distribution Center Fuse D).
Cavity A should have battery volatge when the ignition switch is in either the START or RUN positions (provided via the Ignition Switch).
On the distributor coil, the dark green and orange wire is the feed from the ASD, and the gray wire is the feed from the PCM. Thats the only places the coil gets its power: PCM (for a ground) and the ASD.
Either replace the relay, or do a test at the coil connector, to see if the coil is getting power.
Post your results back.

myshelbyisgone · #6 05-18-2006, 01:57 PM

I had the same stalling problems with my 96 Dakota. It usually stalled out when stopping or making tight turns. My mechanic replaced the idle control valve and it worked fine for the last couple months. This week I now have problems starting it in the morning. I have to turn the key about a half dozen times and step on the accelerator before it starts. I first thought it may have been the starter, but could it be the fuel pump?

jonnymagnum · #7 05-24-2006, 07:51 PM

I have a 88 dakota that stalls only when you are comming to a stop. other then that it runs fine. if i go in reverse and stop suddenly, it wont do a thing. i can hit the brakes when I'm already stopped and it wont do anything either. only when I'm moving forward and hit the brakes it will sputter and then die. some one told me it could be the lock up converter or a vacum leak. I did put a custom intake on it so I think it could be a vacum leak. any suggestions?

wsinbad1 · #8 05-26-2006, 12:57 AM

I have the same problem with my 92 Dakota. I've been having the problem for some time now. The first time the truck stalled it would not restart. I had to have it towed about 80 miles since I was in the middle of nowhere when it happened. The shop I took it to diagnosed it as a computer problem and replaced the PCM. It ran fine for a week or so and then stalled again while driving. It took about 2 minutes to restart, seemed to run fine. Next day stalled again. Each time it stalled it woudl restart after a few minutes. Then one day it would not restart. I waited 10 minutes and tried and tried to strart it. Then I got pissed off and opened the hood and started beating things in there. I figured it had something to do with the new computer so I yanked the harness around a bit and to my amazement heard a noise of something in the engine compartment clicking over. I got back in and it started right up. In playing around with the harness and the connecter to the PCM each time it stalled I found that all I had to do was slightly wiggle the connection to the PCM. If the key was in the ignition and turned on I'd get a click and immediately the truck would start again.

Since figuring this out I've had 4 different people look at it and try to fix the problem. The PCM was replaced again, the Connection was cleaned, the the ends of each wire were recrimped. Each time work was done the truck ran fine for a week or two and then started with the same problem. This has been going on for a year now and I have finally had to get another car for reliable transportation, but I haven't given up totally yet. This time I think I will do some work and see what I can figure out.

I wonder if the problem you are having is the same. If you figure anything out or anyone has suggestions for a solution to this I'd love to hear about it.

erock92kota · #9 06-04-2006, 11:40 AM

For the stalling on a stop issue I would think to look into the idle control or the speed distance sensor. My gram had a chrysler lebaron (early 90s model) that did the same thing and it worked fine after I replaced the speed distance sensor. Theres a thing on the www.allpar.com site that has proved helpful to me in the past when it comes to problems like this. It covers things like stalling. Alot of times mechanics will think huge things (like the computer) are bad with our chrysler products but most of the time its a stupid vacuum leak or some 25 dollar part thats bad.