[AT] 98 Dodge 3500

[charliehill]

This is a long story but worth reading, especially for you Kevin.  It might 
help you figure this thing out.

My old pickup (89 GMC) got to running bad when it was maybe 6 or 7 years 
old.  It would spit, sputter and backfire but only when the cruise control 
was on.  Well you know the solution to that, I stopped using cruise control. 
Not because I wanted to, I just couldn't find the problem.  Eventually it 
got to where it ran terribly all the time.   The problem went on for close 
to 2 years (maybe longer than that) getting progressively worse until 
finally it was nearly undrivable nearly all the time.

I studied every manual I could find and checked every component I could find 
the specs to check and couldn't find the problem.  Finally I went to a Chevy 
dealer in a nearby town.  I knew the folks (now out of business).  It was a 
small family owned outfit.  I was able to talk them into letting me go in 
the shop with the mechanic.  I proceeded to tell him everything I had 
checked.  I asked him to check the cruise control module.  I couldn't do 
that because the data for it is not in any of the aftermarket manuals.  I 
knew my problem initially had something to do with the cruise.  I needed the 
factory manual to check it.

He listened to me but then politely said to let him do his checks first.  He 
proceeded to re-check everything I had checked and didn't find it.  Then he 
decided to replace electronic box in the distributor.  That didn't work so 
he took the new one off and put my old one back in.  Finally he went and 
pulled the data for the cruise control.

There is a ground wire on that truck that goes to ground on one of the 
thermostat housing studs.  He checked the resistance on that ground and it 
was out of spec.  He took a 9/16 wrench and turned the stud about a quarter 
turn and the problem went away.

Here's what happened as he and I were able to recreate it.   I remembered 
that not long before the problem started I had changed the thermostat.  The 
ground wire is double nutted on the stud in the thermostat housing, the wire 
is just long enough and it's kind of hard to get the stud tight in the block 
and then get the double nut tight on the ground wire without pulling the 
gound wire apart.
I had gotten the double nuts tight on the ground wire but unknown to me the 
stud was about 1/4 turn loose in the intake.  It was not leaking but enough 
antifreeze had seeped into the connection to screw up the ground.  The 
problem didn't start immediately after I changed the thermostat and once it 
did start it took it a couple of years to get to the point  of having to fix 
it.  Before that it had been intermittent and to begin with only when the 
cruise control was engaged.  Since there was no visable leak on the stud and 
I didn't have the manual with the Cruise control specs I had no reason to 
check that stud.  The ground wire was as tight on the stud as it could be. 
The problem was the stud being loose in the intake.

I spent well over a year.  I think more than 2 years looking for that 
problem and fixed it with a 1/4 turn of a wrench.  Kevin if you are still 
reading, my point is that your problem is probably something just as small 
and hard to find.  That is why someone dumped the truck.  They couldn't find 
the problem and gave up.  If I had just, for some odd reason, decided to 
change my thermostat again my problem would have gone away and I might have 
never known what fixed it.

Charlie Hill
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <oldiron62 at gmail.com>
To: "Antique tractor email discussion group" <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
Sent: Saturday, May 23, 2009 2:29 AM
Subject: Re: [AT] 98 Dodge 3500


> Eddyville,KY  42038
> I do not think there will be a problem getting the scan reader from NAPA 
> or
> Autozone. We do quite a bit of buisness with both of them, Steve if I
> remember correct you are up in NY. And that would be quite a ride. I just
> came in from messing with it some more, it and a Super C tractor that has
> not been started in over 2 years. The tractor started and run fine, the
> Dodge is still the same.
> Thank everyone, I will let yall know what I find out !
>
> Kevin Mosier
> 270 635 1731 att cell phone
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Steve W." <falcon at telenet.net>
> To: "Antique tractor email discussion group" 
> <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
> Sent: Friday, May 22, 2009 8:08 PM
> Subject: Re: [AT] 98 Dodge 3500
>>
>> Kevin, Where are you located? (state, closest city is enough) I am more
>> than willing to bring over my scan tool and assist.
>>
>> Also most auto parts places will rent scan (and specialty) tools.
>> Procedures differ but what many do is charge you full price for the
>> tool, then when you return it they refund the money. Others charge a
>> rental fee and take a credit card number in case you don't return the
>> tool.
>>
>>
>>
>> -- 
>> Steve Williams
>> _______________________________________________
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>> http://www.antique-tractor.com/mailman/listinfo/at
>
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