Problems with my 95 Laramie 1500
bsherman3
08-24-2004, 11:58 PM
Hi,
My truck has been having some problems that I need to get fixed, but I don't know what is causing them. Any help would be great. It's a 95 Laramie SLT 1500, Club Cab, Long Bed 5.9 L 4x4.
Starting: I can't get it to start right off. If I go to start it, it will crank for 20 seconds and sometimes start. Other times it won't and I turn it off, try it and no start, turn it off, try it and it starts up.
Rough Idle: It idles rough pretty much all the time. There is a definite vibration and interior (cupholder, etc. shakes from it)
Knocking sound: There is a knocking sound between 25 and 40 mph and the truck vibrates then also. It is not a consistent rpm b/c I've watched for that so I don't know if it's only involving one gear or not. I lost the rear drive shaft in January and had it replaced with a custom shaft. Could that cause the problem?
Play in steering wheel: Any way to fix that?
Brakes: Brakes just replaced in January but they almost have to be pumped just to work. If I apply them hard it takes a while to break still and I tend to skid.
The stereo, overhead light, and dinging sound when the door is opened and the lights are all don't work: The fuse is fine, I checked that. When I turn the radio on there is a pop like there is power, yet it doesn't work.
Gas mileage: Currently only getting about 10 mpg. Seems extremely low.
Thanks for your answers to any of these questions. I'm also wondering if I should change the spark plugs and spark plug wires as the wires are the originals I believe.
Bill
My truck has been having some problems that I need to get fixed, but I don't know what is causing them. Any help would be great. It's a 95 Laramie SLT 1500, Club Cab, Long Bed 5.9 L 4x4.
Starting: I can't get it to start right off. If I go to start it, it will crank for 20 seconds and sometimes start. Other times it won't and I turn it off, try it and no start, turn it off, try it and it starts up.
Rough Idle: It idles rough pretty much all the time. There is a definite vibration and interior (cupholder, etc. shakes from it)
Knocking sound: There is a knocking sound between 25 and 40 mph and the truck vibrates then also. It is not a consistent rpm b/c I've watched for that so I don't know if it's only involving one gear or not. I lost the rear drive shaft in January and had it replaced with a custom shaft. Could that cause the problem?
Play in steering wheel: Any way to fix that?
Brakes: Brakes just replaced in January but they almost have to be pumped just to work. If I apply them hard it takes a while to break still and I tend to skid.
The stereo, overhead light, and dinging sound when the door is opened and the lights are all don't work: The fuse is fine, I checked that. When I turn the radio on there is a pop like there is power, yet it doesn't work.
Gas mileage: Currently only getting about 10 mpg. Seems extremely low.
Thanks for your answers to any of these questions. I'm also wondering if I should change the spark plugs and spark plug wires as the wires are the originals I believe.
Bill
bsherman3
09-21-2004, 05:55 PM
wow...no replies...strange
LTJGWorth
09-21-2004, 08:36 PM
Ok. Starting a rough idle sounds a lot like lack of fuel pressure. You may want to check your pressure and filter and look into a pump. With the lights and everything, that's obviously electrical, so that's going to be a little harder to diagnose. You'll just have to trace the short or bad wires. The play in the steering wheel, I and Bleed have the same problem with out Dodges. Mine seems to be caused by the steering box, but I have heard of numerous people replacing their steering rods and fixing the problem. There is no help for the gas milage. Mine doesn't do much better. I'm not familiar with that brake problem. My brakes are doing pretty well. I don't always like ABS, though. Hope this helps.
mprtech
09-21-2004, 10:51 PM
Those are quite a few questions to answer. LT hit the nail on the head with fuel pressure, surely look there. A vibration can be a lot of things, but you can check the driveshaft with a floor jack and some jack stands. DO NOT do this without jackstands. Jack up the rear end and put 2 jackstands under the axle securely. Put the truck in gear and run up to 10 mph or so, now look at the drive shaft from the side. It should spin true, no up or down movement. The electrical issue sounds like an IOD fuse that is blown. In the fuse box on the drivers side you should have a fuse kinda in the middle that sticks out a bit. Its probably popped. That fuse controls all the things that don't work in your truck electrically. 10mpg is one more than the usual 9 I hear people tell me. Make sure your rear brakes are adjusted correctly. That will affect pedal feel. A tune up is always a good thing, but be prepared to break off a plug or two if they are original, they get mighty rusty after all those years and I broken a few before.
bsherman3
09-25-2004, 01:12 PM
Thanks for the help guys. My front wheel bearing was pulling free somehow (??) so I replaced the hub assembly, had to put a new rotor on the wheel, and had the brake lines bled. Now, almost all of the shake is gone, I'm getting better mileage, and my brakes work terrificly. As far as the electrical stuff goes, there's no fuse blown, so I'm gonna take it to an audio place around here that installs automatic starters and audio equipment and have them re-install it correctly and check out the wiring. They should be able to fix that. So...I'm looking in pretty good shape. Thanks again
Automotive Network, Inc., Copyright ©2024