95 dakota 5.2l runs fine untill you put it in gear

[murphys223]

i have a 95 dodge dakota 5.2l automatic that runs perfect but as soon as you put it in gear it shuts itself down but will idel all day long im really lost on this and stumped, was thinking of trying to bypass the auto shutdown relay but dont think that would be the right solution when it started acting up it only did it when i accelerated hard like when passing when this happend the tach would fall to 0 and when i stopped i checked for spark and fuel at the rail and there was none of eather now it does it as soon as i shift into drive or reverse and let off the brake to move

[aleekat]

Just a guess. Maybe neutral safety switch shorting out.

[murphys223]

but wouldnt that make the truck not turn over when it dies it still turns over

[aleekat]

Originally Posted by murphys223

but wouldnt that make the truck not turn over when it dies it still turns over

Kinda confusing. It dies moving the gear selector. Surely it won't turn over when you have it in R or D?
If you put it back in P, does it start back up?
Tach dropping to zero. Suspect crank position sensor. This would kinda lead to the crank sensor since it starting doing this driving down the road.
Does it start in N? That's why still leaning towards neutral safety switch. It may not be shorting out P, but moving the selector it is.

[murphys223]

Originally Posted by aleekat

Kinda confusing. It dies moving the gear selector. Surely it won't turn over when you have it in R or D?
If you put it back in P, does it start back up?
Tach dropping to zero. Suspect crank position sensor. This would kinda lead to the crank sensor since it starting doing this driving down the road.
Does it start in N? That's why still leaning towards neutral safety switch. It may not be shorting out P, but moving the selector it is.

it only starts when the key is turned off for about 30-45 seconds than try to start again and it will start in nutrel and park. point is the key has to be turned off to reset what ever is causing the auto shut down. it will still run in gear till you let the brake off and start moving
hmmmm you mentioned the crank sensor does the computer get a signal through the distributor cap and router?? i am asking this because im not sure i want to tackle the crank sensor myself this time of year but i do have a new cap and router button been holding back from changing it do to rusted screws on the old cap and i will have to drill the heads off the old screws than use vise grip to remove the rest of it to install the new cap and button and just how hard is it tro change that sensor? thats what i am aiming towards i replaced the ignition coil a few months ago. thank you

[aleekat]

I haven't replaced one so I can't help. But if the crank sensor doesn't sense flywheel rotation, the computer assumes nothing is running and won't tell the system to generate spark or turn on the fuel pumps. Try autozone repair guides.

[murphys223]

hmmm more weird stuff i wiggled a bunch of electrical wires in behind the engine next to the fire wall and didnt find but didnt look eather any loose wires however i did start it and run it about a mile up the road turned around to come home and we took off sideways oops but any way it did not act up i must do some more playing around tomorrow with it it has to be a bad or loose wire/connection i did price out a new crank sensor and the price scared me $125.00 out of this world and the sensor is behind the engine amazing i think ill make sure thats the problem before i go replacing that

[aleekat]

rockauto.com.. 32-69$