97 3500 van oil pressure drops

[dodge3500]

hi everyone im new here...yes i searched for threads on my concern. but couldnt relate any to my problems....i have a 97 3500 5.9l dodge cargo van. it would stall everytime i slow down or taking a slow corner. but on the highway it would run great...the dealer checked it and said the torque convertor was going bad and there was a code thermostat stuck open. i took it home bought all the parts fixed her up..took it for a run..drove great no issues...next day...took it for a drive..it started stalling again..everytime i slightly tap on the throttle the oil pressure will drop...i replace the the oil pump still didnt do nothing...anybody knows what the heck is wrong with this vehicle??? please i need help...any input..i would appreicate...

[fredjacksonsan]

How many miles on?

for the stalling you may want to check in the Dodge Truck forum, I seem to remember a similar problem with the pickups having to do with the fuel pump.

[dodge3500]

Originally Posted by fredjacksonsan

How many miles on?

for the stalling you may want to check in the Dodge Truck forum, I seem to remember a similar problem with the pickups having to do with the fuel pump.

thanks for the advice...i'll look into the dodge truck forums...
it's got 123,xxx miles on it... so i just replace the oil sensor...the oil pressure is back to normal. i notice the stalling occurrs mostly when the vehicle is still cold.....but if i let it warm up to temp..it drives much better...but with less stalling...anyways..id like more feedback if any one knows a similar problem they have enounter...thanks..

[fredjacksonsan]

If it's just when it is cold, make sure it's tuned up, clean air filter, and that the throttle body isn't gunked up on the inside.

[dodge3500]

Originally Posted by fredjacksonsan

If it's just when it is cold, make sure it's tuned up, clean air filter, and that the throttle body isn't gunked up on the inside.

i already changed out the plugs,wires,rotor,cap,oil change,air filter... i just cleaned the IAC .... well it looks like if i start the vehicle up and leave it running for about 15minutes for the temp gauge to read at normal operating temp. then it drives fine with no stalling issues...but if i start it up and wait 1 or 2 min and drive off it stalls...weird...maybe a sensor going bad???

[alloro]

There are two components that rank high on the possible culprit list. The first is the throttle position sensor being worn out so that the computer isn't regulating the correct fuel mixture for when the throttle closes. The second is the 2-wire computer (not the 1-wire gauge) temperature sensor. The computer richens the fuel mixture when the engine is cold. If the sensor is defective and the computer fails to richen the mixture you will get stalling until the engine warms up and no longer needs the richend mixture.

[dodge3500]

Originally Posted by alloro

There are two components that rank high on the possible culprit list. The first is the throttle position sensor being worn out so that the computer isn't regulating the correct fuel mixture for when the throttle closes. The second is the 2-wire computer (not the 1-wire gauge) temperature sensor. The computer richens the fuel mixture when the engine is cold. If the sensor is defective and the computer fails to richen the mixture you will get stalling until the engine warms up and no longer needs the richend mixture.

thanks for the advice i'll look into the TPS and the 2 wire Temp sensor...i'll let you guys know if either sensor is bad..

[bigfuchs44]

I have something you can try. I have a 95 ram van with the 318 and had similar problems. I cant remember the name of the part but there is a little 5 dollar sensor that bolts onto your throttle body and when it gets gunked up with carbon it causes stalling at idle. I spent about two years dealing with the problem by running injector cleaner through my gas and it helped a little but its so freking easy to change out the part. just pop of the counsil and take off the air cleaner and its bolted onto the throttle body closest to you. Two bolts and youre done. hope its this simple for you.

[homer112211]

I have a 1999 dodge Ram 1500 5.9. When I start it there is about 40 lbs of pressure after 30 sec. the oil pressure drops to 0 and starts knocking. Shut it off and start it same thing.(replaced oil pump and main bearings)

[alloro]

Pull off your valve covers and check to make sure the holes that let the oil drain back down to the crankcase are not clogged with sludge. What could be happening if those holes are clogged, is all the oil is getting pumped up to the top of the engine faster than it can drain back down. This ends up leaving your crankcase empty, hence the loss of pressure and the knocking.

If you'd rather not be so quick to pull off the valve covers, you could try removing the oil filler tube and looking in there with a flashlight while the engine is running. You might be able to see if oil is accumulating in there.