'00 ram 1500 5.9 started running rough

[bamaboy13]

I'm going down a hill about 70 mph still above empty and it starts skipping and sputtering like I'm out of gas. I coast as far as I can, still a mile from gas station. I pour in a gallon and it starts buts is barely running skipping sputtering backfiring, I put it in gear and spend 5min getting closer to station, add another gallon, and another still will not smooth out, a friend comes and tows me, while I'm being towed I crank it to have steering/brakes, 2-3 miles down the road it smooths out, we un-hook tow strap and I drive 5-6 miles and it stalls again. get it home I have good fuel pressure at the Schroeder valve on fuel rail. I find that the rear O2 sensor has the wire rubbing on drive shaft with one wire bare and touching, Ive fixed that but still running with a miss. tonight I drive it and get some mid grade and a bottle of heat, still not smooth and now check engine light is flashing sporadically . Any ideas as where to start??
I wanted to add It has 255500 miles, untill this its always been dependable and runs strong, engine is still tight.

[Chris Stewart]

The Check Engine light is good.
Go to a chain type auto parts store and get the free scan so's we know what the computer thinks.

[bamaboy13]

Update!
had my truck scaned it says bad coil multiple skips espescially #1 & #6
going to get plugs, wires, cap & rotor, and a new coil. I'll let you know.

[Chris Stewart]

Very good.

[bamaboy13]

economics dictate! I replaced plugs, didnt help then I replaced the coil now it wont fire at all I guess Ill put the old one back on, Auto Zone should take it back??
It ran to get scanned, but died on the way home after 30 min it started but I had to keep patting gas pedal to get it to go 10mph for a 1/4 mile then dead again, 30 min same thing. I guess Im gonna have to drop the feul tank woohoo

[Chris Stewart]

Let's look at the firing order,
1843
6572

The crankshaft position sensor might be a place to look if all else fails.
You might pour a little gasoline down the throttle body to be sure it's not a fuel problem.

[bamaboy13]

I tried the feul down the TB and it starts, so Im proceeding with the dropping of the feul tank.

[Chris Stewart]

I thought you had good fuel pressure at the Schrader valve on the fuel rail.
Does it meet spec?

[bamaboy13]

I didn't have a way to check feul pressure, but seeing how I could pat the gas pedal to get it to stay running and feul down the intake would start it...
So now I've replaced the coil, distributer cap/rotor button, wires, plugs, O2 sensor, and the feul pump.
It will now start but still has a severe skip. My check engine light is not on, Auto Zone scanner reads nothing, I'll take it back tomorrow to the shop that scanned it the other day, I guess next part to buy would be a CPS and then maybe the cat. conv. This sucks and Im getting discouraged with it all. ?????

[danielsatur]

Did you put 2-dollars of gas, or 2-gallons of gas?
2-gallons of gas wasn't enough to start my step daughters 2000 Ford Taurus, and your driving a Dodge.

Running out of Gas, could cause Random misfires.

1) Roll both fuel pump fuse & relay.
2) Add 5-gallons of gas.
3) Run another fuel pressure test.

[mikefaster]

Sounds like the camshaft sensor; it would be worth it to replace the camshaft sensor and the crankshaft sensor... It is VERY much a pain in the neck to change the crankshaft sensor, so change the camshaft sensor first; actually they call it an inductive pickup... It's that black, round, plastic thing UNDER the distributor cap...

Your timing chain may be VERY slacked, making the camshaft sensor unable to compensate... The timing chains last a lot longer in the newer vans and trucks, and being that it seems like it just started running bad, "all of the sudden"... I'd try that "inductive pickup" first...

Hope that helps...
Mike

[bamaboy13]

I've put in $30 worth of gas with no change in the skipping, I guess I'll try the inductive pickup next, would that show as a code on a scan?

[mikefaster]

not usually, it's more simple than a camshaft sensor...

Just about every chrysler that has one of those, whether 4,6, and 8 cylinders need them replaced, sooner or later...

[n2racing]

Did you ever resolve the problem? These engines will have a problem with broken valve springs. I just had the same problem and the intake valve spring on number 7 was broken. I replaced it and the problem went away. I was chasing P0207 and P0202 both electrical codes but the spring would also allow good compression. Hope this helps.

[MT-2500]

Originally Posted by n2racing

Did you ever resolve the problem? These engines will have a problem with broken valve springs. I just had the same problem and the intake valve spring on number 7 was broken. I replaced it and the problem went away. I was chasing P0207 and P0202 both electrical codes but the spring would also allow good compression. Hope this helps.

OLD post and late replays but Thanks for that info.
That info helped me.
Had the same problem except cde 201. 202 and 208.
Broken valve spring on no 1 cylinder.