I was a Border Patrol Agent in San Diego for 20 years. The best vehicles we ever had were the Ramchargers. They outran and outlasted everything else. I owned an "89 4X4 with the 360 V8. It was a west coast vehicle and had no rust, dents or dings and it always ran like a top. It's one flaw was its ravenous appetite for Super Shell gasoline. One time I got 14 mpg from it. One time. Usually it got 10 or 12 but it was paid for and cheap to insure, register and maintain. I wish I still had it.
I had a K5 Blazer with a 305 and a three on the tree. I commuted 70 miles a day. I drove 400 to 500 hundred miles for three months on the weekends. You just put gas in it and don't think about it.
Where is the "Big book of underrate-ed-ness" that so many people refer to? I hear it all the time... This car, or this rock guitarist, or this sports figure is "underrated".... but nobody ever gives the source of that underrated-ness. 😆😅🤣
My Dad had bought a Pontiac Fiero before he passed away. He had to fix the fuel issue they all had at the intake. Then he had it painted. He did it flat black with purple flake in the clear coat. It was so cool. It was dark purple in the daytime and black at night.
Daangg their ugly tho😂 just like NBS Chevy suburban and Tahoe, in Mexico they got the “cat eye” front end and completely destroyed the look of their SUV😂
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Now they're classics and good ones go for more than they cost when new. A lot of older vehicles noted for their great dependability and ease of maintenance now sell for mucho dinero. The new ones are overpriced junk.
I really wish you did more diagnosis videos like this. Sharing your experience and wisdom is SO much more entertaining and enjoyable than just reviewing a car. Please make more videos in this format. Thanks!!!
That’s a good find. A clogged fuel return is not a common issue but easy to overlook it since it’s not a common issue. Without a fuel pressure gauge and knowing a TBI system runs 15 PSI max in that era, you would never find the issue. I figured it was losing fuel either from low pressure or the injectors not spraying correctly. This is a great reminder to check your basics before throwing a bunch of parts at it.
Concerning the Ram's head hood ornament, this was the last year Dodge offered it. 1991 they went to the bigger chrome grille with DODGE across the top of the grille itself instead of on the hood like 1990 and older. I have a 1989 D150 pickup - my dad bought it new - and it still runs perfectly today. 230,000 on 99% original parts. Been a great truck!
As a lifelong Mopar guy this looks so much like a ballast resistor. Same symptoms. Runs and cuts off just like this. Always carry a spare one. Really common on older Mopars.
Since this video is about a fuel issue I'm gonna tell this story a guy told me. He had a truck that would run fine for a good while then just shutoff. It ended up being an M&M package inside the fuel tank that would get to the inlet line inside the tank and starve it of fuel and shutdown.
I had some friends (long since passed away) that had a scenario like yours, they were coming back home and were out on the freeway, all of a sudden, the vehicle stopped, let it sit for a while, and it would start, they would drive for a while then die. The finally got home and took it to a repair shop, and like your situation, something got into the tank and with the sloshing around from the road, it would get too close to the fuel pump and get over the inlet and starve the engine. Once they stopped, it would float away, and it would restart.
Just wondering why when the engine was being fed fuel from a can and running ok. Why did the fuel pump stop doing its job and over pressurising the injectors BTW my father in law had the same problem as you turned out to be a leaf of a tree
@@martinrowland2593 This is a return type system. Fuel flows from the pump past the injectors, and unused fuel then flows back to the fuel tank. A blocked return caused the solenoids in the injectors to be overpowered and the excessive fuel pressure simply forced them closed.
My grandfather had a 1991 power ram 150 that we had the same issue with. Something happened with that return line and I think we ended up having to replace that return line if memory serves. But my grandfather loved the 318 in.³Chrysler V8. He said that was one of the best engines that the Chrysler company ever made. That and the slant sixes he said those were great engines too.
The slant6 was the engine everybody loved and yet nobody wanted. Absolutely gutless, so it runs forever. My dad had 2 darts (not the cool ones) with slant 6s in them before I was alive 😂
Was calling a fuel issue from the get go… was thinking either an issue with a fuel pressure regulator or a clog in the line. Remember engines need: fuel, air, and spark. Air cleaner is off (tons of air), it attempts to start (and electrical testing is saying that’s not the case). Which leaves but the fuel issue
Me and buddy rolled a lifted one of these in the pine barrens in New Jersey when I was 20 years old. We were out wheelin and hit an off angle dip with some speed. Rolled it. We all got out, wedged some wood under it and rolled it back over. My buddy Nick kept driving it for like another year, then sold it for more he bought it for. A really good memory. Thanks Wizard.
The key at the beginning was "it has a new fuel pump" and given what you found, something wasn't hosed up right back there, or the return was kinked off when it was changed. He probably fixed the problem then caused another with the same symptom.
Ballast resistor called at the 2-minute mark. (old school) Mrs. Wizard is for sure improving the interior segment!! Never in a million years would I have thought of a return line!!! Wizard your content continues to improve!!!!~~
Yup. That ballast resistor on the cars with the early electronic ignition system were notorious for causing the exact same issue. Except that it cut the ignition instead of the fuel. Rather ironic I say.
I had a 1977 with a 440 ci engine, heavy duty model with the 205 transfer case.................GREAT VEHICLE! Bought another one, a 1985 in 1990, with a 318 and 205. Later sold it with 249,000 miles on it. Neither of these vehicles never broke down, never had a valve cover or oil pan off and didn't leak or use a drop of oil. Dodge made these right!
Another thorough diagnosis. The fuel pressure was too much because the fuel could not return to the fuel tank. As stated in this presentation, the fuel pressure has a parameter that allows the vehicle to operate. Too little or too much, and issues will arise. My belief is that many can't see the trees for the forest. The pressures given are no doubt an industry standard. No mention was made that this issue is particular to this vehicle or brand. So many falsely believe that an issue is specific to their vehicle only. When in fact the same issue exists industry wide unless otherwise noted. The Wizard is very good at communicating if an issue is specific. Thank again.
Can’t wait for more videos on RAMCHARGER Brings me back to my first truck 85 RAM 4X4 single cab short box 360 4 speed manual. Learned lots & went everywhere on & off highway. The run for 2 seconds after starting reminded me so much of the old ballast resistors. Would act the same when they failed. After having to rip a speaker wire out & bypass resistor in parking lot I always had a spare in glove box.
Very rare to see an old 1990 Dodge Ram Charger these days with the original fuel injected 318 V8 under the hood a lot of these old trucks are hard to find but because a lot of them got destroyed or scrapped to the junkyard this old Dodge Ram Charger truck is not a goner yet. In fact it can be saved if changing the old return fuel line for a new fuel return line fresh brakes and a fresh paint job and a clean refreshed interior fresh oil and coolant it can be worth up to $ 10,000 in repairs and restoration if the Ram Charger is to be sent to a restoration shop to fix the body work just glad to know that your Ram Charger is not a goner yet yes it can be saved that's why I love these old trucks their better looking than any new truck you buy in 2024.
Ordered a brand new 1988 Ramcharger, in Black like this one, with the Bullit proof 318 V8, 4 wheel drive, with the granny 4-speed manual, with A/C and tan vinyl interior. It took 3 months for it to be specially ordered. I swear with that granny trans in first gear it could have moved a house off its foundation if it had the traction. At 15 mph you were at redline.
Drove a late 70s Dodge truck with a granny gear for work. That gear would give you whiplash and could only make it about 15’ into the intersection before you had to shift. That was one tough truck.
I had a 78 Plymouth Trailduster with a 440. Thing drank gas like it was going out to of style but damn it would go anywhere and was so easy to work on. Lots of cars here in Kansas are purple. Lots of K State fans.
Good project vehicle. Deep clean interior, new door panels, new carpet, repaint exterior. Always thought these were a cool vehicle. Will be watching for progress reports.
I had an 89 prospector edition absolutely loved that truck 9 miles to the gallon no matter how you drive it or towed I remember it being rated the absolute worst for towing because of the short wheel base still didn’t care lol wizard you forgot to show off the sweet under hood light that can be pulled out to put anywhere under the hood such a simple thing but man so useful
I like the diagnostic approach of the Wizard and his crew. This is the proper way to do auto work. A deliberate use of critical thinking skills through thoughtful engagement of the problem and then applying the fix. I wish I lived near the Wizard’s shop. 🏆🤔🇺🇸
You’re breaking my hearth car wizard. I owned a 1985 ram charger with a 318 bullet proof engine. That was the best truck I ever owned No A.C. No power windows, no rug inside just power steering,power brakes and a 4 speed 4x4. Loved that truck . I would still have it but it was in an accident that totaled it. That’s 2hen trucks were trucks. Great truck
This is a nice truck! When I rebuilt my 89 Chevy fuel system, the lines were rusted out in places. It got me to replace them completely which, in hindsight might have made it easier.
Another great save by The Wizard. Great to see an old classic offroader. Just a suggestion wizard, though I also like the olive drab military paint but why not leave it in the pearl purple just sorting out the bad patches. A proper paint will task you to take off the chrome trims & that will take ages. Please spend the extra time & cash on proper offroad modern suspension & a winch. I'm so excited how you overhaul this rig. Would like to see & Daniel San go offroading.... Really glad you like these rigs.
That was a great find by Danielson. Most shade tree mechanics would not have found that. Good episode Carwizard. I like to see videos with these complicated malfunctions and what you did to diagnose the problem. Keep up the good work fellas.....
When I first heard you start the truck I immediately thought of the old ignition resistor with 2 circuits which would do exactly that. I'm an old guy. Great troubleshooting. 😊
That is a situation that no parts cannon would have ever fixed and why being able to diagnose the issue is so important. I owned a 87 Ramcharger and totally hated it. Was amazed how antiquated the engine electronics were in comparison to my 1980 Chevy Silverado. Ended up selling for less than what I had in it, just to be rid of it because it was so unreliable.
I used to have a 1987 Ramcharger years ago. It was my daily driver. I loved that truck! It certainly had its share of issues from time to time lol. It was a cool and unique truck though. I always loved that huge side window! The interior left a lot to be desired though lol. Gauge cluster was definitely outdated even for the 80s. Then it looked like they just threw up a bunch of squares on the dash and put random buttons in them. Here's some squares with things in them. Yay.... A lot of the inside of these 80s era Dodge trucks seemed to be an afterthought. Despite all that, these trucks are worth owning and saving. There aren't many of them out there anymore. You could find Blazers and Broncos all day but a Ramcharger.....good luck! If you find one, buy it!
I'm just a super advanced DIY'er. But, I get constant queries from family, friends, acquaintances, and other DIY'er about chasing down car troubles. It's really quite simple: Check the easy stuff first. For example, does it have enough gas in the tank? Then: 1) Air. 2) Fuel. 3) Spark. 4) Timing. 5) Mechanical. Once to #4, you're gonna need an oscilloscope. But, two channel hand-helds are available for a little more than a C-note these days. Every time someone asks me, I spout this same list. I usually get back a, "Yeah, yeah, I did all that!" And then, I start running down the list, "How *_exactly_* did you test for air, fuel, and spark?" Seven times out of ten, they short-cut or skipped one of these top three verifications.
Thanks Wizard. I have a 1990 Ram 250 with 5.9. It is the most reliable auto or truck I have ever owned ! Anywho the story you have told is great as I now know something that may happen in the future. Thank you Wizard, Danielson and Mrs. !
My grandmother had that truck when I first moved to texas from California she would drive me out to east texas to meet all my relatives out there and i always remember that RAM on the hood love that car my grandmom was badass looking back on it 😆 ! Badass find💯🔥
Nice Ram Charger, the 318 is so underrated as a V8 mill. Had an LA series in a 1968 Satellite. It was practically indestructible at over 280,000 miles before I parked it and entered the Army. My brother got it and raised two kids and went another 200,000 on that same engine before it got sold off.
These diagnostic, step-by-step videos are best. As for the issue with the Ram charger, I immediately thought the problem was a malfunctioning fuel pump, probably due to a bad or cheap aftermarket one that was put in.
I had one of those; same year too. Mine had a 318 which was underpowered for the weight of the thing. I think it was around 170 HP. The original paint on those had problems with clear coat peeling (as mine did), so not surprising yours was repainted. Rode like a covered wagon but had a lot of room. I had endless problems with the TB fuel injection system running too rich. Mine was a US Army Corp of Engineers fleet vehicle before I bought it. It had AC but no radio and just vinyl flooring in the front with bucket seats and no armrest or console. The rear was a bench seat and there was carpeting there for the rear passengers. I think the rear cargo area had carpet too. I remember it had roll down windows and the old style pivoting wing vent windows with the rotating "c" hook latch. On mine, there was also a vent in the roof of the cargo area you could open. The Ram's head hood ornament was on a spring so it wouldn't break when hit, but back then punks were stealing hood ornaments. Mine was eventually added to someone's collection and I bought a replacement from the JC Whitney catalog that was a permanent mount and had wiring to wire into the headlights that made the ram's eyes light up an amber color. It was also nice to have the spare tire inside the cargo area. It took up some space, but if you ever needed it, it wasn't all muddy or hard to get to. Overall I really liked the thing.
I have a 93' W-350 with 5.9 Magnum. Fuel pump went so bought one off of Rock auto. Did not have a return line port, so I assumed there was an upgraded internal by-pass pressure regulator. Wrong. New pump put out 70 psi. Blew the jumper hose connecting the rails. Engine caught on fire, put it out with snow. Had to rebuild 1/2 the wiring harness. Issue now is sometimes when it starts, it sounds like timing is advanced. Engine will stumble and stall in 5 secs. Key off/on and it will repeat or start normal. When it starts normal, it runs fine without issue. Still haven't figured this one out yet. Good Luck !
I’m a Ramcharger enthusiast and I live in Kansas as well. I watched that truck on marketplace forever but never pulled the trigger as I have 2 project Ramchargers currently . I’m glad you go got her going. Message me if you change that radio I’ll buy the original. That paint is definitely interesting. Great channel!
Nice to watch a diagnostic process where no computer needs to be plugged in (because there's no place to plug one in). Good catch by Daniel-san! Did I see a rear roof vent in the back?
1980 was the last year of Ramchargers having a removable hardtop and the split tailgate. The bottom portion of the tailgate was the same as on the Dodge pickups of that era, and the upper portion was made from a fiberglass type material, the roof was steel and very heavy. I owned several Ramchargers over the years and the last one I had was a 1980. It was an old CalTrans truck in California. I rebuilt the engine (360), had the transmission rebuilt, replaced all of the seals in the removable hardtop, doors, etc. It was a great truck and one that I wish I had never gotten rid of.
That was a good episode. I haven't worked on cars in years, but I can usually diagnose a problem. I thought it had to be fuel starvation, but it didn't die that way. I don't think I would've thought about the fuel return.
Blazers, Broncos, Ram Chargers, Cherokees just any of the old 70s and 80s 0ff road trucks are just tough to find not beat to no end with dents, rust etc. despite that though they are worth fixing up, I love my old K5.
Wizard I enjoy the show. Particularly the Ramcharger episodes because I own one, an 87 carbureted. I thought you might like this story. One day I had a shop replace the sending unit for the fuel. Thereafter I started going through fuel pumps. About one per year. They all started leaking from the weep hole. I attributed it to junk parts. I finally got fed up. I tried to blow shop air through the return line, at the filter. Nothing. Back to the shop. Drop the tank again, pinched line above the tank.
Had an Isuzu diesel pickup truck in our shop in South Africa with the exact same symptoms. Turned out the fuel return line from the injector pump to the tank got squashed by a rock or something under the chassis. Replaced the piece of crushed metal pipe with a piece of fuel hose, covered it up with a little garden hose sleeve, and she purred like a kitten. Shop charged them a lot for "unrelated" stuff, but we techs knew between ourselves that it was basically a few cents to fix. We're not the owners. We, just work there, so it's none of our business, but the shop charged them a full Injector pump rebuild 🤭
Had an ‘81 that I regret selling, loved it. Mine had the 318 too, swapped in a 360, had the bulletproof 727 transmission. Mrs Wizard appears to be quite high maintenance in her vehicle choices. Actually, that purple could have been a factory color.
Welcome to the club of bad reproduction weatherstripping and fuseblocks that don't stay in position. The ram's head went away in 91 when they facelifted trucks and ramchargers.
I drove one of these Ramchargers for work from about 1995 to 2000, then we switched to inline 6 Jeep Cherokees. Very good all wheel drive, very stiff suspension, very low gas mileage. I think ours had the 360 V8. The ram head on the hood was stolen early.
I had two Ramchargers, an 88' and a 90. The 88 had a 318 and manual transmission. The 90 was a SE model completely loaded with the 318. The factory paint on mine would change color depending how the sun hit it. It was mostly dark blue, but you could see shades of dark green and turquoise in it. I also had a similar issue with it. I had a new fuel pump installed and it solved the problem. This lousy ethanol gas destroyed the old fuel pump.
I loved my Ramcharger! Randy was incredibly robust, bought a farm truck and drove it on the highway, halfway refinished and flipped it out of necessity. Awesome, beautiful chrome!
Nice. This reminds me of an old video I saw when someone did a flow bench test on different brand multiport fuel injectors. I think one of them was a GM multec and he demonstrated as he turned up the rail pressure on the flow bench the GM Multec injector would become overloaded and stop functioning. This is like that but at much lower fuel pressures as TBI is supposed to run lower fuel pressures vs multiport setups. 60-70 psi is best for multiport systems. What this shows is that just for the fuel injector pintle to open up it must lift off its seat against the pressure of the fuel pushing down on it until the fuel can flow around it and pass through. Too much fuel pressure and the solenoid in the injector is not powerful enough to open the injector with the overexertion of fuel pressure pressing down on it.
My father had 1965 , 1977 318v8 in his Dodge trucks. He got about 350,000 miles out of each one. He used Chevron Delo oil and the engines stayed clean. The 77 started quitting at random times. I found a worn out dirtributor and a worn out timing chain. It ran very well and regained a lot of power.
I never even knew the ASD relay was even a thing. Wow! Thank you for not only for the new thing I learned today, but also for the diagnostic challenge. This one went deep from the sounds of it. Seeing the fuel pressure gauge run away like that would have me going "?!?" and running for the manual to find the spec, and I don't even do this for a living. Reminds me of when I nailed down a Vehicle Speed Sensor that was wigging out on a '95 Blazer. The most obvious symptoms were a transmission wigging out and bucking at city cruise speeds, especially when cruise control was used, and it never set a code the entire time. Driving it you would think that the transmission was dying. Sure enough, plugged scanner in, took it for a drive doing live data scan, and you can see the vehicle speed reading doing the funky chicken dance. Because of the translation of the VSS path to the PCM, it ends up being buffered, so the PCM wasn't actually seeing the speed reading drop out, so it never thought anything was wrong. It was just reacting to what it thought was wild fluctuations of speed (lower than actual). One VSS later, and it's never been a problem again.
You are a Wizard, that was some fine detective work you and your coworker came up with. Reminds me of a friend of mine who’s aunt had an Oldsmobile with supposedly a faulty transmission, not so, she told him he could have it for that reason. Well, he did the research, worked a deal with a local mechanic and found out it only needed minor repairs. He drove that car for years, quite a story, and true.
The "black" paint with metallic purple was super popular in the early/mid 90s. IIRC it was a showcar at the Budweiser World of Wheels that started the craze. It was not an easy paintjob to pull off, but when done right it was Awesome! Also, the rear lift tailgate was also found on the Bronco2 and Aerostar...along with a few others (like 50)...
1st thing you need to do is get rid of the vacuum actuator that engages 4x4. There is a heavy duty cable you can install and it positively locks so you don’t lose your front engagement when you need it most.
I did a bunch of work on my very old riding mower after it had sat for a while neglected. I got everything buttoned up, and it started, but did the same... it would only run for a couple of minutes. Put any throttle on it, it would die. Ended up pulling fuel lines, and fished out a big ball of rubber from one of them. Never seen that before.
I had a 1978 Powerwagon back in the 90's in America. Ex-forest rig so Warn winch and the whole green paint. Loved that truck. 360CI that had all the power it needed. Had 2 tanks; so 50 gallons. At that time it was 75 cents a gallon out on the Indian reservation on my way home. Now? Too expensive to drive. 12-15 MPG?
Successfully diagnosing and repairing a strange issue is so rewarding even if during the process you feel like tearing your hair out because it feels like you're banging your head against a wall. My most recent intermittent problem was on my 96 Ram with the Magnum variant of the 318. Wound up being something stupid simple but unexpected. Less than 2 year old MSD coil was failing, but using some simple tools and diagnostic know-how pretty easily found the culprit. The last time I fired the parts cannon was when diagnosing a failure actually failed. Sporadic miss on a 94 Jeep 4.0. tested fuel and ignition systems, every single component tested fine. Started with most of a basic tune up, cap, rotor and wires, no change. Upgraded to an MSD coil, less misfiring but not none. Finally said screw it and swapped in E3 plugs for the Bosch platinums with less than 50K on them. Problem solved. The plugs looked absolutely great (Effectively no noticeable wear or damage and perfect burn color) and tested fine electrically so I'm still not 100% why the Jeep suddenly wasn't happy with them. Kept the old coil, cap, rotor and wires as emergency spares as they were apparently fine. Both are cases of sometimes it's the component you least suspect.
When Rams were Rams This was just a bit neglected but its begging for way more miles you could quadruple the miles and Still love its simplicity and ruggedness its in good hands and restore this one for the Home /Shop use its a daily for sure maybe the Mrs can reupholster the seats and make this even more comfy
Just wanted to add another comment I had an air leak in the air pump , I disconnected the belt 5hat turned it and still passed inspection and I live in nj. Great truck.
Good old 318. My old 78 D100 had over 400k on it. It used a bit of oil but it still ran strong. The body literally rusted off of it. The frame was surprisingly still in great condition.
My guess was spot on. No return fuel line. I did not know about the high pressure on TB injection, the only thing former owner did not check was the fuel system.
I really like the Ramchargers. I had an '83 red and white Prospector package that I enjoyed and would love to have back. It only had 24k on it when family issues necessitated selling it. A good one is hard to find these days. You have a great running project in that one.
It's nice to see an old Dodge on your channel. I purchased an 87 Dodge D150 this summer with the same engine. It's having some challenges, but it is a good, solid-running truck. I think the Dodge truck is often overlooked. Thanks for the video. I look forward to more on the Ramcharger.
This is a great example of how a little bit of troubleshooting can go a long way. It's impressive that you were able to diagnose and fix the issue yourself. Great content.
I've had several vehicles with the 318, always loved that engine! Good power and better miles per gallon than the 360. Best thing about any of those old Dodge/Plymouth engines was that they all were so easy to work on. Miss those old times, maybe now that gas prices are going to tumble down again (I wonder why), and regulations are going to be trimmed down (I wonder who will let that happen), we'll see a car company with some gonads go back to some of these trusted and true power trains. I know that probably will never happen but one can dream right? Great video and super diagnostic work to both you and your sidekick Daniel-San!!
A good diagnostic guy is worth his weight in gold! Guessed FPR. Too many shops hire parts changers and do the cannon, not really mechanics. Learning at your expense. Prior owner is probably pizzed watching this. Never woulda guessed either
One of the paramedic units in New Jersey where I worked had 3 of these. Two ' 6:14 86s and an'89. All 4WD, leaf springs front and rear, and the steering seemed like it was 100 turns lock-to-lock. They were TRUCKS! Rode like trucks, drove like trucks, and held up under punishing use.
Hey Wizard! food for thought, those of us born during the OBD-1 era may not have all the experience running a probe for diagnostics, and I for one would love a video or serious of videos on how to use them to diagnose issues.
It's actually a great issue to have, since it overloaded the injectors and shut the engine down before anything really catastrophic could happen to it. Either way, it looks like a great candidate for some TLC and then some good off-road usage. Also, I miss that old Mopar steering wheel from the 80s/early 90s. My brother's first car was a Plymouth K car and had the same exact steering wheel.
Love Ramchargers, had 4 of them, 78 360 2v, 83 318 4v ( strongest running one rumor was this 318 was the police spec), 84 318 2v, 87 360 4v . Tried and true 4 wheel drive system no fuel mileage but who cared then. Did a lot of surf fishing on coast ❤excellent vehicle for that. That rear hatch can double as a rain shelter too lol. Look forward to seeing videos on this . That dash 4 wheel drive indicator really cool.
CAR WIZARD I’ve had the same issue here in Queensland Australia years ago with a Ford Falcon sedan with CFI (TBI) that got towed in not running like the Ramcharger, tracked the fuel system and found a rock from a gravel road had squashed the return.
Great video Car Wizard! The lessons that your team and you teaches us are really valuables for everybody. I'd love to see a Ramcharger in my Country but they are even rarer than my '88 Jeep Comanche.
Well done, Wizard. My parents had the same Ramcharger in almost same dark purple color with a 360 V8 and modified 35 inch plus wheels and tires. They would leave Maryland on the 26th of December every year for their annual trip to L.L. Bean and the NE Coastal towns for a week or two.
I was a Border Patrol Agent in San Diego for 20 years. The best vehicles we ever had were the Ramchargers. They outran and outlasted everything else. I owned an "89 4X4 with the 360 V8. It was a west coast vehicle and had no rust, dents or dings and it always ran like a top. It's one flaw was its ravenous appetite for Super Shell gasoline. One time I got 14 mpg from it. One time. Usually it got 10 or 12 but it was paid for and cheap to insure, register and maintain. I wish I still had it.
Yeah, but back when Ramchargers were new, gas was only like $0.75/gal. You DO NOT wish you still had it these days. lol
My broncos from the same time period were the same: it didn’t matter if it was totally empty or pulling a trailer. It was always 10mpg.
I had a K5 Blazer with a 305 and a three on the tree. I commuted 70 miles a day. I drove 400 to 500 hundred miles for three months on the weekends. You just put gas in it and don't think about it.
I have a 98 Dakota 4x4 5.2 V8 and 15 tops mpg, and I drive 90 miles a day commute
Lone wolf mquade
Ramchargers were seriously underrated. Great trucks
Score for the WIZ...NOBODY BEATS THE WIZ...TRY TO FIND RETIRN HOSE TO TANK DISCONNECT THEN BLOW TO CARB BEFORE DROPPING TANK....
Where is the "Big book of underrate-ed-ness" that so many people refer to? I hear it all the time... This car, or this rock guitarist, or this sports figure is "underrated".... but nobody ever gives the source of that underrated-ness. 😆😅🤣
Official down low gay man truck
@@DeutschlandGuy lol, it's all in the mind.
Yeah, that body style of W/D 150/250/350 trucks were pretty great. Seriously forgotten by people tragically often
Car Wizard is the hero we all need teaching diagnostic thought process like this
Really tho
@@mirainikki7681 It's Danielson!
My Dad had bought a Pontiac Fiero before he passed away. He had to fix the fuel issue they all had at the intake. Then he had it painted. He did it flat black with purple flake in the clear coat. It was so cool. It was dark purple in the daytime and black at night.
The Ramcharger was continued in Mexico with the 94 ram gen bodystyle. But they were 2wd only. But you can find some for sale near the border states.
Whatchu know about cars you ratatouille rat?
Same thing with thd Bumpside Ford F100 in Brazil. It was built into the 1990's.
I love those gen2s. Funny they used the dodge caravan tailgate on them tho😅
Daangg their ugly tho😂 just like NBS Chevy suburban and Tahoe, in Mexico they got the “cat eye” front end and completely destroyed the look of their SUV😂
Now they're classics and good ones go for more than they cost when new. A lot of older vehicles noted for their great dependability and ease of maintenance now sell for mucho dinero. The new ones are overpriced junk.
I really wish you did more diagnosis videos like this. Sharing your experience and wisdom is SO much more entertaining and enjoyable than just reviewing a car. Please make more videos in this format. Thanks!!!
If you want diagnosis videos watch pine hollow auto or south main auto that is all they do.
@@Riverrockphotosthank you!
That’s a good find. A clogged fuel return is not a common issue but easy to overlook it since it’s not a common issue. Without a fuel pressure gauge and knowing a TBI system runs 15 PSI max in that era, you would never find the issue. I figured it was losing fuel either from low pressure or the injectors not spraying correctly. This is a great reminder to check your basics before throwing a bunch of parts at it.
Concerning the Ram's head hood ornament, this was the last year Dodge offered it. 1991 they went to the bigger chrome grille with DODGE across the top of the grille itself instead of on the hood like 1990 and older. I have a 1989 D150 pickup - my dad bought it new - and it still runs perfectly today. 230,000 on 99% original parts. Been a great truck!
As a lifelong Mopar guy this looks so much like a ballast resistor. Same symptoms. Runs and cuts off just like this. Always carry a spare one. Really common on older Mopars.
Yep agree with that.
Ah, Mopar. The technology may change, but the symptoms remain.
Had a 56 Ford with a bad ballist resistor started fine in Spring and summer but was a bear in the winter until I found out what it was.
You can convert them to GM HEI ignition. Solves so many problems and dirt cheap.
Yep, only those that have experienced it will recognize it...
One of my all time favorite Dodge products. So glad to hear that you're doing a series on these forgotten jems of the 80s and early 90s. Giv'er.
Yes!🇺🇸🦅👍
Daniel-san is a beast, out of the box thinker
I never would have guessed in a million years that it was the return line.
Not to diminish Daniel-san's ability, but a fuel pressure test is a pretty standard diagnostic.
He did good
Dang, that reminds me. I need to check on progress of the Turdbo Fiat.
He did *well
Since this video is about a fuel issue I'm gonna tell this story a guy told me. He had a truck that would run fine for a good while then just shutoff. It ended up being an M&M package inside the fuel tank that would get to the inlet line inside the tank and starve it of fuel and shutdown.
Doh!
Were those peanut M&M's or regular?
I had some friends (long since passed away) that had a scenario like yours, they were coming back home and were out on the freeway, all of a sudden, the vehicle stopped, let it sit for a while, and it would start, they would drive for a while then die. The finally got home and took it to a repair shop, and like your situation, something got into the tank and with the sloshing around from the road, it would get too close to the fuel pump and get over the inlet and starve the engine. Once they stopped, it would float away, and it would restart.
Just wondering why when the engine was being fed fuel from a can and running ok. Why did the fuel pump stop doing its job and over pressurising the injectors
BTW my father in law had the same problem as you turned out to be a leaf of a tree
@@martinrowland2593 This is a return type system. Fuel flows from the pump past the injectors, and unused fuel then flows back to the fuel tank. A blocked return caused the solenoids in the injectors to be overpowered and the excessive fuel pressure simply forced them closed.
My grandfather had a 1991 power ram 150 that we had the same issue with. Something happened with that return line and I think we ended up having to replace that return line if memory serves. But my grandfather loved the 318 in.³Chrysler V8. He said that was one of the best engines that the Chrysler company ever made. That and the slant sixes he said those were great engines too.
I remember that people swore by those two engines. Indestructible.
Very underpowered but so over-built it can’t fail.
The slant6 was the engine everybody loved and yet nobody wanted. Absolutely gutless, so it runs forever. My dad had 2 darts (not the cool ones) with slant 6s in them before I was alive 😂
I love dodge rams. I had a a 1985 and later 1989 and loved them both. Lots of room to do whatever under the hood . And made out of real metal !!!!!
METAL 🤟
And 10 mpg or less. Lol
yeah.
Was calling a fuel issue from the get go… was thinking either an issue with a fuel pressure regulator or a clog in the line. Remember engines need: fuel, air, and spark. Air cleaner is off (tons of air), it attempts to start (and electrical testing is saying that’s not the case). Which leaves but the fuel issue
Me and buddy rolled a lifted one of these in the pine barrens in New Jersey when I was 20 years old. We were out wheelin and hit an off angle dip with some speed. Rolled it. We all got out, wedged some wood under it and rolled it back over. My buddy Nick kept driving it for like another year, then sold it for more he bought it for.
A really good memory. Thanks Wizard.
It appears Danielson is becoming a car Jedi master 😂
The key at the beginning was "it has a new fuel pump" and given what you found, something wasn't hosed up right back there, or the return was kinked off when it was changed. He probably fixed the problem then caused another with the same symptom.
Ballast resistor called at the 2-minute mark. (old school) Mrs. Wizard is for sure improving the interior segment!! Never in a million years would I have thought of a return line!!! Wizard your content continues to improve!!!!~~
Yup. That ballast resistor on the cars with the early electronic ignition system were notorious for causing the exact same issue. Except that it cut the ignition instead of the fuel. Rather ironic I say.
I had a 1977 with a 440 ci engine, heavy duty model with the 205 transfer case.................GREAT VEHICLE!
Bought another one, a 1985 in 1990, with a 318 and 205. Later sold it with 249,000 miles on it.
Neither of these vehicles never broke down, never had a valve cover or oil pan off and didn't leak or use a drop of oil.
Dodge made these right!
Another thorough diagnosis.
The fuel pressure was too much because the fuel could not return to the fuel tank. As stated in this presentation, the fuel pressure has a parameter that allows the vehicle to operate. Too little or too much, and issues will arise.
My belief is that many can't see the trees for the forest. The pressures given are no doubt an industry standard. No mention was made that this issue is particular to this vehicle or brand. So many falsely believe that an issue is specific to their vehicle only. When in fact the same issue exists industry wide unless otherwise noted. The Wizard is very good at communicating if an issue is specific.
Thank again.
*Well done Daniel-San !* ... Growing out his Beard of Knowledge. Great teamwork !
Can’t wait for more videos on RAMCHARGER
Brings me back to my first truck 85 RAM 4X4 single cab short box 360 4 speed manual. Learned lots & went everywhere on & off highway. The run for 2 seconds after starting reminded me so much of the old ballast resistors. Would act the same when they failed. After having to rip a speaker wire out & bypass resistor in parking lot I always had a spare in glove box.
Very rare to see an old 1990 Dodge Ram Charger these days with the original fuel injected 318 V8 under the hood a lot of these old trucks are hard to find but because a lot of them got destroyed or scrapped to the junkyard this old Dodge Ram Charger truck is not a goner yet. In fact it can be saved if changing the old return fuel line for a new fuel return line fresh brakes and a fresh paint job and a clean refreshed interior fresh oil and coolant it can be worth up to $ 10,000 in repairs and restoration if the Ram Charger is to be sent to a restoration shop to fix the body work just glad to know that your Ram Charger is not a goner yet yes it can be saved that's why I love these old trucks their better looking than any new truck you buy in 2024.
Ordered a brand new 1988 Ramcharger, in Black like this one, with the Bullit proof 318 V8, 4 wheel drive, with the granny 4-speed manual, with A/C and tan vinyl interior. It took 3 months for it to be specially ordered. I swear with that granny trans in first gear it could have moved a house off its foundation if it had the traction. At 15 mph you were at redline.
😅A friend had a 1979-ish Ramcharger 4x4 with the 318. We called the low range the "parade gear".
Drove a late 70s Dodge truck with a granny gear for work. That gear would give you whiplash and could only make it about 15’ into the intersection before you had to shift. That was one tough truck.
I had a 78 Plymouth Trailduster with a 440. Thing drank gas like it was going out to of style but damn it would go anywhere and was so easy to work on. Lots of cars here in Kansas are purple. Lots of K State fans.
Good project vehicle. Deep clean interior, new door panels, new carpet, repaint exterior. Always thought these were a cool vehicle. Will be watching for progress reports.
5 grand
If Wizard wanna go full Hoovie, he need to send it to Van Gough for some detailing/painting love
Naw go full vammo on it. With desert Storm. Motif..
I had an 89 prospector edition absolutely loved that truck 9 miles to the gallon no matter how you drive it or towed I remember it being rated the absolute worst for towing because of the short wheel base still didn’t care lol wizard you forgot to show off the sweet under hood light that can be pulled out to put anywhere under the hood such a simple thing but man so useful
I like the diagnostic approach of the Wizard and his crew. This is the proper way to do auto work. A deliberate use of critical thinking skills through thoughtful engagement of the problem and then applying the fix. I wish I lived near the Wizard’s shop. 🏆🤔🇺🇸
This was really good to watch. Wizard also constantly mentioned and complimented Danielson - which is a true measure of a great Mentor. Nice work. 🇬🇧
"Give me fuel, give me fire..." 😂🤜
You’re breaking my hearth car wizard. I owned a 1985 ram charger with a 318 bullet proof engine. That was the best truck I ever owned
No A.C. No power windows, no rug inside just power steering,power brakes and a 4 speed 4x4. Loved that truck . I would still have it but it was in an accident that totaled it. That’s 2hen trucks were trucks. Great truck
This is a nice truck! When I rebuilt my 89 Chevy fuel system, the lines were rusted out in places. It got me to replace them completely which, in hindsight might have made it easier.
Another great save by The Wizard. Great to see an old classic offroader.
Just a suggestion wizard, though I also like the olive drab military paint but why not leave it in the pearl purple just sorting out the bad patches. A proper paint will task you to take off the chrome trims & that will take ages. Please spend the extra time & cash on proper offroad modern suspension & a winch. I'm so excited how you overhaul this rig. Would like to see & Daniel San go offroading.... Really glad you like these rigs.
Absolutely my favourite! Way to go Wizard!!! Had numerous Dodge products with the 318. Never failed me
That was a great find by Danielson. Most shade tree mechanics would not have found that. Good episode Carwizard. I like to see videos with these complicated malfunctions and what you did to diagnose the problem. Keep up the good work fellas.....
When I first heard you start the truck I immediately thought of the old ignition resistor with 2 circuits which would do exactly that. I'm an old guy. Great troubleshooting. 😊
That is a situation that no parts cannon would have ever fixed and why being able to diagnose the issue is so important. I owned a 87 Ramcharger and totally hated it. Was amazed how antiquated the engine electronics were in comparison to my 1980 Chevy Silverado. Ended up selling for less than what I had in it, just to be rid of it because it was so unreliable.
Danielsan, awsome work!!
Regards from Sweden.
I used to have a 1987 Ramcharger years ago. It was my daily driver. I loved that truck! It certainly had its share of issues from time to time lol. It was a cool and unique truck though. I always loved that huge side window! The interior left a lot to be desired though lol. Gauge cluster was definitely outdated even for the 80s. Then it looked like they just threw up a bunch of squares on the dash and put random buttons in them. Here's some squares with things in them. Yay.... A lot of the inside of these 80s era Dodge trucks seemed to be an afterthought. Despite all that, these trucks are worth owning and saving. There aren't many of them out there anymore. You could find Blazers and Broncos all day but a Ramcharger.....good luck! If you find one, buy it!
I love investigative videos like this. My first guess was definitely a fuel issue. Although a massive vacuum leak could cause an issue like this.
I guessed a vacuum leak, too.
I'm just a super advanced DIY'er. But, I get constant queries from family, friends, acquaintances, and other DIY'er about chasing down car troubles.
It's really quite simple:
Check the easy stuff first. For example, does it have enough gas in the tank?
Then:
1) Air.
2) Fuel.
3) Spark.
4) Timing.
5) Mechanical.
Once to #4, you're gonna need an oscilloscope. But, two channel hand-helds are available for a little more than a C-note these days.
Every time someone asks me, I spout this same list.
I usually get back a, "Yeah, yeah, I did all that!"
And then, I start running down the list, "How *_exactly_* did you test for air, fuel, and spark?"
Seven times out of ten, they short-cut or skipped one of these top three verifications.
Cool rig. Glad you figured it out. Thanks Wizard!
Thanks Wizard. I have a 1990 Ram 250 with 5.9. It is the most reliable auto or truck I have ever owned ! Anywho the story you have told is great as I now know something that may happen in the future. Thank you Wizard, Danielson and Mrs. !
My grandmother had that truck when I first moved to texas from California she would drive me out to east texas to meet all my relatives out there and i always remember that RAM on the hood love that car my grandmom was badass looking back on it 😆 ! Badass find💯🔥
Nice Ram Charger, the 318 is so underrated as a V8 mill. Had an LA series in a 1968 Satellite. It was practically indestructible at over 280,000 miles before I parked it and entered the Army. My brother got it and raised two kids and went another 200,000 on that same engine before it got sold off.
I had a 69 2 door 318
These diagnostic, step-by-step videos are best.
As for the issue with the Ram charger, I immediately thought the problem was a malfunctioning fuel pump, probably due to a bad or cheap aftermarket one that was put in.
Don't hurt yourself with that intro Wizard.
I had one of those; same year too. Mine had a 318 which was underpowered for the weight of the thing. I think it was around 170 HP. The original paint on those had problems with clear coat peeling (as mine did), so not surprising yours was repainted. Rode like a covered wagon but had a lot of room. I had endless problems with the TB fuel injection system running too rich. Mine was a US Army Corp of Engineers fleet vehicle before I bought it. It had AC but no radio and just vinyl flooring in the front with bucket seats and no armrest or console. The rear was a bench seat and there was carpeting there for the rear passengers. I think the rear cargo area had carpet too. I remember it had roll down windows and the old style pivoting wing vent windows with the rotating "c" hook latch. On mine, there was also a vent in the roof of the cargo area you could open. The Ram's head hood ornament was on a spring so it wouldn't break when hit, but back then punks were stealing hood ornaments. Mine was eventually added to someone's collection and I bought a replacement from the JC Whitney catalog that was a permanent mount and had wiring to wire into the headlights that made the ram's eyes light up an amber color. It was also nice to have the spare tire inside the cargo area. It took up some space, but if you ever needed it, it wasn't all muddy or hard to get to. Overall I really liked the thing.
Fun fact while U.S discontinued the the ram charger. Mexico still sold them and even got a 2nd gen ram charger
I have a 93' W-350 with 5.9 Magnum. Fuel pump went so bought one off of Rock auto.
Did not have a return line port, so I assumed there was an upgraded internal by-pass pressure
regulator. Wrong. New pump put out 70 psi. Blew the jumper hose connecting the rails.
Engine caught on fire, put it out with snow. Had to rebuild 1/2 the wiring harness.
Issue now is sometimes when it starts, it sounds like timing is advanced. Engine will stumble and stall in 5 secs. Key off/on and it will repeat or start normal. When it starts normal, it runs fine without issue. Still haven't figured this one out yet. Good Luck !
What happened to the Silverado build?
I’m a Ramcharger enthusiast and I live in Kansas as well. I watched that truck on marketplace forever but never pulled the trigger as I have 2 project Ramchargers currently . I’m glad you go got her going. Message me if you change that radio I’ll buy the original. That paint is definitely interesting. Great channel!
Nice to watch a diagnostic process where no computer needs to be plugged in (because there's no place to plug one in). Good catch by Daniel-san! Did I see a rear roof vent in the back?
Yes there is !
1980 was the last year of Ramchargers having a removable hardtop and the split tailgate. The bottom portion of the tailgate was the same as on the Dodge pickups of that era, and the upper portion was made from a fiberglass type material, the roof was steel and very heavy. I owned several Ramchargers over the years and the last one I had was a 1980. It was an old CalTrans truck in California. I rebuilt the engine (360), had the transmission rebuilt, replaced all of the seals in the removable hardtop, doors, etc. It was a great truck and one that I wish I had never gotten rid of.
I have an 85 ram with a 90 tbi 360....
Haven't watched the video yet, but I'm betting it's some bad grounds
I was WRONG!
That was a good episode. I haven't worked on cars in years, but I can usually diagnose a problem. I thought it had to be fuel starvation, but it didn't die that way. I don't think I would've thought about the fuel return.
Two Wizards in one shop? You'll rule the world, grin.
Broncos and Blazers are off the hook, this is the one under The radar….good call Wizard.
I always wanted a Ram Charger
318 is die hard
You would have been pleased with it as long as it was a 4X4.
Blazers, Broncos, Ram Chargers, Cherokees just any of the old 70s and 80s 0ff road trucks are just tough to find not beat to no end with dents, rust etc. despite that though they are worth fixing up, I love my old K5.
this is the best mechanic in the universe
Wizard I enjoy the show. Particularly the Ramcharger episodes because I own one, an 87 carbureted. I thought you might like this story. One day I had a shop replace the sending unit for the fuel. Thereafter I started going through fuel pumps. About one per year. They all started leaking from the weep hole. I attributed it to junk parts. I finally got fed up. I tried to blow shop air through the return line, at the filter. Nothing. Back to the shop. Drop the tank again, pinched line above the tank.
Had an Isuzu diesel pickup truck in our shop in South Africa with the exact same symptoms. Turned out the fuel return line from the injector pump to the tank got squashed by a rock or something under the chassis. Replaced the piece of crushed metal pipe with a piece of fuel hose, covered it up with a little garden hose sleeve, and she purred like a kitten. Shop charged them a lot for "unrelated" stuff, but we techs knew between ourselves that it was basically a few cents to fix. We're not the owners. We, just work there, so it's none of our business, but the shop charged them a full Injector pump rebuild 🤭
Had an ‘81 that I regret selling, loved it. Mine had the 318 too, swapped in a 360, had the bulletproof 727 transmission. Mrs Wizard appears to be quite high maintenance in her vehicle choices. Actually, that purple could have been a factory color.
Welcome to the club of bad reproduction weatherstripping and fuseblocks that don't stay in position. The ram's head went away in 91 when they facelifted trucks and ramchargers.
I drove one of these Ramchargers for work from about 1995 to 2000, then we switched to inline 6 Jeep Cherokees. Very good all wheel drive, very stiff suspension, very low gas mileage. I think ours had the 360 V8. The ram head on the hood was stolen early.
I had two Ramchargers, an 88' and a 90. The 88 had a 318 and manual transmission. The 90 was a SE model completely loaded with the 318. The factory paint on mine would change color depending how the sun hit it. It was mostly dark blue, but you could see shades of dark green and turquoise in it. I also had a similar issue with it. I had a new fuel pump installed and it solved the problem. This lousy ethanol gas destroyed the old fuel pump.
I loved my Ramcharger! Randy was incredibly robust, bought a farm truck and drove it on the highway, halfway refinished and flipped it out of necessity. Awesome, beautiful chrome!
Nice. This reminds me of an old video I saw when someone did a flow bench test on different brand multiport fuel injectors. I think one of them was a GM multec and he demonstrated as he turned up the rail pressure on the flow bench the GM Multec injector would become overloaded and stop functioning. This is like that but at much lower fuel pressures as TBI is supposed to run lower fuel pressures vs multiport setups. 60-70 psi is best for multiport systems. What this shows is that just for the fuel injector pintle to open up it must lift off its seat against the pressure of the fuel pushing down on it until the fuel can flow around it and pass through. Too much fuel pressure and the solenoid in the injector is not powerful enough to open the injector with the overexertion of fuel pressure pressing down on it.
My father had 1965 , 1977 318v8 in his Dodge trucks. He got about 350,000 miles out of each one. He used Chevron Delo oil and the engines stayed clean.
The 77 started quitting at random times. I found a worn out dirtributor and a worn out timing chain. It ran very well and regained a lot of power.
I never even knew the ASD relay was even a thing. Wow! Thank you for not only for the new thing I learned today, but also for the diagnostic challenge. This one went deep from the sounds of it. Seeing the fuel pressure gauge run away like that would have me going "?!?" and running for the manual to find the spec, and I don't even do this for a living.
Reminds me of when I nailed down a Vehicle Speed Sensor that was wigging out on a '95 Blazer. The most obvious symptoms were a transmission wigging out and bucking at city cruise speeds, especially when cruise control was used, and it never set a code the entire time. Driving it you would think that the transmission was dying. Sure enough, plugged scanner in, took it for a drive doing live data scan, and you can see the vehicle speed reading doing the funky chicken dance. Because of the translation of the VSS path to the PCM, it ends up being buffered, so the PCM wasn't actually seeing the speed reading drop out, so it never thought anything was wrong. It was just reacting to what it thought was wild fluctuations of speed (lower than actual).
One VSS later, and it's never been a problem again.
You are a Wizard, that was some fine detective work you and your coworker came up with. Reminds me of a friend of mine who’s aunt had an Oldsmobile with supposedly a faulty transmission, not so, she told him he could have it for that reason. Well, he did the research, worked a deal with a local mechanic and found out it only needed minor repairs. He drove that car for years, quite a story, and true.
The "black" paint with metallic purple was super popular in the early/mid 90s. IIRC it was a showcar at the Budweiser World of Wheels that started the craze. It was not an easy paintjob to pull off, but when done right it was Awesome!
Also, the rear lift tailgate was also found on the Bronco2 and Aerostar...along with a few others (like 50)...
1st thing you need to do is get rid of the vacuum actuator that engages 4x4. There is a heavy duty cable you can install and it positively locks so you don’t lose your front engagement when you need it most.
I did a bunch of work on my very old riding mower after it had sat for a while neglected. I got everything buttoned up, and it started, but did the same... it would only run for a couple of minutes. Put any throttle on it, it would die. Ended up pulling fuel lines, and fished out a big ball of rubber from one of them. Never seen that before.
I had a 1978 Powerwagon back in the 90's in America. Ex-forest rig so Warn winch and the whole green paint. Loved that truck. 360CI that had all the power it needed. Had 2 tanks; so 50 gallons. At that time it was 75 cents a gallon out on the Indian reservation on my way home. Now? Too expensive to drive. 12-15 MPG?
Successfully diagnosing and repairing a strange issue is so rewarding even if during the process you feel like tearing your hair out because it feels like you're banging your head against a wall. My most recent intermittent problem was on my 96 Ram with the Magnum variant of the 318. Wound up being something stupid simple but unexpected. Less than 2 year old MSD coil was failing, but using some simple tools and diagnostic know-how pretty easily found the culprit. The last time I fired the parts cannon was when diagnosing a failure actually failed. Sporadic miss on a 94 Jeep 4.0. tested fuel and ignition systems, every single component tested fine. Started with most of a basic tune up, cap, rotor and wires, no change. Upgraded to an MSD coil, less misfiring but not none. Finally said screw it and swapped in E3 plugs for the Bosch platinums with less than 50K on them. Problem solved. The plugs looked absolutely great (Effectively no noticeable wear or damage and perfect burn color) and tested fine electrically so I'm still not 100% why the Jeep suddenly wasn't happy with them. Kept the old coil, cap, rotor and wires as emergency spares as they were apparently fine. Both are cases of sometimes it's the component you least suspect.
When Rams were Rams This was just a bit neglected but its begging for way more miles you could quadruple the miles and Still love its simplicity and ruggedness its in good hands and restore this one for the Home /Shop use its a daily for sure maybe the Mrs can reupholster the seats and make this even more comfy
Just wanted to add another comment
I had an air leak in the air pump , I disconnected the belt 5hat turned it and still passed inspection and I live in nj. Great truck.
This honestly is one of your best videos the educational value alone is priceless thanks for sharing !
Good old 318. My old 78 D100 had over 400k on it. It used a bit of oil but it still ran strong. The body literally rusted off of it. The frame was surprisingly still in great condition.
My guess was spot on. No return fuel line. I did not know about the high pressure on TB injection, the only thing former owner did not check was the fuel system.
I really like the Ramchargers. I had an '83 red and white Prospector package that I enjoyed and would love to have back. It only had 24k on it when family issues necessitated selling it. A good one is hard to find these days. You have a great running project in that one.
It has so much potential! Can't wait to see how it turns out.
It's nice to see an old Dodge on your channel. I purchased an 87 Dodge D150 this summer with the same engine. It's having some challenges, but it is a good, solid-running truck. I think the Dodge truck is often overlooked. Thanks for the video. I look forward to more on the Ramcharger.
This is a great example of how a little bit of troubleshooting can go a long way. It's impressive that you were able to diagnose and fix the issue yourself. Great content.
I've had several vehicles with the 318, always loved that engine! Good power and better miles per gallon than the 360. Best thing about any of those old Dodge/Plymouth engines was that they all were so easy to work on. Miss those old times, maybe now that gas prices are going to tumble down again (I wonder why), and regulations are going to be trimmed down (I wonder who will let that happen), we'll see a car company with some gonads go back to some of these trusted and true power trains. I know that probably will never happen but one can dream right?
Great video and super diagnostic work to both you and your sidekick Daniel-San!!
A good diagnostic guy is worth his weight in gold!
Guessed FPR. Too many shops hire parts changers and do the cannon, not really mechanics. Learning at your expense.
Prior owner is probably pizzed watching this. Never woulda guessed either
One of the paramedic units in New Jersey where I worked had 3 of these. Two ' 6:14 86s and an'89. All 4WD, leaf springs front and rear, and the steering seemed like it was 100 turns lock-to-lock. They were TRUCKS! Rode like trucks, drove like trucks, and held up under punishing use.
Hey Wizard! food for thought, those of us born during the OBD-1 era may not have all the experience running a probe for diagnostics, and I for one would love a video or serious of videos on how to use them to diagnose issues.
My first vehicle was a 91 D150. I love that generation of Dodge trucks. I think they look great and they are overall pretty good and reliable trucks.
It's actually a great issue to have, since it overloaded the injectors and shut the engine down before anything really catastrophic could happen to it. Either way, it looks like a great candidate for some TLC and then some good off-road usage. Also, I miss that old Mopar steering wheel from the 80s/early 90s. My brother's first car was a Plymouth K car and had the same exact steering wheel.
Love Ramchargers, had 4 of them, 78 360 2v, 83 318 4v ( strongest running one rumor was this 318 was the police spec), 84 318 2v, 87 360 4v . Tried and true 4 wheel drive system no fuel mileage but who cared then. Did a lot of surf fishing on coast ❤excellent vehicle for that. That rear hatch can double as a rain shelter too lol. Look forward to seeing videos on this . That dash 4 wheel drive indicator really cool.
CAR WIZARD I’ve had the same issue here in Queensland Australia years ago with a Ford Falcon sedan with CFI (TBI) that got towed in not running like the Ramcharger, tracked the fuel system and found a rock from a gravel road had squashed the return.
This is why I watch your channel. To learn new things. Great job!
Great video Car Wizard!
The lessons that your team and you teaches us are really valuables for everybody. I'd love to see a Ramcharger in my Country but they are even rarer than my '88 Jeep Comanche.
Props to Daniel San! The Ram hood ornaments were popular among thieves. My boss had a pickup truck with one that was stolen.
Well done, Wizard. My parents had the same Ramcharger in almost same dark purple color with a 360 V8 and modified 35 inch plus wheels and tires. They would leave Maryland on the 26th of December every year for their annual trip to L.L. Bean and the NE Coastal towns for a week or two.