20 Most Recent 1987 Dodge Ram 50 - Page 6 Questions & Answers

try to hook neg tach wire to grd like to eng block power wire of tach to neg side of coil not positive side which is batt power

Your alternator is not putting out enough juice. Before you replace it, take a few minutes to make sure the belt is tightand clean up your contacts. Remove the wire ends, including battery cables, and clean them up with some emery cloth or fine sandpaper and reinstall. Your alternator grounds to the motor so don't forget to clean that too. Run the truck for 5 or 10 minutes to charge the battery a little an d see if that makes a difference. If it doesn't you need a new alternator.
If you have a multimeter you can test it yourself, the output should be at least 12.5 volts up to 13.5 or 14. Below 12 is insufficient. Hopw this helps.

spark plugs or wires. if it runs ok while driving nothing to do with fuel.

It could be a fuse? Have a look in the fuse box, your owners manual will detail where it is. Take a look at the top of each fuse to see if the thin piece of metal is burned out.

8 degrees BTDC.

Are you sure it is lack of spark that is the problem?

it might have been a former rental car that means it could have govenor on it.but by it being an 87 it might just need to have tune up

check your timing. might be to far retarded

reverse light switch is on trans, next to shift linkage

try cleaning the battery post and also try starting it in nuetral.

the fuel pump is behind the carb look between the carb and the valve cover and you should see it.

thats how they will tend to act when the switch is staring to go.

Usually metal socket for pull out, plastic are usually twist 1/4 turn or so, and pull out. If it's appears to be metal at base against housing, probably pull out. Wiggle & see.

it is a pick up module in the distributer then to the coil!

it sounds as though you could have a dirty fuel filter, or a compression leak. is there any smoke(blue or black?) are all of your plugs tight?

you can follow the ignition circuit to the starter relay, but, intermittent starting problems are almost always from a bad connection at either the battery or starter.other possibility would be weak or loose ignition at key.

check vent line from tank to fuel filter or canister or gas line , get air compresser and blow both lines out towards gas tank having one personstand by tank with gas cap off listening for thump sound or gushing air

Well if it has too much oxygen it would suggest incomplete burn either through too little fuel or ignition timing too far retarded.

Are you sure they are failing on the basis of too much oxygen? Normally it would be too much CO and hydrocarbons, which is generally a result of rich mixtures and/or ignition timing.. When you ****** the timing you decrease hydrocarbons, decrease Nox and increase CO. When you advance you do the opposite. When you lean the fuel you decrease CO and decrease hydrocarbons and vice versa. When you raise compression you increase Nox.

Hello Dave,
I own a 1988 Ram 50 5-Standard and will go off my own experiences to answer this question.
I use a synthetic 80W transmission fluid.
If you know what is/was already in there; my recommendation is not to change the grade of oil in the transmission unless it is necessary because of driving conditions or vechicle requirements (i.e. towing/hauling/efficiency).
Anyway the Ram 50 Manual 4 & 5 Speed transmissions take a range of fluid grades from 70W-90W. You can use this in both conventional and synthetic oils.

For the power steering, universal power steering fluid works the best, and I honestly don't know the exact amount to put in Ram 50, but may I suggest you purchase ~20oz. Fill it half with half the bottle, then check the dipstick, then put in half of that half-bottle (a quarter of the bottle in), check, and repeat until you get it to the appropriate level.

-Cbeach76

Just wanted to let you all know that I got the truck fixed, actually played around with a couple things, and hit the starter relay, and after havi the battery charging with another car, it did start. I went down and talked to my mechanic today, and we discussed a few things, and I am going to take the truck down to my mechanic, and have him charge the battery for a few hours, and then see if its the battery, alternator, voltage regulator, or the starter relay. Thanks for asking about it.
Sincerely,
Jeanine aka MrsJeanine