1985 Dodge Ram stalls when I hit the gas pedal

GAWN

MEMBER
1985 DODGE RAM
6 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
180,000 MILES

After about 5 minutes of driving yesterday when I hit the gas pedal my truck would stall out. It would start back up no problem til I hit the gas again. I was low on fuel so I thought that was the problem, got it to the gas station, got half a tank, the clerk said there may be ice in the lines ( live in michigan upper penninsula). Put a bottle of dry gas in it. Got home, now today it wont start. It does turn over and acts like it wants to start while the key is turned. When I let go of the key it dies. Please help, I have to be back to work in 3 days. :(

3 Replies

MERLIN2021

MECHANIC
17,250 POSTS

These older carb models do have the tendency to get frozen gas lines in real cold weather. Other than that, you can check the gas pump in the carb. See if any fuel is getting to the throttle plate. Pump the pedal, See any gas in the carb? If not you may have frozen fuel line. Try starting fluid, will it fire?

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Saturday, December 15th, 2007 AT 12:27 PM

GAWN

MEMBER
2 POSTS

Welll, as a woman I dont know much about mechanics, not using it as an excuse, just never had a reason to learn. I dont know anything about gas pump in the carburator but I do know what the throttle plate(some call it butterfly?) Is. There is gas or something in it. Stuck my finger in it and it came out black. Someone said it may be the choke and to prop throttle plate open and try to start it, I did that, didnt make a difference.

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Saturday, December 15th, 2007 AT 12:38 PM

MERLIN2021

MECHANIC
17,250 POSTS

No butterfly IS the choke, or top flap on the carb, throttle plate is inside under that one, open butterfly with your finger, pump the throttle with other hand, see any gas?

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Saturday, December 15th, 2007 AT 12:58 PM