Expert: Sean Halliday - 9/9/2006

Question
Have a 1997 dodge ram full sized van with 89,000 on it. Once van warms up the minute you take your foot off the gas it dies. Starts right up again but dies as soon as you lift foot off gas pedal. Took it into a Dodge dealer he replaced the battery said it had low voltage but it started doing the same thing the next day. Dodge dealer adjusted the idle and now the van lopes when idling. First thought it was a fuel problem maybe bad gas . Any ideas out there as I do not want to take it to dealer for the 3rd time.

Answer
I dont know how the dealer managed to adjust it as there isnt any adjustment in the idle its done by computor.Anyway the main reasons for loping are MAF sensor.mass air flow,EGR valve sticking or the idle air control solenoid.Also could be the throttle position sensor but unless you have a check engine light i would say its a fault in the idle system as in the IAC solenoid,,,did you try a new fuel filter first?I would look at all the electrical components as well ,plugs ,cap rotor if fitted ,,,,some of these cars are non distributor type,,,,and some have distributors,,,see which you have .A lot of newer cars and vans are DIS,, distributorless ignition sytems which runs off a crank sensor,Have a good look at the engine and look for leaky vacuum hoses ,,the small rubber hoses ,,and the PCV valve,,the fault is in one of these components.