Coast Resorts Open Roads Forum: How many of us are there? Owners of Dodge based RV's?

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Topic: How many of us are there? Owners of Dodge based RV's?

Posted By: rehoppe on 07/30/11 03:18pm

Leeann wrote:

Have you recently replaced the gas cap? The original is vented. If it's been replaced with non-vented or if the vent is clogged, 6 miles is about right for too strong a vacuum for the mechanical fuel pump to overcome and suck enough fuel.

Plus one.

Try driving with the cap off and just a cloth stuck in the fill spout, or maybe just the cap loose, depending on how it sits, or if it has a 1st and 2nd notch.

We used to call that sort of problem, Vapor Lock.

Hoppe
2011 Dodge 1500 C'boy Caddy
2000 Jayco C 28' Ford chassis w V-10 E450
Doghouse 36' or so Trophy Classic TT

Posted By: oldtrucker63 on 07/30/11 06:20pm

It could be a bad coil also, Run's good until it get's hot.

Without Trucks,....America Stop's

Posted By: JDMopar on 07/30/11 06:34pm

mbryanr wrote:

Ok guys...hoping you may help me here. I have a '77 Dodge RV (360), which has run perfectly to this point. It has sat since the Winter, but I took care of the battery and the fuel system over the winter/spring. I haven't had much of chance to run it due to gas costs etc.

We took it out today in preparation of a trip. Started up perfectly. Went to pick up some oil and a fuel filter...and it cuts out on me. Begins to sputter (similar to losing electrical power/fuel) and dies. I let it sit for ~5 minutes, and it starts right back up. Travel ~ 4 miles and it repeats the same. Won't start unless I let it sit for ~5-10 minutes, at which point it fires right up. I finally get it back home with it cutting out at an increasing rate.

Thinking it could have been a bad fuel pump, I replaced it. Start it back up and it runs ~6 miles. Thinking "ok it is fixed!" - it hiccups and begins to cut out. If I don't push the accelerator it will idle perfectly, but once I hit the accelerometer...it cuts outs and stalls.

Any ideas on troubleshooting? I'm thinking electrical ground...but I'm probably way off. I would appreciate any help, let me know if you need more info.

Check every piece of rubber fuel line on the vehicle, and also drop the tank and see if the sock on the pickup line is clogged up. I had a 79 dodge with a 440 that did about the same thing. Every time there was a load on the engine, like pulling a hill...it sputtered and lurched and almost quit. I replaced the fuel filter located midways of the frame rail on the passenger side and thought that was the problem since it was so rusty on the outside. I cut it open and it was clean as could be. The motorhome had an electric helper pump out back next to the tank, so I pulled the fuel filter back off and used the pump to drain the gas into jugs. I then dropped the 30 gallon plastic tank, and found the main part of the problem as I was lowering the tank. The rubber hose going from the tank to the metal fuel line was rotten and letting air get sucked in. I pulled the pickup tube out of the tank and found the sock to be clogged as well. I cleaned out the tank to get any dirt out,and left the sock off. I added another inline filter before the helper pump, and used high grade hose to replace the rotten one. That fixed it, and I never had anymore problems. Good luck.

Posted By: mbryanr on 07/31/11 08:11am

Thanks everyone that provided some troubleshooting clues. I did recently drop the tank in order to replace the exhaust (and as a result...maybe messed something up). I'll look into it more today..

* This post was edited 07/31/11 08:21am by mbryanr *

Posted By: mbryanr on 07/31/11 10:08am

Alright here is the progress this afternoon.
Checked to see if the fuel cap vent was the problem. Stalled at exactly the same point.

I also had previously replaced the fuel pick up assembly (during the exhaust replacement) as the float on the old one had rotted off. The orientation outside of the tank of the nipple was originally @90 degrees from vertical. The new one is @vertical (upwards). This kinks the hose some.

In progress of draining the tank the kink appears to not cause a problem..the fuel pick up could be partially plugged.

Found (1) hose that was rotted after the electric fuel pump

Still draining...

Posted By: oldtrucker63 on 07/31/11 11:13am

mbryanr wrote:

Thanks everyone that provided some troubleshooting clues. I did recently drop the tank in order to replace the exhaust (and as a result...maybe messed something up). I'll look into it more today..

When I put my tank back on I pinched the fuel line between the tank and the frame, Front part, Just loosing the tank and pull the lines out a little.

Posted By: oldtrucker63 on 07/31/11 11:14am

mbryanr wrote:

It could sucking that rotted line together.???

Posted By: mbryanr on 07/31/11 05:34pm

Further updates and success!
Replaced rotted fuel hose
Checked to verify no lines were kinked or obstructed
Replaced the pick up line from the tank with the original.

And was able to drive for 30+ miles with no issues.
Thank you again for the help. and...vapor lock sucks. [emoticon]

Posted By: oldtrucker63 on 07/31/11 07:42pm

mbryanr wrote:

Hey glad to here that man, Happy camping.

Posted By: mbryanr on 08/01/11 06:43am

I really want to thank the users here. Once again, just when I wasn't certain which direction to proceed - your input helped me along the way. While these old Dodge RVs are easier (and "funner" [emoticon]

)to work on than a new vehicle...they can still have you pulling your hair out.

In summary, it was vapor lock. It came down to the pick up line. I don't know if the orientation of the nipple outside the tank caused the problem or a plugged line. The hose (connected to the tank --> the pump)would leak slightly at the tank because of the bend required...don't know if this allowed it to suck in air. Anyways, I was so happy (and smelling like I was dipped in gas!) I didn't blow through the pick-up line to check for blockage.

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