This is a pretty good post I saw on the Dodge truck page.
'Bob
-----Original Message-----
From: Tim <tdw@eagnet.com>
Newsgroups: alt.autos.dodge.trucks
Date: Thursday, February 11, 1999 2:25 PM
Subject: Re: Pinging 318/360 Problem Fixed!?!
>Get the part number and manufacturer of the new plugs and post it, I
>might try this myself.
>
>I just rerouted my spark plug wires according to the TSB you mentioned
>(#18-48-98). The procedure is as follows:
>
>5.2/5.9:
>
>Reroute the coil wire along the inside of the valve cover (beside the
>intake). Any excess wire should end up on the distributor end. Route
>the distributor end of the wire down and behind the intake manifold in
>front of the oil pressure switch.
>
>Reroute the #8 plug wire over the rear quarter of the right valve
>cover. This will make it cross the other wires at a 90 degree angle.
>
>Reroute the #4 plug wire as follows: At the 3-wire clip at the front
>of the right valve cover, place the #2 wire in the top slot and the #4
>wire in the bottom slot, leaving the middle slot empty. At the 5-wire
>clip at the rear of the right valve cover, place the #4 wire in a slot
>that will give the greatest allowable distance from the #8 wire (this
>is usually the inside lower slot). Remove any slack in the #4 wire
>between the two clips. Route the #4 wire behind the transmission
>dipstick tube and heater hoses (this may not be possible in all
>instances; the wire is _barely_ long enough to do this). Make sure
>the #4 wire is at least 1 inch away from the #8 wire.
>
>Verify that the #7 wire crosses over the distributor cap and leaves
>the cap between the #3 and #6 wires (for 1998 and earlier vehicles).
>Make sure the #7 wire is at least 1 inch away from the #5 wire.
>
>Reroute the #5 wire over the top of the left valve cover in front of
>the breather tube.
>
>3.9:
>
>Reroute the coil wire down the inside of the valve cover similar to
>the 5.2/5.9 procedure.
>
>This seemed to solve the pinging problem in my 97 5.2 Dakota, but I
>still have a miss at idle that developed after I changed plugs. Im
>not sure yet if it is the plugs or I broke a wire. Once I solve this
>problem I'll post an update.
>
>Hope this helps.
>
>On 11 Feb 1999 19:23:41 GMT, "Web" <marknospamwe@selinc.com> wrote:
>
>>I've read all the posts lately about the pinging 318/360 Chrysler engines
>>in Dakotas and Rams. I have a friend who happens to own a pinging '98 4x4
>>Dakota 5 speed (318). As of today, we think the problem is finally
>>resolved. I'm hoping that others may benefit from our findings. First a
>>little background...
>>
>>My friend has struggled with a dealer for months attempting to get the
>>pinging problem fixed. There are actually two TSBs on the pinging
problem,
>>however both proposed solutions failed to remedy the situation. One fix
>>was to download new code to the computer, the other was to re-route
>>(shuffle)the spark plug wires. In both cases the dealer seemed to
question
>>whether the engine was really pining because they "couldn't make the
>>problem repeat". This was extremely frustrating, because it pinged all
the
>>time for us when on mild/steep hills and fully warmed up. Both of us are
>>aware of proper shift points and do not "work" the engine under 2000rpm.
I
>>am fully aware that a pinging engine is not a healthy one.
>>
>>An important note -- my friend has wasted far too much time holding the
>>dealers hand during the troubleshooting process. The whole problem has
>>become quite a joke, and in reality, the problem (which is not unique to
>>us) should have never made it out Chrysler's door. Judging from past
>>posts, Dodge continues to ignore the issue.
>>
>>Anyway... we finally decided to take the pickup to another dealer even
>>though the dealer is located 40 miles away. This dealer happens to be
>>close to a very steep stretch of highway so we were hoping that this
dealer
>>could make the problem repeat by driving this steep stretch of highway.
>>This turned out to be a good approach as this dealer had no problem making
>>the engine ping (making troubleshooting much easier). They tested for
>>proper fuel pressure and checked for intake (vacuum) leaks -- both checks
>>were ok. The next step was to work with the plugs, and this is where the
>>solution was found.
>>
>>The theory is that, because Chrysler has the 318/360 engines running so
hot
>>(to help meet emission standards), the plugs are actually running too hot
>>(red hot) and pre-igniting the fuel at times. The dealer replaced the
>>plugs with a cooler plug (one without the extended tip), and the pinging
>>went away (when climbing the grade). Unfortunately, I didn't get the part
>># of the plugs they used, but I can find out this information if needed.
>>The dealer advises that an even cooler plug may be needed if the pinging
>>returns in hot weather. So, the process is to keep swapping plugs to the
>>next cooler part number until the pinging goes away. Once the proper plug
>>temp is selected, it should be good year round. My only concern is
whether
>>or not the engine will pass emissions tests while running with the cooler
>>plugs. In our case, this is somewhat a non-issue since we live in a rural
>>area that lacks emissions tests.
>>
>>Now, if I can offer my opinion on this matter... It's nice to finally have
>>a solution, but...
>>
>>Wouldn't it be nice if a person could fork out $20-$30k for a Dodge truck
>>and not have to wonder if they will end up with a self-destructing,
pinging
>>V8 engine? It's a joke that Dodge customers have to purchase a noisy
>>non-Chrysler-built diesel engine (Cummins) to ensure fuel economy,
>>reliability and resale. When was the last time you heard about a pinging
>>Chev 350 or 5.3?
>>
>>I've seen posts lately discussing how great the 318/360 engines are and
how
>>Chrysler should not replace them. I wonder how many people posting those
>>comments have a Cummins engine in their truck? Truth is, with today's
>>computer-controlled ignitions, spark knock detection, etc, there is
>>absolutely no excuse for a Chrysler to continue delivering vehicles with
>>pinging engines. Chrysler's competetion has proven this. Considering
that
>>Chrysler is dedicating their R&D time to the new 4.7 V8, we can be assured
>>that Chrysler is not interested in solving the pinging 318/360 problem for
>>existing owners. Fortunately for us, we found a dealer (at least a
>>mechanic at a dealer) that is much more dedicated to problem solving than
>>Chrysler is.
>>
>>I hope this information is helpful to others experiencing the same
problem.
>>
>>
>>Mark
>>
>>
>>'98 Cummins (12 Valve) Sport Quad Cab Short Box, 5 sp, 3.55 Axle
>>'96 Yamaha Waveblaster
>
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