Chrysler Repair: 95 Dodge PU 5.2, electronic fuel injection, body paint

Question
My friends pickup starts very hard when cold, when it finally does start, it runs very rough until it is warm. If this vehicle had a carburator, I could work on it. I don't know much about electronic fuel injection. I have over 40 years in auto repair and volunteer myself but I do body, paint and frame work, not much on the grease side.

Answer
Hi Mike,
I'm with you on the carburetor familiarity, and that is one of the reasons I decided to learn more about FI about 15 years ago when I acquired our first injected Chrysler. Because your friend's truck is a '95 it is still OBD I fault code system. So take the ignition key and turn it:"on-off-on-off-on and leave it on" doing that in 5 seconds or less elapsed time. Then watch the check engine light which remains "on" to begin to flash, pause, flash, etc. Count the number of flashes before each pause. Then repeat to be sure you have an accurate count. Then group the numbers in pairs in order of appearance to form the 2-digit fault code numbers. The last number will always be 55, which is "end of readout".
Then either write back or go to www.allpar.com/fix/codes.html for a code listing. That is the most efficient way to move ahead. You might also check the egr valve if the 5.2 has one to make sure the stem moves freely. I don't have wiring diagrams or manuals for that engine, but at least the code results can be explored.
Roland.