My 2000 Dodge Dakota 4x4 with a 4.7L engine is experiencing intermittent failure where the odometer loses communication (no bus) and the vehicle shuts down when left idle for an extended period. I'm wondering if this issue can be traced to a single sensor malfunction, or if it's related to a broader electrical fault. Any insights on possible root causes or diagnostic steps would be greatly appreciated.
Try disconnecting the positive battery terminal for a few minutes. After reconnecting, the vehicle should restart immediately — this can help determine if a power-related issue is causing the shutdown.
There's a known short in the wiring to the AC compressor. Could this fault be contributing to broader electrical failures, such as loss of gauges or instrument cluster functionality?
The AC compressor only activates when the air conditioning or defrost is selected — so a faulty compressor wire would not cause a complete system shutdown. If you're scanning for engine codes, even without a dedicated scanner, try the 'key dance' method (rapidly cycling the key on and off) to retrieve any hidden or intermittent fault codes. This may reveal clues even if full code display isn't available. Also, given known wiring issues with AC, ensure that repair of this short is completed before assuming it's unrelated to the current problem.
The only check engine light code I've seen so far is P0443 — related to the purge solenoid. Although I replaced the solenoid, this hasn't resolved the intermittent shutdown issue.
Are you currently using an OBD2 scanner? What exactly is the code for the 'purge' system — P0443 or another?
P0443
The key term here is 'CIRCUIT'. Check if there's a consistent 12V supply to the purge solenoid valve. Verify that the control side is properly grounded, not open, and not shorted to voltage. Are you using an OBD2 scanner to retrieve fault codes? Note: while the key dance trick can help reveal some intermittent faults, it does not provide a complete list of stored codes.
Yes, I am currently using an OBD2 scanner to read diagnostic trouble codes.
The easiest approach is to test components one at a time — start with the Throttle Position Sensor (TPS). Also, were there any prior issues before this occurred? For example, did you experience problems with the check engine light, AC system, or EVAP-related codes? These could provide valuable clues about underlying electrical or sensor faults.