also the linkage is harder to move
once its warm it starts great

even pushing gas pedal down when cranking some when cold does not help

is the fix the shut off controller could that bind up the linkage?

its a friends non calif 5 speed with 300 k miles

 

Did you do the linkage recall? Had mine done last year!

 

my truck hates the cold too but it usually doesnt shut off it just idles extremely low and eventually pics back up

 

Check to see if the linkage recall has been done here, you will need the VIN
http://www.chrysler.com/webselfservi...m('R')

 

is it free even to non orig owners

 

his truck keeps dieing have to resstart about 5 times

until it runs prior to that it only runs 1 second each time

 

Also do some maintainance , at 1st I thought idle - but you mentioned giving a little throttle , fuel filter , fuel pressure test , check timing , then go on to more complicated issues , pop test injectors while looking at spray pattern .

 

my friend had similar symptoms,specially when it was really cold.the reason was broken overflow valve.
http://dodgeram.org/tech/dsl/trouble...ector_pump.htm

 

what do you consider cold starts?? my 95 12v starts doing that at like 35 deg. and practicly wont start if not plugged in bellow 20.

 

If that is the case, then something is wrong. There are many of us who can't plug our trucks in during the winter and have cold started them as low as -20F. It isn't pretty but it works. I don't want to send this thread off track but something isn't right and there are many people on this forum who would be happy to try to help you diagnose this problem.

 

In the last couple yrs. I have forgotten to plug in once in a while , sometimes as cold as -25*F , takes a few seconds to get a smooth idle .
Its best under those conditions , to cycle the heater a couple times .
But again , by your description , you have some issues , need diagnostics .

 

Assuming your grids are working have you tried giving it a little throttle?