my idle dropped a hundred rpms....shut her down...went into the store, came back started up, drove a few feet and the idle started to surge from almost stalling to about 900 rpms and back about ever second...up down, up down. Won't idle, won't rev...just kinda surges at a higher rpm if I give it pedal. lots of black smoke as it revs, so it's getting fuel...filter is full. I'm in a panic. Any help is appreciated. I'll copy this to the 1st gen forum, too.
greg

 

The first gen has a diaphram lift pump, check it and make sure it is working properly and keeping fuel to the injection pump.

Also, check your hoses and intercooler (if yours has one) for air leaks.

Then check the diaphram and vent on the smoke control housing. Here is a site with a picture of what I am talking about: http://www.dodgeram.org/tech/dsl/mor...r/Power_ve.htm

If the smoke control vent is plugged or the diaphram gets a crack, the idle will bounce up and down as the engine tries to regulate fuel and cannot.