Another stupid dodge problem! (wanna buy it?)

[DR]

I have a 99 dodge Durango with a 5.9 that recently would not start. I found that when you turn the key on all of the gauges come on as they should except for the fuel gauge. It stays at the bottom and does not come up. I also cant hear the fuel pump running. Sometimes after a short period, the gauge comes up and the fuel pump then turns on and the engine will start. But, after ir runs a while the gauge drops back down, fuel pump shuts off and the engine dies.

Some have suggested the fuel pump relay, which Im going to replace. But, can a relay turn on and off when it is going bad?

Im open for any ideas!

 

[apache]

Sounds like "A Jeep thing" in that my 98 TJ as well as most TJ jeeps of the later 90ies had bad factory connectors throughout including under the dash. On mine it caused exactly what you explain however typically on jeeps the entire dash cluster is dead. Ive never heard this as a problem on Dodges but considering their all come outta DC`s house of horrors it may be the same. Tear into things and clean every factory connection you can find,clean it with electrical contact cleaner and use some dilectric silicone and hopefully you`ll be back on the road. Do some research on ball joint recalls/failures on durangos and dakotas also if you havent already had them replaced,might say a crash and burn and injuries of somebody.