I have a 97 Dakota 4x4, club cab, V6, Auto. About 75% of the time, when I turn the key, it starts, and then dies. There doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason why. Cold or warm...sitting for a while or starting again immediately...it still does the same thing. This is how I have to start it when I have this problem:
I turn the key and give it a little gas. I then back the RPMs down to around 600 and hold it there for a couple seconds. Then I ease off the gas slowly, and it will usually hold and run fine. If I start it and do anything else, it dies.
For example, yesterday morning it started fine. I drove my 5 minutes to work, parked it and turned it off. I then tried to start it again, and the above problem occurred. Other times I start it in the morning or afternoon and have the problem immediately.
It gives off no trouble codes and has good fuel pressure (50) when it's running. Battery seems strong (it starts quick every time), and I've disconnected/reconnected it as well to reset the computer.
If anyone has any suggestions they think might help, I'd really love to hear them, here or on email. Thanks, Tracy