5.9L spark pinging

[samo5.9]

Hi everyone,
I'm new here, and know little about jeep-lingo (models and such) but I know a little (tiny) bit about cars.
I have a 5.9Ltd and have been noticing an engine ping while under load (getting on the hwy, towing up a hill...)
I have taken it to the dealer a number of times, and they replaced the intake manifold gasket (twice) and re-flashed the ECU.
I've heard that this a known problem, to which Chrysler had issued the following fix: advance or retard the ignition timing by up to +2 degrees to -4 degrees (max). However, they stopped making the files to update the computer available. Apparently, some emissions control board deemed that this fix compromised some emission standard.

Is there any other way to fix this? Is this just a characteristic of the engine? Am I stuck with it this way? I hope not... I'd hate to tell my parents how much I paid for a car that runs like crap...

[J's Jeep]

do you use Premimum fuel?

[samo5.9]

nothing but... believe me, i wish i didn't need to but nothing below 91 octane has ever been put in the car.

[TiggersBounce]

Mopar Combustion chamber cleaner.
Buy 2 cans.
Get the engine warm
Pull plugs
Spray one complete can evenly into all 8 cylinders through spark plug holes
Bump engine over
Spray 2nd can into all 8 cylinders, same as above
Put plugs back in
Wait 45 minutes
Pull fuel pump relay in PDC
Crank engine until it sputters to life and dies
Replace fuel pump relay
Restart engine
Go drive the **** out of it for 30 minutes or so

***** Do this outdoors ... huge clouds of white smoke are created when it fires up *****

This is a method recommended by an ASE-certified DC mechanic/shop foreman.
It works. I and others will attest to it.

[CincyZJ]

Tiggers Bounce suggestion is a great one you might also want to browse these TSB's. Eventhought they are listed under the RamTech site they apply to you engine. I would pay pareticular attention to the spark plug wire re-route especially if you still are using stock wires. Here are 3 links to look at

http://dodgeram.org/tech/tsb/2000/09-05-00.htm

http://dodgeram.org/tech/tsb/1997/18_34_97.htm

http://dodgeram.org/tech/tsb/1998/18_48_98.htm

Good luck

[samo5.9]

thanks for all the replies, I'll look into all of the suggestions posted.

TiggersBounce - The last time I took it into the dealer, they took the manifold off, soaked it overnight, blew it off in the morning and then put it back on. Would this not do more or less the same thing as what you're suggesting? Let me know... I don't want to duplicate their work (it'll probably take a rookie like me ages to complete!).


CincyZJ - I've seen the dodgeram.org articles... I just wasn't sure if the engines they talked about were fuel injected or not (I don't know if that makes a difference).

Thanks again, I hope something works... that ping is not a nice sound, especially with the windows open!