2nd Gen Ram Tech 1994-2001 Rams: This section is for TECHNICAL discussions only, that involve the 1994 through 2001 Rams. For any non-tech discussions, please direct your attention to the "General discussion/NON-tech" sub sections.

Rough Idle/ dirty sparkplug

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
  #1  
Old 10-22-2021, 01:01 PM
Ramchie's Avatar
Ramchie
Ramchie is offline
Professional
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2021
Location: TX
Posts: 101
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Rough Idle/ dirty sparkplug

97 5.9l

Truck idles roughly after a few minutes. Acts like its going to die, catches itself and revs up, then repeats. It was misfiring going down the road recently as well.

Turned out the spark plug for cylinder 5 was toast as well as the spark plug wire. I replaced it and it no longer misfires going down the road, but still idles roughly. Only that plug looked even dirty the rest were fine.

no engine codes, it was giving p0305 before when it was misfiring going down the road. That went away with new plug.

I replaced evap canister and carbon canister in the hopes bad idle has something to do with that. Opening gas lid/ unhooking evap line under hood seems to have no effect on how it idles down and up.

I notice that my air intake, the plastic that seals over the plenum with a worm clamp- is cracked on the lip that goes over the plenum. Could it be that crack is fouling up the air mixture?

Thanks. Just seems like the misfire and the bad idle are related- could be wrong. Trying to find the source of the issue


 
  #2  
Old 10-22-2021, 01:19 PM
HeyYou's Avatar
HeyYou
HeyYou is offline
Administrator
Dodge Forum Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Clayton MI
Posts: 80,749
Likes: 0
Received 3,177 Likes on 2,930 Posts
Default

The filter housing is unlikely to be your problem. Maybe a vacuum leak somewhere... How old is the distributor cap/rotor?
 
The following users liked this post:
Ramchie (10-22-2021)
  #3  
Old 10-22-2021, 02:08 PM
Ramchie's Avatar
Ramchie
Ramchie is offline
Professional
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2021
Location: TX
Posts: 101
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by HeyYou
The filter housing is unlikely to be your problem. Maybe a vacuum leak somewhere... How old is the distributor cap/rotor?
I'm not sure. You would suggest replacing the cap and rotor?
I probably don't have to replace the entire distributor? I have never replaced anything on the distributor before so bare with me.

Looks like its pretty cheap for the cap and rotor. I don't know much about it- but they sell 'tuning kits' for about the same price. Is that just a better rotor/ spark plug wires? https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...une-up+kit,684
 
  #4  
Old 10-22-2021, 04:07 PM
HeyYou's Avatar
HeyYou
HeyYou is offline
Administrator
Dodge Forum Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Clayton MI
Posts: 80,749
Likes: 0
Received 3,177 Likes on 2,930 Posts
Default

Not sure about quality on those....... I usually just go to the local parts store, and see what they have. Might spend a little more, but, I get better quality parts, and if there is a problem, they are right there. Not three-day shipping away.
 
  #5  
Old 10-23-2021, 10:08 AM
Moparite's Avatar
Moparite
Moparite is offline
Grand Champion
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 6,022
Likes: 0
Received 347 Likes on 327 Posts
Default

That went away with new plug
Did you replace one plug or all of them?
 
  #6  
Old 10-23-2021, 11:19 AM
Ramchie's Avatar
Ramchie
Ramchie is offline
Professional
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2021
Location: TX
Posts: 101
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by Moparite
Did you replace one plug or all of them?
Just the one plug and wire.
 
  #7  
Old 10-24-2021, 11:35 AM
Moparite's Avatar
Moparite
Moparite is offline
Grand Champion
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 6,022
Likes: 0
Received 347 Likes on 327 Posts
Default

If one was bad who knows what condition the rest are in.
 
  #8  
Old 10-24-2021, 10:10 PM
85RAM1995's Avatar
85RAM1995
85RAM1995 is offline
Amateur
Join Date: Sep 2021
Location: California
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Default

Hello

I had the same problem with my 1995 ram 1500 gas 5.9 and I did all of the sparks plugs and cap rotor and replaced all of the vacuum line and everything worked out very well. But I still have an engine vibration so I am now replacing the harmonic balancer and all of the pulleys as well.

But good luck hopes it works out for you.
 
  #9  
Old 10-25-2021, 01:53 AM
Ramchie's Avatar
Ramchie
Ramchie is offline
Professional
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2021
Location: TX
Posts: 101
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by 85RAM1995
Hello

I had the same problem with my 1995 ram 1500 gas 5.9 and I did all of the sparks plugs and cap rotor and replaced all of the vacuum line and everything worked out very well. But I still have an engine vibration so I am now replacing the harmonic balancer and all of the pulleys as well.

But good luck hopes it works out for you.
Thanks. I'll take your advice. Where did you get your rotor/cap and lines? I've always thought rockauto was superior to the likes of autozone/advance auto parts but heyyou has me second guessing myself.
 
  #10  
Old 10-25-2021, 04:48 AM
MoparFanatic21's Avatar
MoparFanatic21
MoparFanatic21 is offline
Legend
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 8,032
Received 306 Likes on 298 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by Ramchie
Thanks. I'll take your advice. Where did you get your rotor/cap and lines? I've always thought rockauto was superior to the likes of autozone/advance auto parts but heyyou has me second guessing myself.
I get mine from Rockauto but never checked with the part stores. My logic is this. If the part is less then $15 more at the parts store I go with them, for the reason HeyYou mentioned. If it's above $15 more I go with RockAuto
 


Quick Reply: Rough Idle/ dirty sparkplug



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 10:08 PM.