Hi. I bought a used 2003 Dakota with a 3.9 v6 auto, 4x4 crew cab last year. I'm trying to figure out if its normal for it to take off slow and be slow up hills unless you floor it into passing gear. When I test drove it before I bought it, I only drove it on a flat straight road. Now that I have it awhile and driving up hills, it acts like i'm pulling a loaded trailer or something and I hate to keep flooring it.

Is it normal to be sluggish up hills? Also, when I pull out from a dead stop and floor it, it slowly accelerates.

The engine light is off so I think the sensors should be ok. No smoke.

The truck only has 58,000 miles on it so far with a small oil leak from a valve cover. The spark plugs look worn but still ok. It idles smooth and quiet.

I was told to check the catalytic converter that it may be getting clogged but wouldn't it throw a code first? Also it shouldn't be bad at 58,000 miles.

 

turn off the overdrive while going up hills....

 

normally with a clogged cat the plugs will look like its been in the exhaust manifold. cause they have. .