Ok, thanks mat and Silver. I guess I need to get some parts. Will let you know what happens later.

 

I had this same problem a couple weeks ago with a 2002 3.9L. I changed the MAP and cleaned the TB. It didn't help. Problem was Bank 1 Sensor 1 O2 sensor. Very hard to get to. But, it helped and the truck runs great. When I had the problem it was scary to drive the truck.

 

Well, I used the compressor to blow out the pcv valve, the throttle body, map sensor and port and haven't had a problem for a few days now. Hopefully that was it. Not sure what it was but I think it was either a plugged pcv or a plugged map sensor port. I still need to change the O2 sensor but at least it's not bogging down and backfiring. I'll post back if the problem returns. Thanks for the help!

 

Looks like I spoke too soon. Backfiring and power loss came back today. The problem is really intermittent as it only acts up for a little while and then clears up and is fine. Any ideas why that would be???

 

Did you replace the O2 sensor? My brother has a toyota tacoma and thats exactly what happen to him O2 sensor was bad. it would have trouble going up a steep hill and would almost stall. im 90% sure thats your problem.

 

You have a pending code for a bad O2 sensor, I would start with replacing it first, drive the truck for 10 or 12 miles to learn the sensor and see how it does. Use NTK or NGK or OEM Mopar. Do not use Bosch.

Jimmy

 

I came to the same conclusion and ordered the O2 sensor today. I hope it will be a good one. I ordered it from Primechoice auto parts. I chatted with a support person and she said they manufacture the sensors themselves. Not sure if that's true or if they just buy them and have them branded in their name. Kind of a crap shoot I guess but they are cheap with shipping included and their shipping is usually fast.

I guess that's the first step before anything else. Probably won't come until Monday or Tuesday since it's the weekend. Everyone's help and advice is much appreciated.

 

Got the bank 2 #2 sensor today and put it in. As soon as I started up the truck the bank 2 #1 sensor threw the same code, an over voltage or short. I'm going to order the other sensor and see what happens. I suspected that one might be bad too. I should have trusted my instincts and ordered it at the same time. Oh well, patience is a virtue they say. This truck is going to make me really virtuous.

 

Bank 2 sensor 2 is the O2 after the cat on the right side of the truck. It's the passenger side. If you only replaced the sensor without resetting the PCM you can either stop by a parts store and see if they will clear the CEL for you with a code reader, ask a local garage to do it, or drive the truck a day or two so the PCM can learn the new sensor's input and turn out the CEL on its own. You can also do a hard reset on the PCM yourself by disconnecting the negative battery cable and holding the ignition switch in the "start" position for about 20 seconds. You could also buy your own code reader from Harbor Freight or a parts store or Amazon so you can clear the CEL yourself. No matter how you do it you should first clear the code, drive the truck a couple of days and see if it comes back and/or the backfiring/power loss problem persists.

Jimmy

 

Thanks Jimmy! I have an ELM reader that I plug into my laptop and I can clear codes with it. When I first started up the truck, instead of just the one code like before, there were now 2. I switched to view the real time data and the voltages on the #2 sensor were now within the normal range but I could see the #1 sensor was over voltage. I cleared the codes and took it for a spin, came home and shut it off. Got the laptop to check again, started it up and the CEL came on. Checked the code and it was the #1 sensor so now I'm waiting for another sensor to arrive. The other 2 sensors seem to be ok so far.