HI GUYS,

I HAVE JUST BOUGHT A 97 RAM 1500 V6, I LOVE THE TRUCK BUT I HAVE BEEN HAVING SOME TROUBLE, EVERYTIME I START THE CAR IN THE MORNING OR WHEN IT HAS BEEN SITTING FOR A WHILE I HEAR A NOISE IN THE ENGINE THAT SOUNDS ALMOST LIKE A VACUUM LEAK (THE SOUND ONLY HAPPENS WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE OR DRIVE NOT WHILE IN PARK) IT ALSO SEEMS LIKE THE NOISE GETS LOUDER WHEN I ACCELERATE. I HAVE CHECKED ALL OF THE VACUUM LINES AND EVERYTHING SEEMS FINE THERE. ALSO WHEN THE CAR IS IN PARK AND I TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO EITHER SIDE I HEAR A HISSINGNOISE, IS ALL OF THIS STUFF NORMAL OR WHAT DO I NEED TO DO??????. THANKS

 

I would say that in park, the hissing noise is normal for the power steering pump. There is alot of dead weight on the front end that the pump is trying to overcome. Groaning or whining tho would not be a good thing. Can't speak to the other problem as I don't know much about the V6 setup. Hopefully one of the other guys more familiar with that engine can help out.
WC

 

Is there air in the PS pump? Jack up the front wheels and turn them to lock-to lock a few times.

 

ok I will try that, so do I just simply jack it up and turn the wheels side to side until it locks a few times? Thanks and I will let you know how it goes

 

To me it sounds like your airfilteris nottight.

 

So I need to tighten that clamp that holds the air filter assembly to the TB? also I have been hearing about a gasket that goes there somewhere in therewhere is that at? I would like to check that as well.

 

the air box is the black plastic thing that holds the air filter and sits on top of the throttle body. its held on by a big screw clamp that goes all the way around. while its idling and hissing try wiggling the air box around and see if the sound changes any.

if so, loosen the clamp and remove the air box. on top of the throttle body should be a rubber gasket about 6 inches in diamter, about 1/4 in wide, and about 1/8 in thick. if the gasket is missing, deformed, loose, or whatever it will make a hissing sucking sound. that gasket is avail at autozone for about $2. make sure it doesn't kink up when you put it on and tighten the screw clamp good and snug.

 

I will do this as soon as I get home tonight, thank you guys for all of your help I really apreciate it.

 

I just want to thank all of you guys for your help, I went home and sure enought there was no gasket and the air box was loose. I went to the autopart store and got me a new gasket and some TB cleaner, clean the TB real good and put the new gasket in, and OHHHHH man what a difference it made!!!!! the noise is gone and I'm getting way better acceleration i was getting pretty good gas mileage I thought (about 13.5 MPG city) but this should improve it more.. Again thanks to all of you guys.