About 2 weeks ago, I noticed that my 99 RAM 1500 4x4 began to have a squishy throttle..as in not a great reaction when I stomp it and just revving the engine up.

- 99,700 miles.

It has progressivly gotten worse and today, while merging onto a local interstate, I gave it gas...then more...then had it matted and the engine revved up to about 4500 and slowly gained speed. Took about 20 seconds to get up to 60mph up a very slight incline. The dump truck in front of me outran me.

Just wondering what this could be?

Recent changes:

- Plenum replaced.

 

Not sure about the squishy throttle, but, if the engine is reving and the truck is not moving (or moving very slow compared to the RPM) it is you tranny taking a dump. Either that or your parking brake is on.

 

Well the parking brake is surely off, haha.

I figured it was about time for the tranny to go, i mean..its a dodge. Ill probably end up on the side of the road at 99,999 miles.

Is there any other tests I can do to check the tranny?

 

a bad tps would give you slow throttle response.

 

Would I be able to hear somethin wrong with the tranny from inside the cab?

LAtely when driving I hear a sound similar to coins banging around somewhere in teh dash area...

 

if your tranny is shifting gears then that ain't it.

A bad TPS is a good guess.

a clogged cat or collapsed muffler is another.

 

+1 for the cat. Get it pressure tested or temperature test it.

The catalytic converter, if memory serves, is directly under the cab, right about under where the floorboards/dash is. If its bad, it might make a sound like coins banging around.

 

If it's revving up to 4500 RPM and slowly grinding up to speed, it's the transmission. 4500 RPM is 4500 RPM, and if the gears are connected you will be going X MPH for every Y RPM. If it's at 4500 RPM and you're going 10 MPH, the transmission is slipping. Those other things would make the engine feel limp, but if it can spin to 4500 RPM and still not move the truck, the engine is probably making the power, but the transmission isn't putting it to the wheels. And if it's getting worse by the day, it isn't a bad sensor which is all or nothing or a clogged cat which will probably not degrade that quickly if it's already clogged unless it totally collapsed.

I'll put $10 on a transmission problem.

 

could it be bad cap or rotor, may need a tune up . what are you running in your truck ,check all your fluids also ,tranny ,oil

 

+1 for trans problem.
As above if it can rev to 4500 rpm, you should be movin'.
Check the trans fluid level and colour