I recently picked up a 2000 ram sport 1500 5.2 for a steal. The only problem with the truck is that sometimes it sputters and kinda bucks while driving, It will only do this once it has warmed up. Idles perfectly fine in both park and drive. What happens is when you are giving it just enough gas to hold speed to keep up with traffic it will sputter, kind of like a misfire. It only does it with light throttle pressure, little less than 1/4 throttle. If I give it more gas or let up on the gas it will stop and drive fine until I go to give it light throttle again. There is no CEL and no stored codes. Plugs, wires, cap, and rotor were done by the last owner. I routed the plug wires according to the TSB and it seemed to help a little. The coil has not been replaced, think that could have something to do with this? Possible TPS or crank sensor maybe?

 

Coil doesn't care where your throttle is. Check (or change) the TPS on the throttle body.

 

bumpity

 

Bump? Have you done anything?

 

I ordered a new TPS from rockauto which came today. Put it in and the truck is much better. The problem has gone 90% away. I notice that it still stumbles a little at a high RPM right before the trans shifts to 3rd or OD. Not bad at all, almost to the point where I can live with it. Im going to throw a can of injector cleaner in the tank. I was thinking also, the previous owner did the plugs and wires. Im going to pull the plugs this weekend to make sure he gapped them correctly. Thanks alot for the help though, its a ton better now.

 

Sweet ... don't forget to reset the PCM.

It's always good to get feedback. People will have a better idea of what works if they do a search for this problem.

 

I reset the PCM after I put the new TPS in. There is a small problem though. Last night we went out for dinner, about a half hour drive. Near the end of the drive the truck started to shutter again. Nowhere near as bad as before but still not good. Also at slow speeds in a parting lot it was shuttering, like a stumble, I dont know how to explain it. Im going to look over the truck more today.

 

Remove and clean the IAC sensor on the back of the TB and clean it, and the bore in the TB where it installs. Also when you check the plugs do this, http://dodgeram.info/tsb/1998/18-48-98/18-48-98-v8.htm

 

Ok plugs have been checked and are gapped corectly. When I got the truck the plug wires were a mess. One of the first things I did was route them like the TSB says. IAC has been replaced. Problem is still there. Light throttle and it will buck kinda. Doesnt do it all the time however. I also noticed its poping out the exhaust now too. Looks like the plenum gasket was just recently done, theres no oil pooled up in there and the intake has new gaskets on it. Also the more I look at it the truck appears to have one new head, Im thinking one was cracked at some point. I say it looks newer because one head is rusty and the other is rather clean. Like I said it idles fine, doesnt run hot, make good oil pressure(little over half way mark). The truck runs real good when it isnt stumbling, and it doesnt do it all the time. Itll be fine, then do it then, it will be fine again. Its really buggin me now. Any other ideas?

 

See if it does it with OD off.