Hello Everyone,

New user to the site but I have a problem with my truck. I have a 1995 Dodge ram 1500 truck with a v6 and 5spd tranny. With only 55,000 original miles. I drive it 3 times a week or so and I have a couple problems. The other day I decided to drain the coolant, I took the resevoir off emptied it and washed it out, put it back on the truck. I also opened the radiator cap and the drain plug on the lower side near the battery and emptied some of the coolant. I anticipated that I let most of it out, while adding new water in to flush it out. I didn't flush it out good enough apparently and filled it back up with coolant along with the resevoir. I started the truck and ran it for a while waiting for the heat to heat up but to no avail. If I was to leave the heat shut off and then turn it on it would be hot briefly, then go cold. I looked in the resovior today and it was a brownish color.

I figured it was a problem with the heating core as when I turn on the truck and rev the engine a bit I can hear a water running sound, sort of like a squeaking noise. Any suggestions for what I should do? I've got a haynes manual but it isn't the best. Also anyone have tips for emptying the radiator?

Here is my other problem. I was coming home from work the other day and the truck started to stall so, I parked it and it sort of shook and then died. I came back 30 minutes later and the truck started and ran fine. However, I noticed a similar problem today in that it appeared to lack power and almost died, however I wasn't on my way to work just testing it today as I didn't want to break down again. I've figured it was the fuel filter/pump and wanted a second opinion of what I need to check/do to make the truck run great.


I appreciate any and all help that you can give!





Erik

 

try asking as well in the 2nd gen forum. they should know more about your truck since yours is one too

 

lack of heat and sloshing noise behind dash is just air in the system. the air pocket can create an air lock. the brown coolant is the dirty coolant coming from the block. be aware that the block probably holds over a gallon of coolant.

if you want a good flush, locate the drain plugs on each side of the block, down low. i'm not sure about your V6, but on the V8 they hide behind the engine mounts. beware they can be real tight. spray the crap out of them with pb-blaster and let it soak, then clamp on some good vice grips. they're pipe plugs, and they round off easy, so get a good grip the first time. drain block and radiator. the drain plug on my radiator is weird. you turn if about a 1/2 turn, and then pull it straight out. it doesn't really unscrew.

next backflush the heater core. you can either remove the hoses from the core at the firewall (risks damage to core) or cut/splice the hoses using a couple pieces of pipe and some clamps. cut each side right in the middle, and use a water hose to flush the heater core both ways. then splice the heater hoses back together with the pipes and clamps. for the you splice can use a flush kit, or a heater splice kit, or a piece of copper pipe, it doesn't really matter what.

put some rtv or teflon on the block plugs, reconnect heater, and fill er back up w/ coolant. run the engine at idle for a long time with cap off and let all the air perc out. fill up overflow tank and drive it. the rest of the air should work out in a few days.


check fuel pressure. the pump may be going out or the filter is clogged (in the tank, thanks dodge)