Hello, I am new here and I need some help with my 1996 Ram 1500 with the 5.2L V8. About a week ago the engine started running real rough and surging under load or trying to go up a hill. It was like I was on a bull trying for a 8 second ride. It would run ok on flat road from about 1/4 throttle to about 1/2 throttle (~1000-1500 RPMS) but above that it would not run unless I mashed the throttle to the floor and then it would only run about 10-15 MPH.

Earlier this week the Check Engine Light finally came on and I took it to have the code read. It had 5 codes, but I don't remember them all. I know it had a bad MAP sensor code so I replaced that, and it had a misfire on #2 code so I replaced the spark plugs and plug wires. The plugs looked ok (light tan color), but no signs of fouling. It was late but I took it for a test drive, and no sign of the surging but it still was way under powered.

Now yeasterday and today it is back to the same old suring under load or going up hil (even the slighest hill) with hardly any power. It has not turned on the check engine light yet. I have no idea what the probelme might be, any help would be greatly appreciated.


Thanks,

Tom

 

Welcome to the Dodge Forum. How many miles does your truck have? Anyway you can get us the rest of the codes?

The issues your describing could be lack of fuel, lack of air, maybe the plenum the list goes on.

 

The truck has 122,000 miles. I did not get the codes written down from AutoZone. As far as I can remember it was Faulty Mass Air Flow Sensor (which they determined was the MAP sensor since the truck did not have a Mass Air Flow Sensor), Misfire on #2, Faulty Coil (which I have not replaced), Transmission Temp Sensor (not sure where that is or what it is, but I had the transmission replaced about 4000 miles ago), and I can not remember what the 5th fault code was.

currently no check engine light on, so I don't know if the codes could still be read? It starts right up on the first crank and idles fine.....just goes to hell when under a load (i.e. going up a hill....even a small hill).


Tom

 

Sounds like you need to check your catalytic converter. Especially if you are getting a misfire in cylinder 5 (I think its 5 not 100%)

 

sounds like this.....mine threw random codes when this was the prob.....
http://dodgeram.info/tsb/1998/18-48-98.htm

 

I'd replace the coil first. That's probably what's causing most of your other problems as well.

 

I would hazard a guess that the catalytic converter is plugged. Get it pressure checked at a muffler repair shop. If it has backpressure the it needs to be replaced.

 

I agree with most of the others here:

1. Replace the coil, and while you're in there, reroute the wires as per that TSB dakotas_ram linked for you. Its free and it won't hurt anything if that isn't the issue.
2. Have the catalytic converter checked at a shop.

I doubt the plenum gasket would cause that. Lack of power compared to normal, yes, loss of MPGs, yes, but not able to go over a couple dozen MPH? Thats usually the catalytic converter.

 

i have a 98 5.2 that i want to put the summit overdrive pulleys on, and i was wondering if any-one can say they have heard of them and or knows if they work. i would like to get them because i live in az and i would like to use my a/c but the darn viscus fan clutch loves the heat.. so if any one has any sugestions or comments or addvice please let me know.

thank you.

 

Welcome to the DF. I see that your a newbie, so with that being said, you should start your own thread. People tend to hate it when they get thread jacked. I'm sure you'll get an answer. Good luck.