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no acceleration sluggish just started

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Old Jul 16, 2009 | 06:57 AM
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Default no acceleration sluggish just started

I have a 95 dodge ram 1500 4X4 that has a monster lift on it. everything has been regeared and whatnot and it has low miles 103k on it to be exact when driving home from work this morning my truck lost almost all its power under acceleration. It revs up the rpms at a snail speed and wont go over 2600rpms while driving or while in neutral. I have 48lbs of fuel pressure driving or at idle. The only motor mods are a cold air intake and the transmission was seriously beefed up because of the large tires (48"ers) all the modifications were done some time ago and I have never really had a problem with the truck before. I was thinking maybe the tps sensor or possibly a clogged catalytic convertor but would a clogged cat just pop up within a day?? I was also thinking that maybe the fuel pump was not pumping enough volume but am really unsure. No check engine lights, the truck starts up fine and idles fine, no motor noise and I don't believe any vacuum leaks or anything like that but it is hard to tell driving down the road because of the tire noise. I need help ASAP I am entered into the mud bogging competition this weekend and need to have the truck out there (it only happens here 3 times in the summer) thanks in advance for any help
 
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Old Jul 16, 2009 | 07:47 AM
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tps is the cheap check. the cat will require more work to test. Sounds like you're on the right track.

You need to post pics of that monster.
 
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Old Jul 16, 2009 | 08:00 AM
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here is an older video before the new wheels and tires the wheels in the video are 44" swampers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsiMBDzsBuU
 
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Old Jul 16, 2009 | 03:30 PM
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the tsb about the cat says to smack it with a rubber mallet to see if there is a rattle in it from the catalyst detatching from the walls. another quick easy way to check it is with a heat gun (20$ at advance), if its like 500º on the front and 150º on the back then its plugged. you could also see how strong the exhaust flow is at the tailpipes.

some guys on here also say to take your front o2 sensor out to see if it will rev up and have its power back for the most part. doing that will let the exhaust vent out of the o2 hole. the truck will have a screwed up air/fuel ratio and a cel because the sensor is out but it will tell you if its the cat being plugged. if you do that and take it for a spin then you should take the o2 sensor off completely, if you leave it hanging then it can get banged up and you will need a new one.

most of the guys at the hill and hole mud racing here run straight headers with a turndown pipe putting the exhaust on the ground.

if its the tps then you can check it with a multimeter, the haynes manual tells how to check it. i think the tps goes out over time and the cat can happen in a day if the catalyst detatches and blocks the flow. and with a plugged cat you will have no power, low rpms and more than likely a cylinder missfire, i believe on cylinders #7 and #8.

then again, who needs a cat anyway? you could just hack it off and put a straight pipe in its place. then cut the cat in half, gut it and weld the shell onto the straight pipe so it will look like you have one. then take some spark plug non foulers, cut the male threads off (most of them) and weld it into the pipe for o2 sensor threads.

oh yeah, i forgot to say that i'm jealous of your truck. you weren't kidding about the monster comment.
 
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Old Jul 16, 2009 | 03:54 PM
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It does sound like the cat, and if it is, time to check the plenum also. Pull the plugs and see what they look like.
 
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Old Jul 16, 2009 | 07:22 PM
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im jealous now nice!
 
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Old Jul 16, 2009 | 10:26 PM
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easy way to check cat.. vacumm gauge.. cost about $10.00.. .. but if its just sluggish when you first start it.. it could be that the converter in the tranny has drained and would need a few minutes of driving to fill it back up... good luck
 
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Old Jul 16, 2009 | 11:23 PM
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ommm yea lol
 
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Old Jul 17, 2009 | 12:44 AM
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DAMNN...wait, you towed it with a ford?
 
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Old Jul 17, 2009 | 02:18 AM
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i replaced the cat today and it made a hell of a difference i have all the power back but now when i take off, the rpms will jump up to about 1500 and then it will fall back down to like 300 rpm's and has died out completely 3 or 4 times. it does it more when it is cold and the problem seems to be intermittent. And the reason I was towing it with a ford is because my truck wasn't street legal then, but is now
 
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