OK, just bought this 1997 Ram 1500 4WD, 5.9L, auto.

Crawling around underneath, I found a couple of vacuum lines that look cut or broken.

Pic 1 - this is a red and black line that goes down to the skid plate. The red line looks severed -- I take it that's not normal... but thought I'd ask you experts before I fix it. Bonus points if anyone can tell me what it does...



Pic 2 - this one is green and white (pink?) and runs along the top of the tranny (pic is from left side of tranny, looking up towards left exhaust.) It looks like it runs up near the rear of the left engine head. I found a severed doodad (technical term) hanging off the green line, but cannot seem to find where it goes. Anyone know where this vacuum cable goes?



Tranny doesn't want to shift into 3rd. Hoping it has something to do with the vacuum...

Thanks if you can help!

 

They would be problems. The 1st pic is for the t case.

 

Thinking out loud wonder if any of those are for the vacuum assist for 4-wheel drive for front axle?

 

hey... someone else from buffalo!

I found someone had actually cut the wires going to the vacuum assist on my front axle wired them back up but havent had time to test it out for more than 50 feet or so to see if anything is wrong

 

i believe you are right. the first pic looks the same as the hoses for my 4 wheel drive actuator on the front of my axle

the second pic looks to be the hoses that go into the transmission.

Mine were green red black and white i think not sure on the white

 

the first one is the vacuum line that connects to the cad unit and it is what makes the front axle engage. since it is broken your 4x4 won't work.
the second one doesn't look familiar.

 

Thanks for the help!

This truck is a bit of a basket case, but it was cheap...

Sounds like the red/black is front axle -- easy enough.

As far as the second pic, the other end of the white line (what the white line in the pic connects to) runs up to the right side of the throttle body and connects with some other small vacuum lines into the manifold. Based on the length of the cut end, I'd say the green tube with the black thingy should connect to something near the distributor or back of the left head. Just can't seem to find it...

No luck finding a vacuum diagram in the service manual and it's not shown on the emission sticker either.

It would be nice if it was tranny related, though. Maybe fix my upshift problem...

Any tips on how to splice these vacuum lines??

 

I dont remember anything like that connecting to the heads on mine. Tomorrow if I remember I will try to see if I can find them lines

 

That would be great -- thanks. Seems like the distributor would be a likely place for the green to attach. It's also throwing a code 43 (ignition coil circuit) but the engine drives fine. A missing vacuum line to the disty might mess with timing and throw that error code.

 

How come I don't see any pics?