Hey all, Newbie here. I have a 97 Ram 1500 4X4 w/360. Had this truck about 3 months, and it has been interesting ever since. First big prob was tranny, rebuilt it, everything great there, but about a week later something strange started happening. When going down the road, at about 2500 RPM I noticed it seemed to be missing a bit, so i got into it a bit more, and around 3000 RMP it started to die out like it wanted to stall. Asked a few of my buds who owned these 2nd Gen Ram's, and they all thought it was the fuel pump. I was thinking something like an air flow problem, but trusted them since I was new to the Dodge Ram life.

Well I changed the fuel pump, which was an absolute joy, since I had just put 26 gallons of gas in it. Well long story short, not the fuel pump, still having the problem. So i took off the air filter to take a look at the throttle body intake, and noticed it was filthy! Cranked the truck, and when I would give it some gas I heard a loud hissing/whistling sound, like the truck was trying to suck air. I know these trucks don't have a mass air flow sensor, so I checked the forum, and seen some posts stating it is probably the IAC. But also seen some pointing to something called a plenum, or possibly just needs a good tune up and/or coil replaced. Well What do you Dodge Ram Pros think? Look forward to your thoughts and guidance.

Great forum by the way!!

Jordan

 

Welcome!

The hissing/sucking noise you here with the air filter off is completely normal. All vehicles make that noise when the air filter is removed because of the enormous amount of air that is needed to keep an engine running.

The rough running could be caused by a bad catalytic converter. They are known to deteriorate and clog up the exhaust system. If you hear any rattling noise coming from the catylictic converter when the truck is running either gut it, remove it, or replace it with a magnaflow cat. One of the main reasons for bad cats is a bad plenum gasket, which could also be part of your problem.

Is there oil pooling in the intake manifold? Do you hear any spark knock under acceleration? Does your truck burn oil? These are all signs of a bad plenum gasket.

The problem could also be fuel related like your friends mentioned. Have you tested the fuel pressure with the new pump installed? You could still have a clogged fuel line even with the new pump. Is the fuel filter clogged up? It might be dirty injectors too. Is your check engine light on?

You could just need a good tune up too. Replacing the spark plugs, cap, rotor, and wires will probably help a lot. Have you pulled the spark plugs to see what kind of condition they're in?

 

Try taking out your pre-cat o2 sensor, if it runs good with it out then your cat is bad if it runs the same its very possible a plenum, the plenum gasket is the gasket on the bottom side of the intake and is a common problem with dodges

 

I am getting everything to do a good tune up on it today, and cleaning the throttle body since it was pretty dirty, especially on the top side.

I didn't think about the Cat, could be the issue, while I was under the truck doing the fuel pump, I noticed the Flow Master was from the cat and back, so the Cat is probably OEM... I will also try the O2 Sensor.

So far, at 143K, this truck seems to be in pretty good shape, and expected some issues buyin an older truck. I got this one for 3K, with brand new 33X15.50X15 mickey's, and Rand Hand bumbers on the front and back, so not a bad deal I don't think. Hopefully I can have it all good and ready to go to give to my son next year, so Dad can buy a newer one!

Thanks for the response, and is their anything else I should look at that is a known issue with these trucks?

thanks,

Jordan

 

I am getting everything to do a good tune up on it today, and cleaning the throttle body since it was pretty dirty, especially on the top side.

As far as the fuel line still being clogged, I guess that could be a possibility too. There is no in line fuel filter, just the combo unit on the fuel pump, which I replaced the who deal on that.

I didn't think about the Cat... could be the issue, while I was under the truck doing the fuel pump, I noticed the Flow Master was from the cat and back, so the Cat is probably OEM... I will also try the O2 Sensor. No Check engine light on though, which usually happens with an O2 Sensor correct?

The truck isn't burning oil at all, and no knocking under accelaration. So not sure if it is the Plenum/Belly Pan or not, but will check it out when I am cleaning up the throttle body intake...

So far, at 143K, this truck seems to be in pretty good shape, and expected some issues buyin an older truck. I got this one for 3K, with brand new 33X15.50X15 mickey's, and Rand Hand bumbers on the front and back, so not a bad deal I don't think. Hopefully I can have it all good and ready to go to give to my son next year, so Dad can buy a newer one!

Thanks for the help and greatly appreciated... is their anything else I should look at that is a known issue with these trucks?

thanks,

Jordan

 

I looked at my o2 sensor today, and I think that is where the problem is...After looking at it, it looks like the folks that rebuilt my tranny last month damaged the o2 Sensor, and the wire, as there are bare spots right at the sensor where you can see the wire itself. I bought a new one, and tried to change the old one, but I couldn't get it to budge. I sprayed some Rust eater on it to see if it would losen but no go. Guess I will have to take a torch to it tomorrow if it doesn't loosen. I will post the results.

Also looked down inside the intake when I was cleaning the throttle body out, no significant oil that I could see in the intake Manifold, so I think the plenum is OK.

Again thanks everyone for the info!

Jordan