Heres whats up guys... to date my 1998 ram 3.9 v6 has 120,000 miles on it and has a slight problem.... before I begin here is a list of things I have replaced recently...

Transmission..... 3,000 miles ago
Exhaust " Cat, Muffler, both new 02 sensors" 1000 miles ago
Fuel Pump....... 500 miles ago
Plugs, Wires, Ignition coil.... 500 miles ago
Air Filter and Gasket....500 Miles ago
IAC, and TPS both changed 500 miles ago

My car will run fine, then it will get to a stop and run really rough, and want to die... Sounds like the alternator may squeek when its bogging down, but the battery meter will stay above the half way mark... It was doing this before I changed all of those parts, then I decided to just drive it and the problem went away for about 500 miles... Yesterday I changed my oil, and slid off my negative battery cable to reset the CEL..... changed the oil and while driving the car began doing the same thing, im at wits end here, and any advice would be appriciated... Why would this happen when I reset the computer...

>>> THE CEL IS BACK ON WITH A O2 Below threshold efficency, but the O2's are both new, factory from dodge???? Thanks again

 

It is worse in reverse it seems, and when it boggs down I can give it gas and it will sputter, backfire-or give me a jolt of power and catch right back up with itself

 

nice post. plenty of good info about what you've already done.
i wish everybody would do that.

02 below efficiency - is that your rear o2 sensor is reporting emissions level too similar to your front 02, indicating that your cat is not doing a good enough job. you might have an aftermarket hi-flow style cat.

then again - it could all be related to a rich condition, where you're not burning all the fuel, idling rough, high emissions etc. or, even a bad front 02 that's reading lean and calling for more fuel.

do any of your plugs look different from the others?
when its idling rough, sniff the exhaust. does it smell rich ?
has you gas mpg gone down ?
do you every get a mifire code 301-308, indicating which cyl is the problem ?

 

It seems like a rich condition, The pluggs seem to be ok, they are pretty new... exhaust smells rich, andmpg is definately going down??? No misfire codes, however could it be something silly like the battery terminals dont get very tight? Just a question, they seem to slide on and off, but the battery level never goes down, unless its really about to die, and it fires up every time... seems to me like a fuel air mix, but why would it only happen when the computer was reset>>>? Thanks again

 

You need a scan tool with glitch capture/freeze frame feature.It will record data when truck poo-poos.Check fuel pressure regulator,also check for vac leaks with brake clean.I dont think the converter code is causing your issue,usually efficiency doesnt affect drivability.

 

your problem is the v6 theyer no where near strong enough to pull our trucks, just causes them to become big *** paper weights after a period of time. Get a v8

 

HOLY SMOKES, Ok FINALLY MY TRUCK IS FIXED..... here is the issue.... ANd thanks to Steve at STEVES SERVICE in Omaha NE for fixing the problem...... Turnes out the O2 sensors that I bought from O'Rilies..... BAD, The O2 Sensors I bought from the DODGE dealer BAD.... Steve put on 2 sensors from NAPA... The truck has run like a dream for 2 weeks now(IT should everything is new), and no CEL.... Turns out 3rd time is a charm when it comes to getting new O2 sensors that work.... When in doubt change the same part over and over until it works??? THanks DODGE!!!

 

yeah after reading everything you posted i was gonna say o2 sensors.. why cause my truck did the exact same thing yours was doing... new o2s and it was fine.