My 1997 1/2 ton Ram is running bad. The check engine light is on and it lacks power at acceleration but sounds ok at idle. I had a local auto parts store check the code and it said that it was missing but didn't give a reason why. I changed all the plugs and no help. Anybody got any suggestions befoe I give up my life saving to take it to a shop.

 

what was the code? missing could be anything from a tuneup to a bad o2 sensor. can you be more specific on how it's missing?

 

I don't know what the cxode was. I sent my son and they told him it was missing. Guess I'm going to have to do it myself. I really can't tell that it's missing. It does bog down upon acceleration but sounds fine idling. Other than that the check engine light is on. I have replaced spark plug wires, spark plugs, dist. cap and roter.

 

I had a similar problem with my 97 1/2 ton. It sounded fine at idle but while driving it lacked power and when I tried to get on it the rpms would go up but I would accelerate very slowly. My problem turned out to be the catalytic converter. If you will have somebody get rev the engine around 2000-2500 rpms while you get under the truck by the cat you can listen and see if you get a rattle. If you get a rattle you need a new cat.

 

you can also test it by checking the input temp vs the output temp... output should be 50 deg or so hotter than the input. if they are the same, cat is bad, if the input is hotter then the cat is plugged in some way