I'm brand new to the forum. I have already learned a great deal of information. Looking to replace plenum plate and gasket and other stuff really soon. Was wondering, though, do the 97 rams have the death flash and how to find out? It seems like my truck doesn't have much power at all, especially at mid and high range speeds. It really struggles going up the slightest inclines. I have to really get on the gas. It's been like that ever since I bought with 140,000 miles on it. It now has 188,000. Thanks so much.

 

There will be a hand written sticker on it. There are some pics of them somewhere on here. Try a search for death flash you may find one. Some else might chime in that has one or knows where the pics are.

Welcome to DF btw.

 

Thanks for the reply. I have searched and searched and did read something about the sticker you referenced. No sticker anywhere that I can find. The PCM is located on the passenger side on the fire wall, right? There is a sticker with some numbers, but no sticker on it (or anywhere around) that would indicate the "death flash" was done to it. The power in my RAM is just awful.

 

I cant find a pic either, it would be white and blue with hand written info on it. Could ne on the PCM itself, hood, or radiator support.

 

I saw the picture somewhere. I'll look again tomorrow in the daylight. I just checked my oil stick and I'm down around 1.5 to 2 quarts of oil. It's going somewhere. With 188,000 miles, I'm sure I need to replace the plenum plate and gasket.

 

When you do the work, replace the PCV also. Get one from the dealer only.

 

What is the death flash?

 

As these trucks don't have a knock sensor...... Chrysler reprogrammed the PCM to retard timing as there were customer complaints of spark knock. Retarding timing like that drastically reduces power output. There is a thread in the FAQ section that goes deeper into it, but, that's about it in a nutshell.

 

if you have a sticker like this one on your pcm, or radiator support then you have the death flash. also i believe all dodges after 2000 came from the factory with the df

 

So it could be possible that a truck has the death flash without a sticker??