So my 97' Ram 1500 has had some troubles recently. A mechanic I took it to said he thinks its a dirty fuel filter. Here's the story.

When I go from driving to a sudden stop my RPMs drop rapidly and my truck shuts off and the oil light comes on. It used to have a hard time starting back up and the problem would just repeat until I let it sit for awhile.

Well I started using some seafoam when I filled up which would help the problem during the first 100miles or so. If I slowly come to a stop it seems to help and the rpms drop just not all of the way. When it does start dropping and if it doesn't shut off the rpms almost drop to zero the lights on the dash dim out ( loss of power I assume)

Do you think I need to replace my fuel filter? Or what is it. I heard they are a pain to replace. Truck has 200,000 miles on it and the fuel pump was replace about two years ago.

 

IIRC, these trucks don't have fuel filters. The filter is the pick-up screen on the pump.

 

What brand pump was put in there? If the whole module was replaced, then it got a new fuel filter then as well. (it's part of the module generally. filter/regulator/check valve)

Need to test your fuel pressure, and see what's up.

 

I had the same problem recently. I recently changed the crank sensor which seem to fix it for a few days. Come to find out it was the idle air control sensor located on the back of the throttle body.

 

I would also check fuel pressure

 

Thx guys I am going to check the IAC, seems to be a common theme in most the people I ask.

Also, my fuel gauge acts up after about 50 miles. It goes down and acts like it's empty and my light comes on. These problems came up seperatly, if it works sometimes then maybe it is the sending unit for the gauge? Is that hard to replace?

 

If I let my gas get low enough that the light comes on the gauge will randomly drop to empty and the light will come on after fueling. I just try not to let my tank get low enough for the light to come on. Which on these trucks is about 1/8 tank.