hey i have a 97 dodge ram 1500 5.2L it feels like i dont have as much power as i should and when im driving the rpm will jump up and down to the point the truck will almost shuts off so ill step on the gas a bit and make it stop then i hear a thud. and if i pump the throttle it will do its stutter thing and then shut of . i have no idea whats wrong with it i thought it could be the fuel pump or the cat .

 

When's the last time it had a good tuneup?

 

few weeks

 

does it hesitate or stumble a bit when you accelerate?
if it does, you should check the throttle position sensor. it contols the trucks ignition timing and how much fuel is being put into the cyls. hook it up to a volt meter and slowly open the throttle plates. it should go from around 1 volt up to 5 volts smoothly as you open the plates. if the voltage jumps around at all, i would get it replaced.

 

yea, my tps was bad one time, and my torque converter kept locking and unlocking, even at constant speeds. (causing my rpms, to go up and down a bit). maybe same problem for you as sam priem mentioned.

 

Who did it? Was PCM reset? Were plug wires changed, and if so, was the TSB followed? And what was done for tune up?

IAC and TPS can cause problems....

 

it doesnt hesitate when i accelerate its when im driving around 2000rpm the rpm will start jumping then dieing to the point of it almost shuting off so ill kinda step on the gas a bit to keep it from ding on me and it will make a thumping sound but i cant realy figer out where the sound is coming from i thought i was from the fuel pump but i had my windows down and it sounded it came from my cat and now my check engine light came on

 

Find out what codes you are getting. Might be a clue.

 

Ya it help but i dont have a code reader yet

 

Go visit your neighborhood parts store, they should be able to read 'em, and maybe even print 'em off for ya.