I have a 97 ram 1500 5.9l 4x4. for the last couple of months ive been having some starting problems. if the truck sits for more then 1 hour after driving, it cranks for like 30 seconds before it will start and it smells like its flooded. if it sits for a long time or right after driving it starts fine. ive changed the tps, iac, fuel pump, manifold gaskets and plenum fix. cap rotor wires and plugs, both 02 senors and map sensor. i did throw a cel. the codes were 132, 135,171. i pulled the pre cat 02 and replaced it today with a new 1 and cleared the codes. the cel hasnt came on again but it will it usually take like 2 day to come back on. when i was under it today i found a vacuum line at the back of the motor behind the distributor with a check valve that wasnt connected to anything. Im not sure where it goes, but im starting to wonder if thats what is causing the problem. i didnt have this problem till after the manifold was pulled.

Any advice would be helpful. also can anyone tell me where that vacuum line goes?

 

Look on your rad support there should be a decal with the vac line routing pattern. If not it should be in the FSM that is downloadable in the diy area. Fix that vac line first then go from there.

 

That vac line which is green I'm sure, connects to nothing, it's just a vent.

Your problem is most likely a combination of a clogged cat and possibly a bad ECT.

 

The cat has been removed, the vac line is black. its right next to the dist cap. the diagram on the rad shroud and in my manual dosent really help me any. i was hoping someone would know where it goes and just tell me. lol

 

dont mean to sound stupid, but what does ect stand for. lol

 

ECT=Engine Coolant Temperature.

Black line should hit the bag o' snakes at the passenger side rear of the intake manifold. I believe that is vacuum source for you 4x4.

 

If it's black . Then the line either goes to the HVAC system(one line goes in the firewall above the PCM and the other goes in next to the upper evap core tube. or cruise control servo under the battery.

 

does the gray line connect to anything other then the control switch on tc?

 

Yeah, that's the one that connects to the vacuum lines at the back of the intake. (I am getting color blind in my old age.)