Hi, I have a 1996 dodge ram with the 5.9 in it. I just bought the truck about a week ago. The CEL was on when i bought it but it seemed to run good and figured it was just a sensor or something.

After being on the highway for about 5 min the truck started to lose power and backfire through the intake. This seems to happen every time I drive the truck, it runs good for the first 5-10 min then starts to backfire and loose power around 2000RPM, If I floor it for a few sec then the truck seems to run good again for a few min, then the process starts all over again.

Any ideas what could be causing this or what things I can check.

Things to note: the prior owner put a new cap and rotor on it and replaced the spark plug wires. Also I had the code checked and it came up with P0032.

Also is it possible that a vacuum leak could cause this? I noticed there is no vacuum to the switch on the transfer case but I do have vacuum up in the engine bay where that hose connects, so I believe it is just a bad hose, I will be replacing that tomorrow.

Thanks for any help.

 

P0032 HO2S Heater Ctrl Circ Hi Bank1 Sens1

O2 sensor problem. Try unplugging the pre-cat O2, and take the truck for a drive, see what happens.

Have you checked your plenum yet? (see stickied thread at top of this forum)

 

I unplugged the pre-cat O2 sensor and reset the check engine light. Took the truck for a drive and it seemed to have a little less power but I didn't notice it doing the same thing it was before, so maybe it is the sensor.

One more thing to note, I've been noticing kind of a rattling sound when im driving and stepping on the gas but it goes away as soon as I let off, today I noticed the same sound when I was just sitting in the parking lot if I revved the engine a little bit. I had my gf step on the gas a few times while I listened underneath the truck and it sounds like it coming from the cat, so I'm guessing that may be the problem.

If it is the cat would that cause the symptoms I described before?

Also I was thinking about just putting a straight pipe in its place but have to do a little searching on here and see what kind of luck other people have had doing that, eventually I would like to make the truck dual exhaust.

I didnt check the plenum yet, I dont have a magnet on a stick or one of those mirrors as decribed but hopefully next weekend I can check that.