Heres my situation, Im 16, I get my liscense in 4 months, and my dad gave me his old truck for my 16th birthday, I have some motor experience. the battery is shot, it pulls to the left when braking and their is air in the lines, it is a very rough idle and gas is coming out of the exhaust (Very rich), I'd like to flush all the fluids cuz my dad didnt do anything but put gas and oil in it. Good news, Trans was rebuilt 5k, new radiator last jan, and new alternator. I was told it was running rich because of a sensor on my cat. convertor. and that the idle issue is my IAC and my TPS. I make arnd 125 a week so i need to get her running, but at the same time i'm trying to save for college.

 

Well, replace the battery if its completely gone (or jump start it if thats not the case...)

Get a brake bleed kit and bleed the lines correctly.

Pulling the throttle body off and cleaning it as well as the IAC and the passage it sits in should even out the idle. And test the TPS with an analog volt meter, should read .5-1.5 at closed throttle and 3.4-4.5 at wide open throttle.

Flushing all the fluids? The trans was rebuilt, so it has new fluid (never bring it to a shop to get "flushed"). The rad was replaced, so it has new fluid (for the most part anyways). Changing the tcase and diff fluid might be a good idea. I suppose flushing the power steering fluid won't hurt.

When you take the throttle body off for cleaning, look inside the intake especially in the back for pooled up oil. If there is any oil, your plenum gasket is blown and your cat and o2's take a hit from this. A blown plenum also causes rough idle (bcuz it's a vacuum leak) and drivability issues. see this thread: https://dodgeforum.com/forum/2nd-gen...um-thread.html

If the o2's are bad, replace with NTK or NGK brand sensors only.

Oh, and try to work overtime at your work. You're gonna need a good flow of dough for these money pits

 

Where at in michigan?

 

Everything Nickerson said.

BTW, you can make it with $125 a week, I only make $100 a week and I get my stuff done, it just takes longer.


Welcome to DF!

 

I'm in richmond, and ya, she's a moneypit for sure but it'll be worth it. What brand plugs do you recommend?

 

Beings your dad gave you his "old" truck heres a good question. How long did it sit without being driven or started at all. I ask this because if it sits a long time the fuel will "seperate" and make it run like crap. You will also get a varnishy smell from the old gas . Do not put your nose in the tailpipe the smell is pretty obvious. Just have to ask.

 

So far I've run 2 different plugs in mine- the NGK V-power copper's and the copper Champions- LC4 I think. Whatever it says on the sticker under the hood. IMO it runs better with the Champions so I'd recommend those. They're a little cheaper too.