I had to look to be sure that I wasn't rereading an older thread.

It is pretty common, especially lately, for some guy to show up here complaining that his truck is running like 5h17 but the lack of oxygen sensors can't be at fault because it's been that way since he bought the rig from some witless dolt who hacked them out when he straight piped it. And for some reason, it's always a guy for whom money is tight, too, and he can't afford the sensor and to have a bung welded into the hillbilly pipe.

I'll not guarantee that giving the PCM the feedback it demands in order to properly regulate the engine is going to completely fix your hillbilly engineered truck, but expecting it to run properly without the oxygen sensors, or at least the upstream sensor, is foolishness. It's not going to happen. Ever.

Historically, here in this forum, what happens is that the guy with this problem stuffs in the sensor(s) purely out of frustration (because he's convinced that it's not the problem but he doesn't know what else it might be), and then reports that his truck is running better than ever, making more power, and getting better fuel economy, too. It might not work for you, but it's a very good first step.

Don't be mad at the guys here who are trying to help you. Not one of 'em stopped by your house and told you to buy a truck from an ignorant hillbilly.

 

I GET THAT IT WILL HELP!!!!!!!!!!!! I never said that the o2 sensors aren't at fault, I'm just giving you the facts as I know them.

I can weld up the bungs no problem but since the guy replaced the exhaust pipe with flex pipe, I don't think it will work real well. I would love to swap in some o2's and be done with it but I just can't afford to at the moment. I was hoping it's something simpler/cheaper, that's why I asked.

Again I get that it will help. It just started this problem. Again I'm not saying it's not the o2's fault, it probably is, but I'm just stating the facts.

And I'm not mad at anyone, it's not your fault I'm broke. I'm a stay at home dad/artist/musician and that's not a recipe for big cash. But I love being home raising my sons and I wouldn't trade it for the world. Not even for o2 sensors.

 

Dude, call around to some salvage yards and see if you can find a decent used exhaust, with cat and O2 sensors. Understanding money is tight, it could be a starting point to save what you need, yes it will all be used parts, but it will be a lot better than what your running right now. Maybe a yard will help you out on a good deal too. I understand it did run fine before however, you, I, and the others know the correct fix to it. It's hard to give advise on a vehicle that's been modified to that extent without physically seeing it, or trial by error methods. You could try disconnecting the negative battery cable for 5 min to reset the PCM. This has worked for me in the past for small issues.

 

If the sensor is in the exhaust stream at about the same distance from the cylinder heads as the stock location and there are no leaks upstream, it'll work just fine. If there are upstream leaks they'll have to be fixed.

In the future, don't buy vehicles from hillbillies. If it was a cheap fix, Clem Kadiddlehopper woulda fixed it his own damn self. It might be true that the kids' diapers ain't been changed since momma got arrested three weeks ago and ain't gettin' changed again until after she makes bail, but that's not why he sold the truck.

 

He wasn't a hillbilly. He was a redneck.

 

I know some rednecks who'd take grave exception to that!

 

HA! The funny part was he made do a burnout in the truck before I bought it. Really odd. But I still love the truck.

 

They're that way, these 2nd generation Rams are. I wouldn't recommend one to any of the parents of my grandchildren because the Ram will spend your money as if it earned it itself, but I'm still quite happy with mine.

 

I would still like to know what's with the fuel pump?? You said the truck ran fine so maybe there's a correlation there. But can't help if you don't let me/us know..

 

The fuel pump went out, we put a new one in. It runs fine otherwise. It just came up. I don't know if there is anything to do with the pump. My radio died right before that so....OK maybe not the radio's fault.

I got it! The o2's took out the radio, the radio took out the pump and now the pump is making it idle weird! I knew I'd get it.