I am having trouble with a 1996 Ram 1500 with a 5.9L. Itwill idle great and with light throttle you can get the RPM’s to about 1200.Any more and all it does is suck more air and starts missing. The truck hasbeen parked for about 4 months. It also has transmission problems, the reasonit was parked, but at that time it ran great. First thought was it had jumped timing,which checked out and is OK. Want to check fuel pressure but the fuel rail hasno Schrader valve. I think I have a fuel problem and would like to checkpressure before dropping the tank.

Also can the transmission cause any symptoms like I amseeing? THANKS

 

Sounds like fuel pressure or a clogged cat to me.

 

Do you think the cat could plug while parked? Still need to find out how to check for fuel pressure. Thanks for the quick reply

 

Unscrew the pre-cat O2 sensor and see if it doesn't run better to check the cat. I think the auto parts stores sell a kit to test fuel pressure on the trucks without a schrader valve, but don't quote me on that.

 

You have a black plastic fuel rail? Only 97's should have that. I have the adapter, but no auto parts store that I know of will have it. Had to order it special. And +1 on unscrewing the precat o2 from the pipe.

 

After some creative thinking I was able to check the fuel pressure. At idle I have 48# fuel pressure, had a leak so I had to shut it down, did not check pressure above idle, going pull the O2 sensor and see. Thanks again

 

You need to fix the leak so you can check and see how fast it loses pressure after you shut the motor off. And do you have the plastic fuel rail? You should get a build sheet. http://www.dodge.com/wccsapp/univers...ull&category=R

 

Fuel rail is metal just no valve. When shut-down the pressure dropped about inline with leak. Can I post a video here

 

upload the video to photobucket or similar hosting site.
then put a link to it in your post.

 

if you have 48# of fuel pressure when its running, that's normal. no need to work on fuel anymore other than to put it back together and not have a leak.

your problem is most likely clogged cat. remove front O2 as suggested.