Yesterday I was driving my 5.2L V8 2001 Dodge Ram Sport 1500 to the beach which is only about 76 miles away. I was 63 miles in and I just got off the highway and realized it had pretty much no power. I turned the radio off and rolled the windows up to listen to the engine. There was a slight whining noise around 1500-2000 RPMs. I could mash the throttle and get pretty much no response. To get it to move from a stop I would have to go over 2000RPMs. My first thought was it was the transmission but I am hoping its not. Before this trip it seemed like it didnt have the power it should have and it would struggle a decent amount going up hills. Yesterday I was lucky if I could make it up a small one. Background info* I am the second owner and the first one kept it very good condition with only 94,000 miles on it. I dont know about the maintenance history on it though.

 

Check for codes even if there isn't a light.

Park it at idle, put the brake on and shift into neutral. Then under the hood, rev the engine using the TB cable. How does it respond?

Check for any loose wires, connectors, battery life.

When it is cold, use a small sledge and bang on the catalytic converter. It may be shot causing you to lose power. If all else checks out, my money is on this.

 

Ok thanks. I also thought of the catalytic converter but never had a chance to check it.

 

The trick is to bang on it and "hear" it rattle. They don't always rattle though and the hammer trick may yield nothing. Mine would rattle but never when I could get under it quick enough to hear it. Finally I did and confirmed. With those miles, I would get the Magnaflow Hi-flow cat and y-pipe anyway. It's under a 100 bucks.

 

When I banged on it I didn't hear it rattle. I have never smelled the "rotten egg" smell eeither. Your saying I should get that ca anyway even if it isnt clogged?

 

Yep. It helps in the power department and sounds better too. Just sayin. I never had an odor either.

 

Where did you get it for under 100 bucks, all the ones I am seeing are over 300?

 

I put magnaflow cat into summit racing:
http://www.summitracing.com/search?S...agnaflow%20cat

Lots in and around $100. Jegs would also have a good selection, all the regular online places.

 

HOLY CRAP!!! When I bought mine several years ago (2007 I think) I thought it was around 75 bucks but maybe I am mis-remembering (to use a political term). I KNOW it was not $300 but all the sites are saying $266 now.

Magnaflow #23285 just find the best deal you can.

Here's one for less:
http://www.supertruckusa.com/products/77627_502.htm

Maybe I was thinking $75 when I should have remembered 175. I'm sure I still have the receipt buried somewhere.

Yup, found it. $169 from Autobarn.com. Sorry I missed the "1". That was too many beers ago....

 

Or you could go to a muffler shop and have them do a back pressure test. anything much over 2 psi and it's costing you power, especially at cruising speeds. Or you may have a blown plenum gasket if it lacks power from a dead stop. How's the oil consumption?