So I just bought a 96 dodge ram 1500 off the lot with 125000 mikes when driving the first time everything seemed fine when I drove it home about thirty miles I put on O/D about 20 miles it it kicked off and then the truck would shudder and like feels like it drops gear. The check engine light comes on for a second then back off. I also notice the rpms jump all over the range. I've had it for one day and have to drive to work 60 miles round trip daily. It now also does this when O/D is off and just about any speed over 25 mph. Looked up the coolant canister bypass. Is that what I need to do to fix this or do you think it could be a bigger problem.

 

If you just bought it, I would be heading back to the dealer, and having a chat with them.

The check engine light flashing on/off is telling you the engine is misfiring. That is usually due to fouled plugs/bad O2 sensor/clogged cat caused by the blown plenum gasket. (see the stickied thread at the top of this forum for info on that.)

Welcome to DF!

 

It doesn't seem like a misfire the way it catches when the light comes on. Even if I called the dealer I got it as is so not like much would happen. Is there any other things that are common to happen like this. Thanks for the heads up I'm going to do this fix as it is. Being tight on money is no fun.

 

Take the truck out for a drive. Find someplace with a speed limit greater than 45 MPH. Drive the truck at about 46 mph. Does it buck and sputter? If it does, turn off O/D, does it get better?

 

+1 on the plenum, unscrew the o2 sensor and take it for a drive and see what happens. And what exactly is "the coolant canister bypass" .

You might also want to check for codes, http://dodgeram.info/Engine-Gas/OBDI/pcm_fault_code.htm

 

So I just did new plugs and wires. Disturb and cap, it was running super sweet and smooth everything awesome from acel up to 90 mph. Soon after like 10 mins was on highway speeds over 50 it would backfire again ruff and shift up and down rpms going all over. This thing is driving me crazy and I'm already 200 into on day two.

 

And I think I was referring to diverter valve. Not canister thing.

 

More updates it is doing it at about just every speed. AND is eating gas I feel like I'm getting 5 mpg I've put 90 dollars in gas. And it's eaten in two days with about 80 miles driven.

 

Really getting lost on this searching as much as I can and in just being lead everywhere. Would a bad coil cause this to start happening. Or something electrical. It runs just fine at idle but as soon as I'm moving it goes nuts. I can barely make it 50 feet without it misfiring ad killings it's self. My ecu seems to be working in the fact that if I leave key turned the light comes on then goes away after a couple secs with other lights. If it gets through all of it's **** eventually it just runs fine. What in the wiring could cause this to happen it throws no codes.

 

I also look like I'm idling at 350-500