I've looked for a problem similar to this and can't find it, if its out there please point me in the right direction.

I have a 98 ram 5.2 4x4 with Hughes plenum and tune up that was done about 8 months ago with no problems. Recently and intermittently it wants to quit running. It will bog down and have no power and when I hit the gas it just gets worse. The weird thing is that when it dies after it does that it seems like I unplugged the battery. It resets my cel so I can't pull any codes, but leaves my stereo presets alone. (My cell is normally on for o2 sensors getting fixed this week). And 95% of the time it fires right back up and runs fine. Only once did it not want to stay running and after sitting for a few days I went out today and it fired up and ran fine. I pulled the throttle body to clean the IAC hoping that will help with the running issue. Can someone point me in the right direction.

 

How's the cat?

 

Crank sensor?

 

Sorry, I should have said that there is no cat. I was thinking the crank sensor but I don't want to got through that p.i.t.a. if I don't have to, and since I can't read the codes I don't know for sure.

 

Well, that certainly rules out the cat...

If there's codes to be read if you can get it to a parts store they usually read em for free

 

I have a scanner and can read codes and all that, but no codes come back until the truck is running for 10 min or so and the cel goes off when the truck dies and shows no codes until it comes on for the o2 sensor. That's the only code I ever get from it.

 

Sounds like you are having power problems. That would erase the cods stored in the PCM. Check your battery cables, and connections.

 

I did, the ends and battery are new. By erase codes should I unplug it and turn the headlights on the hook it back up and let it idle for a few minutes??

 

That will clear any current codes. You are more interested in what it is whining about.

What O2 codes are you getting?

 

I believe its a p01380 for the front o2 sensor. But unless something is seriously out of whack I don't see that making a difference all of a sudden. I've been driving with that sensor gone for months without a problem.