I agree with these guys, the dealership is trying to screw you.

The intake is kinda a pain in the but, but its litterally just unbolting stuff and unhooking some sensors and vacuum lines.

The throttle body doesn't "go bad"...thats so BS right there. If it was somehow bad, your truck wouldn't run.

And Idle speed control is your IAC (Idle Air Control). It probably just need to be cleaned. If you can take 4 bolts off, and unblug 3 sensors that are all different so you can't mix them up, you can clean that yourself.

Also like Tani said, unless your check engine light is on your O2s are still running in specified range. You can clean them though which involves on screwing it. You don't need to jack the truck up or anything, just crawl under neither and unbolt the thing.

If you want to do any of this yourself were all happy to go snap some pics and walk you through it.

 

Ok so i got the codes sooner than later. i just couldn't wait and i drove over to autozone during my lunch. It looks like the o2 sensor and something else (which is either a result of the o2 or the IAC). The codes and the readings are P0138 (o2 bank one sensor 2) and P1294 (manufactured controlled fuel and air metering).

Is the o2 bank one sensor 2 the upper or lower? I haven't the slightest clue. It seems like this shouldnt be too bad to fix, but the intake manifold gasket is crying for help asap. My mileage hasn't seemed to be any less, but i am dumping 1-2 quarts in per week. No need for an oil change i guess! It changes itself.

I think i will just buy a new o2 sensor, plenum manifold gasket, and perhaps an IAC (or no, just clean it). So let's see if i could do this with a friend or something. What would i need exactly. This is what i came up with:

1.) APS plenum intake manifold gasket kit.
2.) Special fuel line remover tool
3.) A new throttle body gasket
4.) o2 sensor (upper or lower. i don't know as of yet).
5.) IAC, possibly
6.) Chemical Sprays as shott mentioned (not sure what ones)

What do you guys think. It sounds like i can do this with someone else who also has some knowledge. My only fear is that this is my only vehicle so i can't afford to take it off the road for more than a weekend. The truck has 112,000 miles on it and runs pretty good, but i want to get it running up to par. Any other suggestions as to what i can do when half the truck is dismantled to help get some ***** back in this thing.

Everyone has been a great help thus far, but then again, i haven't even ordered any parts or began fixing it yet. I do appreciate your help though. I also was reading the "DIY: intake manifold gasket" and it said it fixes spark knock. How does it just fix the spark knock, or is it a result of cleaning when the manifold is out?

Jeff

 

i haven't done the plenum gasket yet, but everything you mentioned should be pretty simple, just take your time and find a good tech article which tells you how to do the installs (i can tell you the O2 sensors are very easy to replace in a few minutes).

here's a couple tips if you are doing it with a friend:
--take pictures!! every part you pull off, take some pics with a digital camera or polaroid. this way when you are reassembling, you aren't wondering "hmm, which way did this go??" i have done that alot.
--keep all the nuts and bolts together in piles or bags so you dont mix them up. label them if you have to, but it makes the install alot easier. since it looks like you are going to have quite a few things apart, you are quickly going to forget which bolt/nut goes where. (again something i do all the time)
--make sure you have a good torque wrench on hand and torque everything to proper values. if there is not a torque spec for a bolt, dont just crank it down til your hands bleed. stripped threads are NOT fun.
--TAKE YOUR TIME! don't rush it. you will be taking alot of critical parts off of your truck, so take your time and make sure everything is clean and reinstalled properly. it will take alot longer if you rush and forget to install parts or if you damage something from going too fast.
--1 thing i have learned from these dodge trucks: they are not overly complicated. actually quite simple when compared to alot of other vehicles. follow the install instructions closely, and if in doubt, post questions on this forum. alot of people on here are brilliant when it comes to this stuff, so definitely take their advice if you need it.
--let me tell you that i just tore my entire front axle apart, and i was also quite nervous about that. it seems like a lot of work (which it is!) but just take your time and it will end ok.

 

radwebster made an excellent point about pictures. We could do a video conference repair if you have a web cam, the neccessary cables to get your pc out to your driveway, and a speakerphone. You said you already have a socket set. That and a torque wrench and you're in business. I'd be willing to take a shift. We get three other guys who are willing to do an hour a piece and that should do it.

You don't have to remove the fuel line. You can just move the whole rail out of the way with the line attached. You can reuse the TB gasket. If your plenum is leaking that bad, replace both o2 sensors. Clean your IAC first. That may do the trick. Chemical sprays are for gasket removal. A 2" brass wire brush that fits in a drill will shave an hour off removin old gasket material. And, as mentioned, you will need a torque wrench. Get one that reads in inch pounds.

 

You don't even have to actually remove the fuel rail, I didn't at all and I was fine.

You probably don't need a new IAC it just needs to be cleaned. Clean it witn Carb/TB cleaner

 

That video conference makes sense. Id be willing to take a shift as well. Or even over the phone would help. For the cleaner spray get some brake parts cleaner as it evaproates. Get like 2 cans so you can dowse the part your cleaning. You don't have to remove the fuel line to the rail, but does make it easire. I would just remove the fuel rail so you can get the kegger (nickname for the intake) out and put the new pan in and tq it correctly. This fix is actually really really easy, again if you don't feel comfortable, you can always come up here, again, free of charge, just lunch and some brews. Looks like the weekend of the 27th and 28th just opened up for me, thats the soonest I could help if you come up here. If you got here early enough, we could get you on the road by that evening. I have all the creature comforts needed to make the job easier, ie aircompressor/tools etc etc.

As far as the codes and the post above, the 02 that is poping the code is probablly just gunked up with crap, because of the oil thats being burnt. 1 to 2 quarts a week is insaine. Both 02 sensors and the IAC can be cleaned, not really needed to be replaced, but is good to have an 02 anyway since they are delicate sensors. The IAC also gets gunked up even though it is above the plenum.

Your going to need some coolant since you need to drain down the block enough to get the intake off. If you want to just to drain it down enough to get the kegger off, you are going to need about 4 qts, to play it safe. I threadlocked the bolts that hold that pan onto the plenum, so a good tube of thread locker is a good idea too. I like to use LocTite Red Gel stuff, but 11 bux a tube and doesn't last long, the Permatex brand is also good, and a bit cheaper.

The reason why I say hold off on the 02 if you can is because the Boche universal brand have been known to suck, I bought the mopar one from my dealer and it was 120 dollars. It would be better to try and clean the OEM ones IMO.

Anyother questions let me/us know

 

Shott, I'm sure i could do it myself but i dont have the ***** in me or my friends to do it. I could, but i might f-it up pretty bad. That's cool that you are available the 27th and 28th, but thats memorial day weekend and i have plans. If your offer still stands I'll cruise up June 3rd and we could do it then. I'd probably cruise up friday night and do some camping somewhere near your area that way i could be at your house/garage early. I'd definitely hook you up too. Private message me your phone number and a good time to call so we can set something up.

Thanks.

 

If you did something like this like somebody already said you'd build alot of confidence in yourself. Alot of people are scared to work on cars cause they don't understand them and they think its some crazy hard, in depth, must be a genius, think to do. It is really easy and stragiht foward, you just need to be confident doing it and take your time like stated above!!! If you decide to do it yourself we can walk you through it COMPLETLY. As in taking off every little bolt, how to get things off, every hose and connector. Just say the words!

 

I will see what shott has to say first. I dont even own a webcam but i do have wireless and a laptop so i could easily bring it out to my driveway. If i take the 6 hour cruise up to New York i'll be able to do some camping at Niagara Falls too, which will be fun being that i have never been there.