I have a 2001 Dodge Ram 1500 and have been having problems with it lately. The shop has done a few things but it still isn't fixed and the money is really adding up. So, I thought I'd see if someone here could help me. My truck will backfire and then I have no gas or acceleration, I can then only barely push on the gas and maybe go 15-20 mph. It does it sporatically, used to be a few times a week, now it's a few times a day. And it may do it once on my drive, or half of the drive. There's no consistency at all. Well, yesterday it also started to rev up the rpms when I was setting at a red light. I'm not sure what's wrong with it but I need to get it fixed without paying the shop to fix 20 different things. Has anyone else had this problem or know what I can check on it?

 

Can you tell us what the shop has done already?

 

They changed spark plugs, and cleaned. They cleaned out the fuel injection system and cleaned out gas tank, thinking I had gotten bad gas.

 

How many miles on this truck? I am almost suspicious that the fuel pump is failing.

 

I would check the fuel pressure first.is your check engine light on?

 

Mileage is around 76000, great timing since my extended warranty went to 75000. The check engine light has been coming on and going off for about 6 months now. It might come on one day or for a week, then it will just go off. That was long before this other problem with backfiring, has only been backfiring for about a month now. Is there something i can do to check the fuel pump or do they need to do that at the shop?

 

first If the C.E. light has been comming on,thats the first place I would start looking.turn your trip odometer on,then turn your key on,off,on three times. this will display the p-code in your odometer display.

 

Download the technical service manual http://www.neonix.org/nero/files/2001ramsrvcmanual.zip and read the chapter about the fuel system. It has a procedure outlined on how to check the fuel pressure. I would also try to retrieve any CE codes the system is throwing. You can do all of this yourself if you're willing to put in the time and the effort. Scan the forums, and ask questions. The people here are great.