Hi I am new to this Dodge forum and figured I'd start by introducing myself to all. I just got a 98 Dodge Ram 1500 Quad door sport package 2 days ago and am loving it. However my 'check engine' light kicked on and I got the PO138 which appears to be one of the O2 sensors.....anyone have any ideas or suggestions on this?? I am going to get the volt meter out and attempt to figure out which one of the 4 has gone bad.
Also when I got the truck, the owner mentioned that he thought the water pump was going out due to a smell of antifreeze. I checked the coolant level and that was fine but I have noticed the antifreeze smell as well. I parked it in the garage the other nite and had no puddles underneath so it can't be leaking much. I also looked at the weep hole on the WP to see if any fluid was leaking and it appeared to be not leaking...?
Any ideas on this??
I know all about cars, but these trucks are a bit different! And I have noticed that you can actually work on them w/out having to jack up the engine. I forgot what it was like to see all 8 spark plugs!
Thanks to all for any advice and check out my truck at
www.cardomain.com/id/bluestroked383

 

Welcome to the forum [8D]

 

Welcome to Dodge Forum!!

 

Welcome to Dodge Forum!! Enjoy the site!!

Dusty

 

welcome to the site that i have created. i made it and monitor it all on my own. there actually isnt anyone else that subscribes to the site other than me and now you. i have created all of the other "people" in here to talk to me and keep me company. i post a message as timwag or some other name and log out and log back in as someone else and respond to it. it keeps me busy but it can get kinda boring sometimes. im glad youre here now though, and im sure we can be best-friends!


just playin with ya. i really am bored right now though.
have you checked the thermostat housing and hose and also the heater hose that's a couple inches away? when they leak it'll puddle up on top of the engine and not drip down to the ground.
your o2's you could take them out and clean them with throttle body cleaner (its sensor safe). possible loose connection, check the wiring harness for some water or corrosion. probably will have to replace though.

welcome to the forum

 

When you smell coolant, is it inside the cabor under the hood?

 

oh yeah, forgot about that. if its inside its the heater core

 

if you can smell it.. feel the passenger side floor for wetspots.. or shine a flashlight up towards the core unit and check for any wetspots that are colored green..

as for the CEL code, since you have four of them, unfortunatly.. (you live in california, and/or bought the truck from there?) first off check the wiring to all the 02's ive found both of mine frayed at different points in time.. rubbing on the heat sheild to the cat. and wouldnt hurt to take them out and clean them with a good electrical contact cleaner.. and then reset the PCM.. also ,, check to see if the cat is good or not..

all these topics can be found by using the search feature on top of the forum. it will become your friend!!!! also peeking into the sticky (tacked thread at the top of the forum) threads will be usefull as they contain loads of info.

 

These trucks have a smell that I noticed, kind of liek antifreze, when they get hot...

I test drove around 8 rams when i was looking for trucks, and every single one had this smell.
Smells kind of like antifreze to me... Its out side of the truck.

Mine has it everytime the egnine gets good and warmed up.

 

thast odd.. mine doesnt..