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Hi, My 1997 dodge ram with 140000 miles has been having some trouble lately, like when I try to accelerate up a hill it shakes and skimmies really bad but only when I'm in overdrive, if I take it out of overdrive it runs fine all the time. Also it's an automatic with a 318, I don't know what's wrong with it. It could be the spark plugs or maybe a converter soleniod. What do you think? and what are your thoughts?
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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that could be a lot of things. With that many miles I'd see if the catalytic converter is bad, if never changed. If you thump it and hear rattling inside it's probably toast. You'd need a new one and at the sale time, best to replace the O2 sensors. Have you checked for codes? An OBDII code reader can be bought on E-bay for about $30.
Hi, My 1997 dodge ram with 140000 miles has been having some trouble lately, like when I try to accelerate up a hill it shakes and skimmies really bad but only when I'm in overdrive, if I take it out of overdrive it runs fine all the time. Also it's an automatic with a 318, I don't know what's wrong with it. It could be the spark plugs or maybe a converter soleniod. What do you think? and what are your thoughts?
What does your manual say about minimum speed for engaging overdrive??? I asume you have been up this hill without any problem.....in overdrive????
Overdrive sends the least amount of torque possible to the wheels, this may be a problem going up a hill.
The CAT is good because it just passed emissions, and my manual says nothing about min. overdrive speed. Although it only seems to happen around 50 to 55 mph, but any speed slower or faster it runs fine. I replaced the spark plugs and it seems to be doing better but I don't know if it will hold out.
Hi, My 1997 dodge ram with 140000 miles has been having some trouble lately, like when I try to accelerate up a hill it shakes and skimmies really bad but only when I'm in overdrive, if I take it out of overdrive it runs fine all the time. Also it's an automatic with a 318, I don't know what's wrong with it. It could be the spark plugs or maybe a converter soleniod. What do you think? and what are your thoughts?
i would check plug wires the way i do it is wait till its dark and spray them lightly with a spray bottle while its running and if you see a spark outside of the wire then they need to be changed haha
I thought the distributor cap too but I replaced the spark plugs and wires and it seems to be better. Now when I accelerate up a hill the ac switches to the defroster which makes me think there is a vacuum hose leak.
Location: We_tside PNW (Columbia Gorge) / CO / SA TX / Thailand
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Quote:
Originally Posted by R.A.P
I thought the distributor cap too but I replaced the spark plugs and wires and it seems to be better. Now when I accelerate up a hill the ac switches to the defroster which makes me think there is a vacuum hose leak.
Do check that cap under the dark of night. My first guess would have been the wires. BTDT.
I finally got sick of dinking with the many issues of gas engines and went diesel. 97 is the perfect yr to nab the last of the 12v Cummins with the best injection pump. Just stay away from blocks with '53' ID castings. Cummins #53 Block Info
Do check that cap under the dark of night. My first guess would have been the wires. BTDT.
I finally got sick of dinking with the many issues of gas engines and went diesel. 97 is the perfect yr to nab the last of the 12v Cummins with the best injection pump. Just stay away from blocks with '53' ID castings. Cummins #53 Block Info
You everyone for the info, and keep it comming, and I'll check the cap.
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