Troubleshooting Gutless Dodge 2500

[Knight9]

I'll preface this by saying I do NOT have mechanical inclinations :ashamed: I'm good at changing oil and doing minor things on my "acreage truck" but that's about it. It is a 1995 Ram 2500 that I bought used a few years ago. I never used to drive it much other than around town to pick up a load of dirt or lumber and it seems fine for that.

However, in the last year or so I've had to do a few things that have had me out on the highway with the truck. It is gutless! Last week I took my tractor to the local dealer to address a minor service issue. On the way back I was towing an empty 16' trailer on flat ground with the accelerator flat on the floor. I was going just over 100 km/h (that's roughly 62 mph for my American friends) and the tac was sitting at 1750 rpm. Same thing in the fall going hunting with my dad. Going up a hill I have to move over into the crawl lane and let the big trucks pass it's so slow.

Now as I said, I'm no mechanic but it appears the motor seems to be running fine and isn't exactly working too hard at that rpm. LOL!! So am i correct to assume it is most likely the transmission that is toast since it doesn't seem to want to gear down without having me stomp on it? Sure don't think I want to spend 3-4K on a tranny replacement for a 1995 if that's the diagnosis.

Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks,​

 

[Egon]

Knight9, just head east and the four strong winds will just blow you along! :thumbsup:

No idea of what the problem could be but an electronic diagnostic check may be in order.

 

[Treemonkey1000]

I am guessing it is an automatic? One have you smelled or looked at the tranny fluid on the dipstick? Is the fluid low? Is it brown and burned smelling. The other thing that I would check is your airfilter clogged up? That is a gas truck also I am guessing? I have the 2006 Dodge Hemi gas and it is just a hoot to drive trying to keep from going too fast.

 

[SandburRanch]

Although an infrequent occurrence, a partially plugged catalytic converter is often overlooked when those sluggish symptoms occur.

 

[tractorboy5500]

Being its a 95, there's not to much electrical to check, I would start at changing the fuel filter and checking the air filter, And since you dont drive it much you might have some old diesel. Lets us know so we can help you more.

 

[Treemonkey1000]

Good call on the catalytic converter. I had one of those clog up on my old Dodge car. It got to the point where if you stepped on the gas it would backfire out of the carb.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Guys on here are right. Change the simple stuff yourself and if it does not cure it pay a tech to look at it before throwing parts and wasting money on it.

Do not forget the plugs, wires, cap, ect.

Chris

 

[dodge man]

He doesn't say if its a gas or a diesel. Which is it? How many miles? If its a gas, it has all sorts of electronics, but if there was a problem, I'd think you'd get a check engine light. When you are towing, do you have it in tow/haul mode?

 

[deerefan]

Check your throttle position sensor

 

[RobertN]

I had a Cat clog up on my old '89 F250(351/5spd) during a trip. I was pulling my hair out trying to figure that one. Had good spark, gas, everything. Ran fine at an idle or just revving it in the driveway. But, get it on the road and it was gutless, especially since I was in the mountains east of Redding Ca. I noticed it was low on power, especially pulling up Buckhorn Summit. It got worse while we were staying up there. Finally, when we ran in to Weaverville, further up the hill, I only made it in to town at 10mph in 1st gear!

Finally unbolted the Cat; PRESTO! Truck ran great. Wound up driving over four hours home with open header

 

[B7510HSD]

If it's diesel my guess is fuel filter and or water separator if it has one!'

 

[bironacad]

Why the gutless Dodge slap, you don't like Dodge go by a 1995 Ford if you can find one, lol. That should get a few worked up, OK enough fun.

My guess is that you probably don't use it enough. Mechanical devices will rust out faster then wear out. The RPM not going over 2000 for a gasser could be a clue especially without any warning lights my guess is it is mechanical. If it had to do to the engine not performing well sensors would kick off your check engine light and produce codes. How does it sound when accelerating, if it is lugging maybe the tranny is stuck in a higher gear if it was stuck in a low gear it would whine out with a high RPM. If you have ever tried starting your tractor out in high gear you would be able to relate.

Stale gas
Stuck linkage
A mouse in the glove box........lol.

Best of luck hope you get her up to speed.:thumbsup:

 

[Knight9]

Thanks for the replies guys. Some good thoughts here, that will hopefully help me out. Let me clear up a few of the questions.

It is a gas engine, 5.9L V8 to be specific. Has just over 180,000 km on it. Transmission fluid is new and clean. There is no check engine light on and no unusual noises at any speeds. The engine does not appear to labor at all. There is no tow/haul mode on this beast. Drove it enough in hunting season last year that it wasn't old fuel. Same issues with "old" or fresh tanks.

I'll certainly check the air filter, plugs, wires, and caps....but the catalytic converter will be past my capabilies I'm sure. :ashamed:

Oh, and for the record, "gutless Dodge" was purely a statement about mine!

​

 

[Treemonkey1000]

Crawl under the truck and look for the catalytic converter. Some of them have a screw in plug that you can unthread. If you have that unthread it and see if you can tell a difference. You could probably also tell if you have it started and then go back to the tail pipe while some one steps on the gas pedal. You should notice a good volume of exhaust coming out when they step on it. Just dont' asphyxiate yourself in the process.

 

[tractorboy5500]

I was thinking it was a diesel :confused2:

 

[RobertN]

Not sure on yours, but the factory Cat on my old Ford was a bolt-in. I was able to undo 4 bolts on the front flange. That was enough to get the Cat(and the rest of the exhaust) wired off to the side.

The Cat had a honey comb looking inside; A quick peak with a flashlight showed it was clogged.

That left the truck open header; it was really loud.

I drove it home 4 hours like that.... With the windows up, the air on, and the radio on, it was not bad. Took me back to teenage days, with Cherry-bomb mufflers Actually, it was not very loud while just cruising the freeway. It was loud under acceleration though.

I had looked at everything. Plugs were good, spark was good, rotor/cap was good, it was getting gas, and seemed to run fine when parked. Air cleaner was new. recent oil change.

I'll certainly check the air filter, plugs, wires, and caps....but the catalytic converter will be past my capabilies I'm sure. :ashamed:

 

[TractorRob]

Thanks for the replies guys. Some good thoughts here, that will hopefully help me out. Let me clear up a few of the questions.

It is a gas engine, 5.9L V8 to be specific. Has just over 180,000 km on it. Transmission fluid is new and clean. There is no check engine light on and no unusual noises at any speeds. The engine does not appear to labor at all. There is no tow/haul mode on this beast. Drove it enough in hunting season last year that it wasn't old fuel. Same issues with "old" or fresh tanks.

I'll certainly check the air filter, plugs, wires, and caps....but the catalytic converter will be past my capabilies I'm sure. :ashamed:

Oh, and for the record, "gutless Dodge" was purely a statement about mine!

​

A clogged catalytic converter would be my first guess also. I have a 96 Dodge 1500 with the 5.2 that had a clogged catalytic converter and it had similar symptoms. It is actually quite easy to check, at least on mine it was: I unbolted the converter from the exhaust manifolds and just let it hang down(the converter itself hung from a hanger, so it didn't hang down far) while I took it for a short test drive. Yes, it was VERY loud, but I could tell almost immediately that the converter was the problem.

 

[PoorMansCat]

Thanks for the replies guys. Some good thoughts here, that will hopefully help me out. Let me clear up a few of the questions.

It is a gas engine, 5.9L V8 to be specific. Has just over 180,000 km on it. Transmission fluid is new and clean. There is no check engine light on and no unusual noises at any speeds. The engine does not appear to labor at all. There is no tow/haul mode on this beast. Drove it enough in hunting season last year that it wasn't old fuel. Same issues with "old" or fresh tanks.

I'll certainly check the air filter, plugs, wires, and caps....but the catalytic converter will be past my capabilies I'm sure. :ashamed:

Oh, and for the record, "gutless Dodge" was purely a statement about mine!

​

Ok, first off, the old 5.9L gasser isn't much of a "torque monster" anyway.. I had one... I know. But, if it was doing ok before, it should now. Differential gearing is a BIG factor, along with larger than stock size tires.
If you have it matted at under 2K RPM and the trans DOESNT downshift, manually pull it back and see if it starts pulling harder. IF its downshifting and STILL wont get over 2K, its most likely fuel or exhaust.
Does the truck sound normal out the tailpipe?, Sometimes, when the exhaust is getting plugged, you will hear less of the exhaust pulses and more of a hissing sound.

Do you have any CEL's (check engine lights)

 

[Soundguy]

something is wrong.. my 98 1500 5.9l gasser will tow a 16' trailer loaded to 7k.. it gets kinda doggy at 7k.. but unloaded? it don't know the trailer is there.. heck.. not till about 5k do you notice a difference, unless towing something big and not aerodynamic.. etc.

soundguy

 

[Soundguy]

does it start and idle fine or stall out. if stalling a bit throttle body is dirty.

if running ok, but weak.. check pressure on fuel rail should be close to 60 if memory serves me..

filter is a PITA on the 1500 anyway as it is in the tank..

post back.

soundguy