Troubleshooting Gutless Dodge 2500

Knight9 · May 11, 2011

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 · May 12, 2011

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 · May 12, 2011

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 · May 12, 2011

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

tractorboy5500 · May 12, 2011

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 · May 12, 2011

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 · May 12, 2011

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 · May 12, 2011

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 · May 12, 2011

Check your throttle position sensor

RobertN · May 12, 2011

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