Troubleshooting Gutless Dodge 2500
- Thread starter Knight9
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bironacad
Platinum Member
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:
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:
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!
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
Veteran Member
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
Gold Member
I was thinking it was a diesel :confused2:
RobertN
Super Member
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.
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.
TractorRob
Silver Member
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
Platinum Member
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.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!
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
Old Timer
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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
Soundguy
Old Timer
- Joined
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- Messages
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- Central florida
- Tractor
- RK 55HC,ym1700, NH7610S, Ford 8N, 2N, NAA, 660, 850 x2, 541, 950, 941D, 951, 2000, 3000, 4000, 4600, 5000, 740, IH 'C' 'H', CUB, John Deere 'B', allis 'G', case VAC
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
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
