97 Dodge Ram Backfiring/hesitating

From : marker

Q: hello all - i have a 97 ram with the 5.2l just over 100000 and within the past week or so it has developed a bad problem. i get a lot of backfire from about 1000-1500 rpm when i step on the accelerator. it sounds like popcorn popping underneath the truck. if i baby it the popping isnt nearly as bad but if i step on it the truck bogs down and takes a long time to get up to speed. once i get past about 1500 rpm it kind of clears up a little. a little over a month ago the fuel pump started making a high pitched whine. within the past three months or so it has to crank for a couple seconds before it starts too. i dont know if either of those is the problem but i thought i should note those. i dont know what to start looking at maybe a blocked catalytic any suggestions would be nice. thanks .

Replies:

From : marker

unfortunately that wasnt it.... it seems to be getting worse. it sounds fine until i put any load on it. once i get in drive it runs like a dog with its tail between its legs until i get over 2000 rpm. still backfires like crazy anything under that. anything else to try before i go use up my credit card limit on a mechanic ron miller wrote i would check your spark plug wires. sounds like one might be cracked an possibly arching some where .

From : jim monahan

i had a similar problem with my 5.9l 1999 pickup and it was the crankshaft position sensor according to the service rep. $18 part and mucho labor for a 10 minute job. they also charged me for cleaning the injectors with some spray stuff can you say ripoff. jim on wed 04 aug 2004 005635 gmt marker fake@example.com wrote unfortunately that wasnt it.... it seems to be getting worse. it sounds fine until i put any load on it. once i get in drive it runs like a dog with its tail between its legs until i get over 2000 rpm. still backfires like crazy anything under that. anything else to try before i go use up my credit card limit on a mechanic ron miller wrote i would check your spark plug wires. sounds like one might be cracked an possibly arching some where .

From : ron miller

i would check your spark plug wires. sounds like one might be cracked an possibly arching some where .