1989 Dodge Ram engine idles ok but truck will not go above

HUNTR1975

MEMBER
1989 DODGE RAM
V8
4WD
MANUAL
84,000 MILES

I have a question about my truck it is a 1989 dodge 3/4 ton 4wheel drive. It only has 84000 org. Miles.
I noticed it was starting to get sluggish a few days ago. So I haven't driven it much until today to see if I could figure it out. While driving it got worse now will not go above 45- 50 mph and making a noise.
I was able to get it home and raised the hood and reved the engine by hand and it started to sound almost like a bumble bee or lawn mower. Idleing the engine sounds fine. Any help you could give me in this matter would be greatly appeciated. I work for myself and so my truck is my lifeline you could say but it's not in the budget right now for a new truck.

5 Replies

MIKE H R

MECHANIC
3,094 POSTS

Have you change the fuef filter yet, see if you can pinpoint where the noise is comming from. Is it a deep sound like it is starving for fuel? Or is it another sound. It could be some other problem but changing the fuel filter is somewhere to start with

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Saturday, February 21st, 2009 AT 10:10 AM

HUNTR1975

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2 POSTS

Thank you for the quick response. I haven't changed the fuel filter yet I'm sure it would'nt hurt though. It almost sounds like the noise may be exhaust. I don't hear it until I rev the engine alittle. The truck starts fine and idles fine. Could an exhaust leak at the manifold affect anything. Also I get a strong smell of exhaust when I rev the engine from under the hood. I just found a good size exhaust leak at the drivers side manifold. When I say good size it's enough to feel the exhaust very easily and even see the exhaust when engine is rev'd.

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Saturday, February 21st, 2009 AT 12:23 PM

MIKE H R

MECHANIC
3,094 POSTS

Most times a exhaust leak would only make the truck sound like a racing truck with no exhaust. I am wondering how the catalic converter is. With the engine running have a friend rev up the engine a little and see how much exhaust is comming out of the tail pipe. If you hear a rattling where the converter is then the converter could be not letting the exhaust through making back pressure, this will cut down the effecientcy of the engine

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Thursday, February 26th, 2009 AT 9:38 AM

HUNTR1975

MEMBER
2 POSTS

Thank you for your help I fixed the manifold leak anyway and it still blew exhaust back throught filter at the smog controls pump or air pump. So I thought also about the catalytic converter. I actually drilled hole in the exhaust pipe before the converter to see if this would help since I could easily repair a drill bit hole. That helped alot so I got a new converter and installed it. Runs like a new truck. Thanks for all the help.

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Tuesday, March 3rd, 2009 AT 8:57 PM

MIKE H R