1994 Dodge Ram Crackling and Power Loss

1994 DODGE RAM
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JONATHAN.GIBSON
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My truck is the 1500 model with a 5.9L V8 engine, two wheel drive with 201,000 miles. I had to take my left head off due to a broken bolt while putting on headers, after putting my engine back together it idles fine, but when I start driving it starts making a crackling noise on that side. it has a big power loss,and transmission does not shift right. I have changed distributor and button, spark plugs, and necessary gaskets while assembling the engine. It ran great before. What could be wrong and how can I check it?
Apr 1, 2006 at 6:20 AM
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LOSONE
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The head was not put back on correctly. Perhaps the gasket slipped and you have a huge internal leak between cylinders. Did you use an OEM gasket set?

Also, the intake manifold might be leaking causing the same problem.

Carefully take it back apart and check the intake set up very carefully. I bet you have a gasket that is out of line. Hopefully, it is not the head.
Dec 15, 2020 at 6:52 AM
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JONATHAN.GIBSON
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I tore my engine back apart and replaced all my gaskets again and checked my vacuum lines and it still has the same problems, so I checked my codes and it gave me a code 37 twice. The book says code 37 is torque converter clutch solenoid CKT or transmission temperature sensor too high or low. Is there any way to check these things and could this be making my truck run that bad?
Dec 15, 2020 at 6:52 AM
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LOSONE
  • ✓Experienced Mechanic
  • 1,616 POSTS
Code 37 is usually the temperature circuit that will not let the transmission go into overdrive until the transmission is warm. I have by passed that circuit a lot of time.

The 5.9 is usually a bullet prove old proven engine and I do not understand what could be happening. I wish I was there looking at the engine.

Let's try one more thing Take out number one plug and hand bring the cylinder to TDC. (number one is the cylinder head that sticks out the farthest). I put a long screw driver in the plug hole and feel the piston at the top. Check your front pulley timing mark and make sure it is exactly on TDC.

Make sure the rotor points to number one cyl in the distributer cap.

I want to eliminate all timing issues. Let me know!
Dec 15, 2020 at 6:52 AM

Suggested Repair

After the head reassembly, verify ignition timing: remove the number 1 spark plug, bring that piston to TDC by hand, confirm the front pulley mark is exactly at TDC, and make sure the distributor rotor points to the number 1 terminal. Also diagnose code 37, identified as the transmission temperature circuit that can block overdrive until the transmission is warm (the book also lists the torque converter clutch solenoid circuit). If the crackling and power loss continue, recheck head and intake gasket alignment.

Conversation Summary

A 1994 Dodge Ram 1500 5.9L idled normally after the left head was removed for a broken header bolt and then reinstalled, but it crackled on that side while driving, lost power, and shifted poorly. The owner had already replaced the distributor, rotor, spark plugs, and gaskets. An expert first suspected a slipped head or intake gasket. After the owner replaced the gaskets again and checked vacuum lines, code 37 appeared. The expert said that code is usually the transmission temperature circuit that delays overdrive until the transmission is warm, and advised confirming true TDC on cylinder 1 with the rotor aimed at number 1 to rule out a timing error.

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