Front axle glowing, engine acting like it wants to stall and backfiring

DUSTY5

MEMBER
1999 DODGE RAM
3.8L
V8
4WD
AUTOMATIC
165,000 MILES

Well, we bought the truck listed above 1500 Sports model and on first day it ran 100% awesome, the next I when to start it and it took tries but figure it was because it was cold up here in the mountains. As I was about to hit the side it started acting like it wasnt getting fuel so I pulled over and my husband took over and babied to the main road and it start working fine. So I took over drove it for about 10 miles and it started again expect this time it would changes and it wouldn't go above 30 MPH. So I drove from I where I bought it and they changed a sensor but it was still happened. So they looked into it further and it was the converter and they would do what they could and it ready on Monday. So I went to pick up they told me they gutted the converter and they suggest to get gas treatment and so on. So I did but on my way to way to it started again and now my front axle starting glowing red hot and it is trying to stall out and backfiring.

1 Reply

KASEKENNY

MECHANIC
18,907 POSTS

Are you sure the converter was not the thing that was glowing red hot and not the axle? Maybe the axle was just getting hot as a result of the converter being so hot?

Can you get a picture of this as the only thing that is going to cause this is friction and if the axle is glowing then it is going to lock up and I would expect it to be making noise.

However, it would make more sense that the converter is glowing which would seem to match what they said about the converter being gutted. However, it is most likely not gutted but blocked. So let's review this guide for more info on this:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/bad-catalytic-converter-symptoms

If this is glowing then that is due to excess fuel getting stuck in the converter and it starts igniting inside of it.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/catalytic-converter-replacement

Let me know if you can get a picture of this and we can go from there. However, I suspect the exhaust is blocked and this is chocking the engine which is why you are seeing the issues with performance.