New to TDR - 3500 Ram Hesitation Question

[dwhak]

I am a brand new member to TDR so pardon me if I am posting in the wrong forum... . just push me along to the right place.



I have a 2004 3500 Ram, 5. 7 with 75K on it. I am the original owner and at around 68K (a year ago), I begin to notice a very subtle hesitation at highway speeds (normally around 60mph). It was so slight I thought it was a road imperfection(almost like a gentle push back). Since first noticing that it was a problem and not the road, it has became worse (it will disappear for a time, then begin again). I searched other threads to find similar problems - the truck has none of the other symptoms such as stalling or black smoke. I have noticed a RPM fluctuation but that is more recent. It has gotten progressively worse to the point I am getting a noticeable hesitation (to put it mildly) when accelerating with a now not so gentle push remaining at highway speeds. I have taken it to the dealer three times for this issue. They have been unable to isolate the problem. They tried a number of tests (sorry guys, I am not as knowledgeable as most here) but came back with zilch. At one point they told me it might be water in the diesel and to run it as empty as I dared while overdosing the fuel tank diesel with diesel additive. I live in Alaska and, according to the service manager, a small amount of water vapor was freezing in the filter or lines.

I am ready to take it back again but I want to be slightly better armed than in past trips. Has anyone out there had a similar issue?



Dave

 

[HOBrian]

First WELCOME TO TDR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now for Q's

Do you have any gauges?

Do you still have the stock fuel pump?

If you stand on it, does it do it?

Do you have a chip? (and if you do take it off and see if it still does it. )

If you could fill in your sig with all the trucks info like: is it an auto/6spd, 305/555 or 325/600.



You hit the "7" instead of the "9".

 

[dwhak]

Brian...Thanks

Thanks for your quick reply and the welcome. I will add my information to the signature block soon - that is a great suggestion. After I hit submit yesterday I realized how much info was lacking. It is an automatic and everything is stock, no after market. It has the standard qauges (battery, oil pressure, tach, etc), no aftermarket chips, and stock fuel pump. The fuel filter was changed and the dealership ruled out injector problems. Their next stated step is to empty and purge the fuel tank in order to rule out moisture.

 

[rbattelle]

With that many miles on the original lift pump I'd want to have a look at it. It might not be putting out enough flow. Did the dealership check it? You're right in the range where the stock pumps like to fail.
Ryan

 

[wcjp]

Which engine? 305 or 325hp? 04' or 04. 5'?



In addition to normal things to check on the truck I remember about 1. 5yrs ago one of the TDR members had a really obscure problem. Might've been Cattletrkr (?). One of the wires located beneath the fuel filter had slightly rubbed through the insulation. This was the +5v signal from the AC to other logic circuits. Caused all kinds of weird untraceable problems.