5.9 V8 Not Making Power

[DodgeRamFan1999]

I have a 99' 1500 with a 98' 5.9 v8, It start up no problem but when i start driving it feels so sluggish especially going up any hill it struggles. At around 2-3k RPM it wont pick up any speed just climb in RPM and when i let off the truck kind of jerks a little bit. Any help would be appreciated I've just started learning how to work on vehicles so any advice and help is appreciated.

 

[dapepper9]

Unplug and remove the upstream oxygen sensor. It may be rusted and a bit difficult seeing that you're in Iowa (also from Iowa) but if you do this and you notice that it seems to fix the problem significantly, you may have a plugged catalytic converter. Not at all uncommon on these old things. It's a solid place to start. In addition to that, check the sticky for the plenum fix and look into doing a tune-up (plugs, wires, cap, rotor and a clean air filter)

 

[2012RAM1500RT]

Unplug and remove the upstream oxygen sensor. It may be rusted and a bit difficult seeing that you're in Iowa (also from Iowa) but if you do this and you notice that it seems to fix the problem significantly, you may have a plugged catalytic converter. Not at all uncommon on these old things. It's a solid place to start. In addition to that, check the sticky for the plenum fix and look into doing a tune-up (plugs, wires, cap, rotor and a clean air filter)

Ditto on the catalytic converter.

 

[Todd Rusch]

Unplug and remove the upstream oxygen sensor. It may be rusted and a bit difficult seeing that you're in Iowa (also from Iowa) but if you do this and you notice that it seems to fix the problem significantly, you may have a plugged catalytic converter. Not at all uncommon on these old things. It's a solid place to start. In addition to that, check the sticky for the plenum fix and look into doing a tune-up (plugs, wires, cap, rotor and a clean air filter)

Yeah when I have time this weekend definitely going to check the cats that's what others were suggesting

 

[RodeoRam]

Could be transmission overheating and slipping. That's the way mine acted before I had to rebuild the transmission both times. The fluid was at the right level, but the transmission temp light came on, and I started losing gears until all I had left was 1, 2, & 3 before I parked it and called a rollback.

 

[Todd Rusch]

I figured it out, the Cats were blocked bad drilled 4 holes and it runs pretty good now