olblue
Junior Member
Hello all,
New to Dodge, new to American cars, new to the forum.
Just picked up a 97 1500 SLT Laramie 4x4 172k on the clock. picked it up for $1300 which was a steal for around here.
Some known issues I have,
It was manufactured in 11/96 so it is still ODBI.*
When I first picked up the vehicle it did not have a check engine light on. After I bought it, a few miles down the road it turned on. Read into it and the ******* disconnected the battery and cleared it all. Codes I read were 12 (disconnected battery) 51 (engine running lean?) 12, and 77.
Was a 85 mile drive home and put in $45 worth of gas (gas at $3.14/gal) and went through it all. Ouch. Guessing that the computer was trying to richen the*fuel*air*mix*and was dumpingfuel*like mad before it went into a limp mode. Also while being in 5th gear it could not go up any hill of any size. and when i would try to set the cruise it would climb up higher. Id set it at 65 and before i knew it i was at 75.
Check engine light is still on,*MPG*isnt as bad but still should be better.
Checked for vacuum leaks and could not hear any hissing. No obvious cracking tubes. Stumped. Would a bad*O2*sensorthrow this code? any ideas?
Next would be the steering is very sloppy. This being my first solid axle vehicle it is all new to me. From what I've read and understand it is my*pitman*arm*that is causing the steering wheel to have "play" before it actually starts to steer/turn.
Power Steering fluid*also leaks. Not very fast but does drip. Cant source it down to where its coming from. Any common places?
Thanks everyone in advance,
D.
New to Dodge, new to American cars, new to the forum.
Just picked up a 97 1500 SLT Laramie 4x4 172k on the clock. picked it up for $1300 which was a steal for around here.
Some known issues I have,
It was manufactured in 11/96 so it is still ODBI.*
When I first picked up the vehicle it did not have a check engine light on. After I bought it, a few miles down the road it turned on. Read into it and the ******* disconnected the battery and cleared it all. Codes I read were 12 (disconnected battery) 51 (engine running lean?) 12, and 77.
Was a 85 mile drive home and put in $45 worth of gas (gas at $3.14/gal) and went through it all. Ouch. Guessing that the computer was trying to richen the*fuel*air*mix*and was dumpingfuel*like mad before it went into a limp mode. Also while being in 5th gear it could not go up any hill of any size. and when i would try to set the cruise it would climb up higher. Id set it at 65 and before i knew it i was at 75.
Check engine light is still on,*MPG*isnt as bad but still should be better.
Checked for vacuum leaks and could not hear any hissing. No obvious cracking tubes. Stumped. Would a bad*O2*sensorthrow this code? any ideas?
Next would be the steering is very sloppy. This being my first solid axle vehicle it is all new to me. From what I've read and understand it is my*pitman*arm*that is causing the steering wheel to have "play" before it actually starts to steer/turn.
Power Steering fluid*also leaks. Not very fast but does drip. Cant source it down to where its coming from. Any common places?
Thanks everyone in advance,
D.
