engine running rough

[crazzywolfie]

the 318 engine in my 93 ramcharger is not running right. i know this it the 2nd gen section but they only use the 318 magnum in the 1st gen body for 2 years before they completely changed body style plus i know the 1st gen section can be kind of dead.

anyway onto the issue. engine was running rough. no power and lots of stuttering and shaking. i check for codes and got code 32 so i replaced the egr transducer with some older egr transducer parts i had kicking around. that made engine run fine for a couple of days and then it started having the same issues again. i managed to find another transducer and put it on but there seems to be no change. i have reset the computer and checked for codes but nothing at all is coming up even when it is running rough. no i have not repaired my plenum yet but i got a pretty good exhaust leak that should make a clogged cat not such an issue. o2 sensor is less than 6 months old. hoping to fix this cheap to make my sister not feel as bad since she has been driving it lately.
here is some video footage i got of it today. i don't know if you can really hear how poorly it is running or not. my laptop is limited volume wise so i find it pretty hard to hear how rough it is running.
My rc not running right - YouTube

 

[dodge dude94]

Hot, cold? Sounds like it has a bit of a lope.

Might it be possible your exhaust leak is causing it? I know some guys have found that leaky manifolds can cause weird things to happen.

 

[crazzywolfie]

it seemed to get worse when it was hot but it was still having issues when it was cold.

it has had the exhaust leak for a while. i figure if it was the exhaust leak i would have had issues a long time ago. i have tried to fix that leak multiple time and it never really lasts. there is only 1 way to fix it and i don't want to do it. would have to tear the whole exhaust apart which would be a nightmare.

 

[dodge dude94]

Not running rich or has a vacuum leak, would it?

I know my 76 does lope really bad occasionally when it got flooded out a tad.

 

[crazzywolfie]

it don't seem to be running rich. i could not find any vacuum leaks but i did see movement in my vacuum gauge when i had it hooked up. sometimes it would sit at 16in-hg and slowly work its way back up to the 18-20in-hg area.

 

[dodge dude94]

Possible your plenum is causing it? I know not all trucks have that rough idle, but some do.

 

[crazzywolfie]

i hope not but i guess i could try and check to see if there is vacuum in the crankcase. it would really suck if it is that bad already since i got the aluminum pan sitting in the basement and just have to order the gaskets.

 

[crazzywolfie]

well i have spent a couple days swapping parts and testing stuff and narrowed down the problem. managed to borrow a fuel pressure tester and i was only getting about 25-30 psi of fuel pressure at the fuel rail when i first fired it up and it was running ok and then it dropped down to 20psi when it was running like crap. i still got a few small test to perform to narrow down where exactly the issue is but i am pretty sure it is the fuel pressure regulator which it $50 on top of all the other stuff i need to order.

 

[crazzywolfie]

got around to testing fuel pressure at my fuel filter and it was only running at 20psi so the issue must be with the fuel pump. really sucks because of how much work is involved with dropping the tank. already have the bumper off but have to pray that the penetrating oil is doing its job on the threaded rods and nuts. rust makes everything such a pain in the @s$ to work on.

 

[dodge dude94]

At least you're pretty sure what the problem is.

I wish you all the best with that mess you've got there with that. :S

 

[crazzywolfie]

thanks. i am hoping my spare fuel pump fixes the issue. i am going to test it tomorrow to make sure it is putting out 30-40psi since it has not been in gas for a while. i also have to make new fuel lines and gas tanks straps while the tank is down which suck. planning on only dropping the tank once.

 

[dodge dude94]

Might as well get all that done now.

 

[crazzywolfie]

well the fuel lines did not look in that greatest of shape. i was also hoping to do some sandblasting and painting while in the area. i could see this being another expensive week.

 

[crazzywolfie]

go figure the spare pump i had sitting around does not work. i ended up ordering a new fuel pump which cost me $63 and is going to take 2-8 days to get here. i guess i will have some time to build what i need. i already got the gas tank out. found a lot of dirt and rust on top of the tank. also found a lot of rusted out parts the should not be rusted out and will have to be fixed or replaced.

 

[dodge dude94]

Well, when it rains, it pours. But IMO there really isn't a better time to start fixing this stuff under there than now. You've already got the tank out. Ya know?

Good luck.

 

[crazzywolfie]

ya. it really sucks because i don't have a lot of money to putting into it right now. i get paid tomorrow but lately money seems to disappear quicker than i can earn it. it was not too hard to drop the gas tank but then again it was almost empty.

 

[dodge dude94]

At least it was empty. Considering most of the time the fuel pumps go out when the tank is 3/4 or completely full.

 

[crazzywolfie]

i haven't filled the tank full in a long time just because of how bad the old gas tank straps were. plus spending $120 to fill the tank sucks.