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89 Ram has no acceleration!
Posted By: newportrider
89 Ram has no acceleration! - 04/07/13 03:53 PM
My 89 Ram 318 fuelie auto, acted up around Christmas, where it will not accelerate. It starts and idles fine, but if you try to rev it up will not accept throttle, bogs, sometimes back fires. I replaced the fuel filter, and it has half tank of fuel. I started it this morn after sitting since New Years and it started with out a hitch, but will not rev up. Is it a throttle body/electical or what. Spring is here and I need a truck, any Ideas?
Posted By: herkamer
Re: 89 Ram has no acceleration! - 04/07/13 05:00 PM
First, start by checking for stored codes. Key on-off-on-off-on within 10 seconds. See if anything comes up. Next would be to reset any soft codes that are not stored by disconnecting the battery for 30 minutes. Next I would check to see if the injectors have a good spray pattern with a timing light. Start there and see what you can come up with. Despite everyone saying to go to a carb, I've found these aren't that hard to work on.
Posted By: newportrider
Re: 89 Ram has no acceleration! - 04/07/13 06:31 PM
I know little to nothing about fuel injection. How would you reset codes?
Posted By: 340SHORTY
Re: 89 Ram has no acceleration! - 04/07/13 07:38 PM
proper sequence for checking codes is on off on off on off on without cranking starting, watch for the blinking series. To reset you simply dissconect the battery for about 30 seconds. A FSM is invaluable in this case..
Posted By: newportrider
Re: 89 Ram has no acceleration! - 04/07/13 07:56 PM
I had the battery out last night to move another old truck of mine,86 carbed, put it back in 2hrs ago no change still acting the same.
Posted By: 440newport
Re: 89 Ram has no acceleration! - 04/07/13 08:48 PM
Mine acted the same way before and it turned out to be a corroded cap and rotor, so check those first. Also sounds like it could be the map sensor. Turn the key on-off-on-off-on and watch the check engine light for the codes if there are any.
Posted By: 340SHORTY
Re: 89 Ram has no acceleration! - 04/07/13 09:24 PM
just resetting the codes isnt going to fix the troubles.
Posted By: newportrider
Re: 89 Ram has no acceleration! - 04/07/13 09:38 PM
Message center is flashing 5 times. I can't tell if there is long or short flashes
all look the same to me!
Posted By: jerseybud
Re: 89 Ram has no acceleration! - 04/07/13 11:36 PM
Be sure the fuel pressure is around 14.5. If its 8 or 10 or similar, that's your problem. very common.
Posted By: 340SHORTY
Re: 89 Ram has no acceleration! - 04/08/13 01:37 AM
You need to learn how to read the flashes..
Posted By: newportrider
Re: 89 Ram has no acceleration! - 04/08/13 02:29 AM
Yeeah
Posted By: herkamer
Re: 89 Ram has no acceleration! - 04/08/13 03:48 AM
Flashes are read as a blink of the check engine light in the message center, and always 2 numbers. No zero and none start higher than 6. It will have a short pause between blinks, then long pause between digits and codes. Long and short is relative, maybe 1/2 sec difference. You should have a code 12 since the battery has been out within the 50 last key ons, and it always ends with 55. Mine always has 37 which is not a big deal, has to do with the A/T.
I also had a wasted cap and rotor when I first bought it and it would barely run. Good place to start looking.
Posted By: newportrider
Re: 89 Ram has no acceleration! - 04/08/13 11:16 AM
Thanks for the info. I'll recheck the codes this evening after work. The cap button and wires were replaced in October, but it could be bad. The out door garage work doesn't appeal to me this time of year.
make sure you did not cross 3-5 plug wires
it will run but not run very well.
Posted By: GO_Fish
Re: 89 Ram has no acceleration! - 04/08/13 06:55 PM
Are you hearing any hissing from the exhaust when the engine is running? On my '90 Dakota, the catalytic converter "brick" inside the case cracked, and pieces went down inside the muffler and plugged the muffler. Does the converter or muffler rattle when you bang on it with a rubber mallet? I had very weak power until I mashed the throttle one day out of frustration, and BANG, blew a hole in the side of the muffler... then the power came back.
Posted By: newportrider
Re: 89 Ram has no acceleration! - 04/08/13 08:27 PM
Exhaust is clear, new muffler installed last Oct and converter gutted by previous owner. going out to see if I can interpet the code flashes.
Posted By: newportrider
Re: 89 Ram has no acceleration! - 04/08/13 10:20 PM
Well I tried reading the codes. First set 3 flashes: 12 or 21 ? second set: four flashes: 13 or 22 or 31? followed by two sets of 5. Sorry but I couldn't tell short from long flashes but I did notice the pause between codes. Took me 6 tries!LOL TIA
Posted By: BigTerry
Re: 89 Ram has no acceleration! - 04/09/13 12:09 AM
Quote:
make sure you did not cross 3-5 plug wires
it will run but not run very well.
especially if all your problem started after the replacing the wires!! 
Posted By: herkamer
Re: 89 Ram has no acceleration! - 04/09/13 12:11 AM
There are no long or short flashes, just long or short pauses.
12 - PCM Power loss within 50 last key ons. To be expected since the battery has been out
13 - MAP sensor problem - Controls most fueling, that would certainly be something to look at
22 - Coolant temp too high or low
31 - Problem with canister purge solenoid circuit
Based on your description I get 34
34 - Open/short in speed control vacuum or vent solenoid circuits
55 - End of codes
Almost everyone in the world has a cell phone with video camera. Maybe take a video?
Posted By: rickstershemi
Re: 89 Ram has no acceleration! - 04/09/13 12:20 AM
Quote:
Be sure the fuel pressure is around 14.5. If its 8 or 10 or similar, that's your problem. very common.
^^^^THIS.....have you replaced the fuel filter...?????
Rickster
Posted By: basketcase
Re: 89 Ram has no acceleration! - 04/09/13 01:09 AM
or no holes in fuel line.
Quote:
There are no long or short flashes, just long or short pauses.
12 - PCM Power loss within 50 last key ons. To be expected since the battery has been out
13 - MAP sensor problem - Controls most fueling, that would certainly be something to look at
22 - Coolant temp too high or low
31 - Problem with canister purge solenoid circuit
Based on your description I get 34
34 - Open/short in speed control vacuum or vent solenoid circuits
55 - End of codes
Almost everyone in the world has a cell phone with video camera. Maybe take a video?
I will wager the MAP sensor is bad.
this tells the PCM how much air is moving thru throttle body by reading "manifold absolute pressure" IIRC. or mass air flow?
crappy stock electronic junk, strip it for a carb and points dist and never fool with it again. 
Posted By: newportrider
Re: 89 Ram has no acceleration! - 04/09/13 02:33 AM
Ok I'll try a map sensor and see what happens. The cap and wires were replaced long before this problem started and fuel filter and gas lines rubber and steel were replaced. One of the gas tank straps broke in Oct so I gave the old girl an overhaul while it was in a buddies garage before winter set in. When it first acted up at Christmas I blamed water in gas, changed fuel filter again, put deicer in and topped up with premium fuel, nothing helped, then winter set in and truck sat. Now spring is here and I can get a chance to work on it.
Posted By: herkamer
Re: 89 Ram has no acceleration! - 04/09/13 11:09 PM
I would check for rotted hoses and vacuum leaks before dumping money into a MAP.
There is a maze of spaghetti under the hood and it all is to be related to each other. Make sure your EGR valve is clean and free moving. Any one stupid little thing can throw off fueling. Easy way to tell is disconnect and plug the vacuum to the MAP and see if it still runs the same. Also spray carb or brake cleaner on the hoses and fittings for a leak test. Idle will go up if it sucks any of the cleaner in. I've found throwing parts at a problem without correct diagnosis is throwing good money away.
Posted By: newportrider
Re: 89 Ram has no acceleration! - 04/10/13 12:42 AM
Thanks, I won't be doing anything till the weekend again. I'm going to "borrow' a map sensor and try before I buy!
Posted By: basketcase
Re: 89 Ram has no acceleration! - 04/10/13 02:07 AM
and check the wires going into the map. we had a Dynasty that was coming up bad map, changed it, stil had the problem. found out one of the wires going into the plug was bad, and when the engine rocked it was sending out a false code.
Posted By: jimbob101
Re: 89 Ram has no acceleration! - 04/10/13 02:19 PM
I also had a 89 Ram with the same problem, run and idle fine but no power or acceleration. Before you start throwing parts at it, did you check your FUEL PRESSURE? You can tee in right before it goes into the throttle body in the back. Run a gauge up to your windshield and take it for a drive.
Mine ended up beinga plugged fuel pickup sock and/or weak electric fuel pump, I replaced both. I had 14-15psi fuel pressure but once accelerator was depressed while driving it would drop to 4psi less. If pressure tested bad, you can just get the electric pump for ~100$ w/o getting the whole stinking sending unit which is above $200 plus.
I bet it could be that..
-J
Posted By: newportrider
Re: 89 Ram has no acceleration! - 04/11/13 03:32 AM
If the weather is good on the weekend I will be trying fuel pressure, and a map sensor fuel lines are pretty much new from tank to throttle body.
Posted By: RoadRunnerLuva
Re: 89 Ram has no acceleration! - 04/11/13 09:57 PM
Quote:
Quote:
crappy stock electronic junk, strip it for a carb and points dist and never fool with it again.
with this...I bought an '89 318 TBI Dodge Ram 1500 4X4 brand new...damn thing couldn't get out of it's own way if it wanted to. I was so disgusted with it at the time, I sold it just a few month's later for what I had into it...and bought a '79 360 Dodge 1500 club cab with a CARBURATOR...always ran great!!
Posted By: zrxkawboy
Re: 89 Ram has no acceleration! - 04/12/13 04:39 AM
Several possibilities...good suggestions here, but don't shotgun it! Diagnose it! Start by testing fuel pressure.
Posted By: 340SHORTY
Re: 89 Ram has no acceleration! - 04/12/13 07:30 AM