hey i got a 97 dodge ram 1500 sport with the 5.2L and i was driving back home towing a small trailer, well i hit the O/D OFF button on the dash and then turned it back on, a few minutes later i realized that there was a severe loss in power, and the engine sound just isnt the same, kinda a weaker sound to it at idleas well as when pushing down on the gas. no check engine light or anything and i have checked fuses and what not but i dont know, my haynes book is at my friends house and he doesnt get back to town until late. i also cant get it to our on post shop to get a computer hooked up to it so...... any ideas?

The catalytic converter is probably clogging but the OBD system hasn't caught it yet.

ok, i notice that alot of people dont bother with the cats at all but what do ya gotta do to make it work

and also would it make kinda a pinging noise, it does sound like it's coming from the cat, just wanna be sure

Definitely the cat. How many miles do you have on your truck? This happens at about 120k miles or so, but if it's at low miles, then there is probably and likely something wrong.

120k huh? I'd better keep an eye on mine then. I'm up to 114k right now.

just about to hit 90k but i think i might know what helped it, too much oil burnt can cause this right? well, i am a dirtbike rider and always have a can of 2 cycle mix gas and a regular gas can on hand, can you guess what can my buddy threw in my truck when he ran it out of cas the last time? yeah.... genuis, i didnt think it would hurt it too bad so i just threw normal unleaded on top of it. well i guess that kinda speeds the whole process up huh. oh well, i was planing on puttin on some flow masters so i will do that now along with the new cat, lookin at about 460 all said and done

That would do it.

well, my baby is back in tip top shape as i just dropped $460 into her. It was of course the cat so i got a new one and had them throw flowmaster cat-back on it so sounds soooo much better than it was. thank you for your help, ya ever get around fort riley kansas ill buy ya a beer

$460 for a new Cat?...and Flowmasters?? GAWD I hate Ca!!!! The flippin C.A.R.B cert. cats for Ca are $312 alone....oh well......congrats.