Multiple misfire codes

[cwalker842]

I have a similar or maybe even the same problem as two other posts.

I have an 86 Ram Van 2500. When I am on the freeway at about 70 mph the car will back fire, lose power and drop to about 30 mph. The check engine light flashes and I have to pull over. Sometimes but not always if I sit for 5 to 10 minutes I can continue on like nothing happened but other times it won't go over 30. The codes are multiple cylinder misfires #1, #2, and # 3. Every once in a while I will get an O2 sensor code but not when it is misfiring just out of the blue the light will turn on.

I've read several posts similar to this referring to a low gas level. I'm not sure if every time I have been at 1/4 tank but several times I have when this occurs. This has been going on for several months and sometimes I can go for weeks with no problems. It seems to only happen on the freeway also.

My mechanic is at a loss. He has cleaned injectors, wires, new hallogram in distributor cap, fixed a loose wire on the computer and just when we think we've solved it it misfires again.

He thinks I might need a new computer but we are trying to eliminate every possibility before going to that expense. I told him about the fuel pump that I've read about on this forum and he is skeptical

Any other ideas?

[fredjacksonsan]

In the Dodge Ram forum, several members have had a problem with their fuel pump overheating; they replaced it and the problem went away. But wait, you've got an 86, and it's carbureted, right? I'd check to see if there's any water in your gas tank, change the fuel filter and give it a tune up, before anything else.

[cwalker842]

It is a 96 Ram Conversion van. (typo) What does carbureted mean? Does a fuel pump overheat? I believe I have fuel injection.

[fredjacksonsan]

OK, '96....about the same year as the trucks that were having the same or similar problem.

After checking again, their solutions were either the fuel pump or the catalytic converter. Plugged up cats were a big one for that year. Check out the posts under the Dodge pickup forum, I think you'll find your answer there.