Limited acceleration with some backfiring, 92 ram 150 van

[kboehm]

I need some acceleration help, I basicly have none. I can only give it gas very slowly , barely get up to 15 mph when going up a hill. When I push the gas pedal normally it shuts off the fuel supply and sometimes will backfire, I really have to baby it and push slow. On level ground I get up to about 40mph max. I have replaced wires, plugs, cap and rotor, verified catalytic converter is not clogged. The check engine light comes sometimes and at idle it appears to be running fine. This is a work truck I could really use some help, I spend alot of time in a day getting places mostly traveling on the shoulder, sometimes upsetting fellow motorists.

[1thunder]

how did you test the cat for being plugged and did you test fuel pressure

[kboehm]

Originally Posted by 1thunder

how did you test the cat for being plugged and did you test fuel pressure

I removed the muffler and stuck a rod through the converter, apparently it was punched out by previous owner. What should the fuel pressure read ? Does this mean the fuel pump could be bad?

[rumblefish73]

You probably fixed it by now, but that sounds like your fuel pump. I just put one in a 1996 Ram Van and a 1990 Ram Truck this year. Both same "won't accelerate" problem. Runs lean as soon as the fuel pump warms up.

[stamar]

Originally Posted by rumblefish73

You probably fixed it by now, but that sounds like your fuel pump. I just put one in a 1996 Ram Van and a 1990 Ram Truck this year. Both same "won't accelerate" problem. Runs lean as soon as the fuel pump warms up.

what do you mean runs lean as soon as the fuel pump warms up?

meaning it runs fine at startup and poorly when warmed up?

mine is the opposite it runs poorly at start but fine when warmed up is why im asking.

[rumblefish73]

If you have a bad fuel pump, it may run fine for a few minutes until the pump heats up, then it looses pressure and volume and won't keep up with the fuel injectors demands so it runs the motor lean and the motor will typically "bog" if you press on the gas more than 1/3 pedal because there is plenty of air but very little fuel. Also if you try to run like this you will get backfires.

I saw some of your other posts and it sounds like you have a different problem. I am not familiar enough with these Dodges to offer any more advice.

[89ltd]

try disconnecting the egr valve and see if it helps, if it is opening to early it will backfire and stumble.