bigblockdart

I have a 97 dodge 2500 4x4 auto diesel and when I pulling my inclosed trailer with a head wind and going up a hill not a real steap going about 70 mph running about 2 grand coming up to the hill I will start loseing speed and rpm I check my mirror I don't see a lot of black smoke and I really don't hear the turbo spooling up it pulls good off the line but when crusen down the road like I said befor it loses power it some times dosen't have to be windy for this to happen but when it is windy it happens more often, I have read the other post about the fuel plate and star wheel then I read something about the t/c lock up switch, to me the trans dose shifts in to lockup to fast like in 5 mph from shifting in to overdrive, and this truck is bone stock be sides the turbo I had to replace a couple years ago and the truck has over 280,000 miles and still have the orginal trans it never been rebilt and thats not a b/s statement when I'd work at the local chrysler dealer we serviced that truck since it was new and I'm working on a bugit because all my money goes to the money pit in my grage like my name says big block dart, any input will greatly be welcomed thanks

dieselfuelonly

Well you said the turbo had to be replaced, is it the stock turbo or did you replace it with something bigger/smaller?

Anyway, good place to start is here:

When was the last time you changed your fuel filter? Did you recently switch to bio? Your filter may be clogged up and robbing you of power. How about the air filter?

Does the engine seem to "lug" when going up the hills?

Hopefully the answers to some of those questions will get you a start here.

P.S. Welcome to the site!

bigblockdart

turbo is a stock replacement- I wouldn't say lug when going up hill its like something is cutting off the fuel, I will have it floored it dosen't matter until it get down to about 55 and down shifts holds at 60 out of overdriver, and I serviced the truck not to long ago so all the filters have been changed and they don't offer bio fuel here yet in kansas. hope this helps with some more Ideas

cumminsdriver635

Well, its understandable to lose a little speed. Your truck is only rated 180hp stock, so its not gonna be a screamin demon. You shouldnt see any smoke if the truck is stock. You could problem fix your problem by sliding the fuel plate forward. It would give you a little more pep, and should hold speed better.

Eric

dieselfuelonly

I would still look into getting some gauges before you slide the plate at all especially since you are towing in hills.

Redneck_King

Aren't the 1997's rated for 215 hp stock? Just a thought.

cumminsdriver635

The stick shifts are, not the auto's though

it goes like this:

94-95 automatics 160hp
94-95 sticks 175hp

96-98 automatics 180hp
96-98 sticks 215hp

Thats excluding the California emission trucks though

Eric

bigblockdart

hey thanks for the help guys

Sleigher

Sounds kinda normal to me.
I've had mine since new and that is basically how it runs. The one thing that I did, long before I put in a new plate, was changed the exhaust and air filter. I put in one of Banks stage one kits (I think) it was a long time ago. The one with a bigger mandrel bent cat-back exhaust and a new K and N filter.
Where I saw the most difference was on grades. It seemed that the truck breathed better (which is why I did that stuff) and consequently pulled hills better. I have a gear splitter on my truck and after the mods I was able to climp hills with overdrive split, whereas before I had to take out the splitter and run in regular fifth- I have a manual.
That's all I have to say about that.

P