[pcm1977]

I have not driven my truck muck lately due to shoulder surgery (about a month), but my wife has driven it a couple of time to the store during that time and reported nothing wrong. This week end was the first time I was really going to take it out and drive it, but about 2-3 miles into normal driving I could hear a hissing noise coming from under the hood. I have had the hose come off the PCV valve before and that caused a hissing noise, after stopping to check that, which is was not, I decided to return home. On the way home I noticed that the more I drove the more sluggish the truck would get (it feels like I am towing a 10 ton trailer).

When I got home I checked the PCV and it was gross (original). Four dollars and 30 seconds later it seemed to help, but after closer examination the hissing noise seems to be coming from the drivers side of the engine. I also did some more checking the next day and determined that the warmer the engine gets the louder the hissing and the more “sluggish” it drives.

Does anyone have an idea? Vacuum leak or worse? The truck is mostly original except water pump, muffler and radiator and the usual (shock, plugs, etc.).

 

[coonhound130]

Prob a vac leak .
My 2001 5.2 with 86xxx miles is sluggish all the time to me , I have had v6 full size trucks that pull my horses way better than this Dodge ...lol

 

[NumbaG]

I'm kinda having the same problem. There is a little hiss coming from the drivers side of the intake and it's sluggish when you step into the gas. Also, when I reach cruising speed it begins to buck/jerk pretty bad and I have to let off a bit.

I've replaced the plenum gasket, both O2 sensors, the TPS, plugs, wires and distributor. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Oh and awesome site! Thanks.

 

[deanthecrabman]

Try spraying a little carb cleaner around the vacuum lines and connections while the engine is running. Listen for a stumble, that's where your leak is. Does sound like a vacuum leak, and since that is usually an easy and cheap fix, I would start there.

 

[coonhound130]

I'm kinda having the same problem. There is a little hiss coming from the drivers side of the intake and it's sluggish when you step into the gas. Also, when I reach cruising speed it begins to buck/jerk pretty bad and I have to let off a bit.

I've replaced the plenum gasket, both O2 sensors, the TPS, plugs, wires and distributor. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Oh and awesome site! Thanks.

That is what mine was doing with the jerking and such at cruising speeds , the crank sensor was loose

 

[NumbaG]

Dean,
Thanks for the advice, I'll have to give that a shot and see what I find.

Coonhound,
Thats the first I had heard of that. I will definitely check that out. How could you tell it was loose and did you just tighten the screws or replace it?

Thanks again guys, very helpful stuff.

 

[coonhound130]

I was looking for the hissing sound and noticed it was about to fall out . I cleaned it up and reinstalled it .