# 1996 Dodge Ram 2500 chugs and dies

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/1996-dodge-ram-2500-chugs-and-dies/78717>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** dodge, ram-2500\
**Created:** [April 16, 2013, 12:08am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1996-dodge-ram-2500-chugs-and-dies/78717 "2013-04-16T00:08:07Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![JoNamass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/dfb087/32.png) [@JoNamass](https://community.cartalk.com/u/JoNamass)\
**Post date:** [April 16, 2013, 12:08am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1996-dodge-ram-2500-chugs-and-dies/78717/1 "2013-04-16T00:08:07Z")

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I bought this truck about 8 months ago, and replaced the EVAC system right off. Now, it’s doing this thing where, when driving uphill, it chugs and makes a loud metal clunking sound. Also, as I slow, it tries to accelerate on its own (with my foot on the brake), and if I sit for too long at a stop (idling), it dies. Starts right up again, but it sucks having to start my truck on the freeway in slow/stopped conditions. Is it my fuel pump or my transmission? Help!

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**Author:** ![dono](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e0b2c6/32.png) [@dono](https://community.cartalk.com/u/dono)\
**Post date:** [April 19, 2013, 11:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1996-dodge-ram-2500-chugs-and-dies/78717/2 "2013-04-19T23:35:30Z")

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Is it a diesel? If so, I would first check the lift pump pressure (should be around 8-10 psi, I believe). They are notorious for failing on these, and when they do, the expen$ive injector pump soon goes too. I had this problem recently, and the lift pump was the culprit. You can get a lift pump many places on line, and they go anywhere from about $125 - $250. Installation is a bit of a pain, since you have to drop the fuel tank. I just let my mechanic do all the nasty work.