318 running crappy

[318_Dakota]

Hey guys I have a question on the 318 in my dakota. It just recently started running crappy. I have an idea of what it is but I want to see what you think. Okay, well it started off that sometimes it would bog down and just start jerking during acceleration, but when you put it in neutral you could rev it freely like nothing happend put it back 2nd or 3rd ( most of the time it was 2nd) it would be fine and just go on like nothing happend. just recently after we had this big rain around detroit its started running really bad and doing it alot. now its starts to idle really low around 100 and it looks and sounds like its missing really bad. I pulled the aircleaner assembly off and started it up and after idleing for a minute what looks like the idle air sensor would make a loud whooshing noise like a vacume leak and start idleing really rough like I described above. now, the conclusions I have come up with are something with the EGR system, possibly the tube from the exhaust manifold to the valve being clogged or a clogged cat. what do you think?
sorry for the long post. I would appreciate any help thanks.

[318_Dakota]

I guess no one can help me huh?
Jeremy

[spirit-dodge]

If ya tap the cat when its cold and ya hear a rattle its the cat.

[plunked]

Had a similair problem, rough fluttering idle,a few years back on my 95 318 dakota(@ about 115,000 miles) that started imediately after overheating due to dead water pump. Replaced water pump, problem still there, check engine light came on, code indicated o2 sensor. Replaced o2 sensor, and went right back to normal. Not saying thats your problem, but, maybe worth investigating o2 sensor.
Hope it helps
plunked

[318_Dakota]

Spirit - thanks man, that was gonna be taken care of pretty quick anyways. I've been wanting to put on a new exhaust ever since I've got the truck. This just gives me a reason to absolutly get the exhaust now. :cool:

plunked - You know now that I think about it when I checked the codes last week, the codes the computer flashed was for the o2 sensor circut and the egr system, Thanks I'll look into it. :rck:
Jeremy