Dodge Ram, 1999, 318. 4X4
When a catalytic converter gets clogged (or goes bad, or whatever it does, and causes the engine to not be able to run, acts as if it's ran out of gas) does the clog and lack of air flow send messages to the computer that then "send" a message to the spark plugs not to fire a strong spark?
So if this truck were given to an inexperienced mechanic, this mechanic might think the plugs, wires, rotor and cap are bad because there isn't a strong spark, and when he changes all these and it still won't start he then thinks the computer has gone bad.
Does this sound like something that could happen? Cause I think it's exactly what is happening to me. I've had my truck in the shop since Dec
6th. It's now January 5th. The mechanic first ruled out the fuel pump, then he said it needed new plugs, wires, rotor, and cap. Then he said he still can't get it to run, couldn't get a good spark, so he thought it was the computer gone bad. So he bought a used one (after we, ourselves, looked around and found one for way under the $400.00 he wanted to charge us) and had the truck towed to a Dodge repairshop so they could "flash" the computer. Now, since the truck has been at this Dodge place, the same mechanic calls us and says he recently discovered that this truck had a recall for catalytic converters and that we are getting a new one free of charge.What I think happened is this. It was the catalytic converter all along causing the symptoms that he couldn't diagnose. And when the truck ended up at the Dodge place, with skilled mechanics, he was told what the real problem was. Being that he now would look like a fool if he told us it was the catalytic converter all along (even after I asked him if he had looked into it being the catalytic converter and he said, "But that has nothing to do with the spark being weak.") and we didn't really need the new plugs, wires, rotor, cap, AND computer, he made up the story about there being a recall so we would think that we'd actually still have to pay for all the new, uneeded parts he just put in.
How far off am I?
Thanks for any help.