I was doing some reading in the owners manual... Seems there is something in the engine control programing to protect you and the truck. Seems if you mash the throttle (they did not say how much you have to push the throttle down to mash it) Let off it then re-mash it again the engine will de- rate. The idea is that the second time that you mash the throttle it was a mistake that you really were shooting for the break and missed. Or hit both the break and throttle at the same time. It's to prevent you from powering further into harms way. I have tried this and the truck will react as many of you have described in this post. Though not to the extent as some have found. I find if you back off the throttle let it idle for half a second then re hit it all is good and it will go as normal. While I can almost understand the idea behind this feature living here in NY with our traffic where you have to sometime jump up then wait for your opening then jump into traffic it's not such a good idea. But understanding that it's there has kept me from falling into it's de-rate trap. I think some software engineer has too much time on his hands and has over thought this creating something that we really don't need or want. KEEP IT SIMPLE STUPID!
I just spent the better part of four hours reading through the owners manual and additionally a 700+ page book I got from Chrysler. It is for the 1500, 2500 and 3500 Dodge trucks. I also viewed the CD that came with the rest of the owners manual. There is nothing I read that explains any of these problems other than the ETC light. This light informs you of a problem with the Electronic Throttle Control system. This light should come on when starting the truck. If it doesn't then you are suppose to have it checked out by an authorized dealer. If the light stays on with the engine running, your vehicle will usually be driveable. If the light is flashing with the truck running, immediate service is required. YOU MAY EXPERIENCE "REDUCED PERFORMANCE," AN ELEVATED/ROUGH IDLE OR ENGINE STALL AND YOUR VEHICLE MAY REQUIRED TO BE TOWED. Well this light came on in my truck in March, 2014 and if was flashing. Additionally, the ser. mgr while driving the truck five times also had this light flashing. From time to time it still flashes. However, the service mgr and Chrysler didn't offer any suggestions and that was the end of that debate.
Today I met a guy who lives in the same City I do. Never heard of him before or never heard of his business. A guy from a body shop gave me his name and address. Many many Dodge truck owners go to him because he is suppose to be the best and comes highly recommended. I told him all the problems that I and others on this forum were having. He asked me how many times the ser. mgr had "flashed" my truck. I told him roughly 5-6 times. His response was; "Well Bill once they flash your truck for anything and it creates problems, you will never be able to un-do the damage that was caused by the flashing. What flashing does is to change the software and computer settings. It also can completely erase part of a perfectly good software program. He contined on by saying that our problems can not be fixed due to all of the flashing having been performed. He also said that Chrysler and the dealers know this and the reason they flash or re-flash is due to some engineer thinking there might be a problem later on with the current software so he changes it and then that new info goes into our trucks.
Looking back at some of my RO's in March, April and may, my truck had been flashed prior to the ETC light coming on and blinking. He said that is probably when all of your problems started. Pretty close ~ I had less than 900 miles on the truck before all this junk happened. He continued to tell me to take it to another dealer allthough they probably won't be able to fix anything except perhaps part of my electrical problems but to not hold my breath on that happening.
I asked him if he would mind giving me some names of guys that had their trucks worked on by him. I was looking for references. He gladly gave me names and phone #'s. So far I have only called two. Both of them said they had other problems with their trucks that dealers could not fix but this guy knew right away what the solutions to the problems would be.
So that is all I have to say for now. Still fighting the fight and darn sure won't give up. Tomorrow I am having our Sheriff's department serve "Release of Information" paperwork to my dealer ~ ah X dealer. I could send it through the mail, signature required, but any of his staff personnel could sign for it. This way I will absolutely know he received it. Ser. mgr still refusing to give me the total test results on the APP sensor and refuses to give me some of the RO's I didn't originally receive after working on the truck. Truth be known, I believe there was no test on the sensor and the RO's I want may have ended up in the trash.
BTW, anybody having problems with the auto transmissions like a loud clunking sound when you change gears? The guy I was talking to said (maybe??) this could have something to do with the engine lagging/limp mode but would need to hear if a lot of guys are indeed having transmission problems like mine. My problems started whenever I shifted from D to P. Now it's in every gear. Sounds like the transmission falls out and hit the shop floor. I sent a transmission fluid sample out. Waiting to get the results on that.
I also forgot to mention that during my last phone conversation with my so called new customer satisfaction rep ~ a woman. She informed me that ALL service on my truck had to be performed by an authorized dealer, including having oil and filter changed. BULL! As long as you keep records of it in your owners manual along with the oil/filter receipts, it will not void the warranty. I'm not about to drive 150 miles, round trip, over a mountain pass to my so called new dealer just to have the oil changed when I darn well can do that myself.