Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Binding throttle runaway when cold

[TShively]

Went on a trip yesterday driving down the freeway, it was very cold out - about 4 degrees, when the throttle became very stiff and would not move . I started messing around with it trying to get it to break free & I pressed on it fairly hard. Then it really took off and it was headed to 3500rpm when I had to shut it off and get it pulled over.

The engine now off, I pulled on the linkage and got it to free up. When I press on the throttle with the engine stopped you can feel a slight bind (was told it could be the ramp on the fuel plate). It did it two more times before I got to a service station and got some wd-40. I then sprayed the linkages and two heim joints.

It was all good for about four hours then it happened again?? This time the wd-40 did not work so I just fought it and got it home. Took it to the shop where I could look at it a little better. All the return springs and joints look and feel good & I went ahead and pulled the throttle cable which also feels fine and threw it by the stove to let it dry for good measure.

Is there any way moisture could get inside the pump and affect the govonor or rack?? I'm not sure if it is just coincidence or not, but the temp during the four hours of good performance was in the mid to higher 20s and the times it acted up were in single digits.

Sorry to ramble. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Tim

 

[ndurbin]

Did you check the return spring on the throttle linkage?



Nathan

 

[BPonci]

Check your throttle cable for fraying. Check out by the throttle bellcrank on the front side of the pump. Sounds like the cable to me. I have also seen the tps stick and bind the linkage up. If your truck has EGR the it has a tps. Only 96 and 97 trucks in Cali had this. Hope you find the issue. Let us know... ... ... ..... Brad

 

[TRCM]

This happened on mine when I was test driving it.



You coudl push the clutch in and the throttle would stay where it was for about15 seconds.



on mine, it was the bushings in the pivot point at the injection pump. I got the new ones from dodge, and the problems went away.

 

[TShively]

Ok this is a 5 speed no tps no egr , the throttle cable is laying here by the stove and it feels very smooth all the springs look fine as well three total two side by side down low and the single one up where the cruise control hooks to. Do you guys think this might be the govonor?? We ran it all of elk season ran great but it wasnt this cold either. I keep thinking moisture but freezing is freezing whether its 32 or 4 degrees. Thanks again

 

[Dewjr]

Sounds like maybe you power washed the engine be for It got cold?if so maybe water got inside the cable,It doesn`t take much,putting it by the stove is a good idea,let it dry out good be for you put it back on,This happened to me last year,It was a pain.

good luck.

 

[biggy238]

Check the VIN for the TSB about the throttle cable. . I had mine replaced when I got the truck. It's on the Dodge/chrysler website somewhere.



It could have caught a frey and then released.

 

[bmoeller]

http://dodgeram.info/tsb/1997-index.htm



http://dodgeram.info/tsb/recall.htm

 

[TShively]

Dewjr, you are correct, I did steam clean it back in November after hunting season was over and now I'm 99% sure it was moisture in the throttle cable.

Went ahead and ordered a new throttle rod (with new ends) as my throttle rod adjustment screw seemed to have a bend to it and new bushings for the bellcrank as TRCM suggested. Is it safe to say that if the throttle rod ball stud is a bolt-on style the bellcrank safety recall has been done? The parts man at the dealership said that I did not need the throttle rod ball studs as he had never seen them show wear plus he did not have any in stock.

I'm going to install all the new parts tomorrow night and see how it works. Thanks again you guys for all the help and advice.

 

[TRCM]

if he's never seen them wear, he's never looked. maybe he thinks you need new spark plugs too cuz yer engine rattles