Cold Weather Idle?

[mikepvg]

I thought that with all this computer mgmt, my 04. 5 would have an increase in idle speed in cold weather. Its been down to 0degF & my idle is the same on unplugged cold starts. Another buddy w/ an 04. 5 says his idle increases to 1000rpm. Whats wrong with my truck or do I need to do something to get it activated?



TIA



Mike

 

[rbattelle]

The high idle can be a bit fickle sometimes. Just because it's 0 out doesn't mean the high idle will kick on (although it really should). The ECM uses the IAT sensor to decide when high idle needs to be engaged. Depending on when you last turned off the truck, where it's parked, how much wind there is, etc, the IAT sensor might read high enough to prevent high idle.



That said, are you following the starting instructions in your owners manual for cold weather? It says to start the truck and let it idle 2 minutes to allow the grid heaters to finish working (you can tell when they shut off by watching the voltmeter). Remember that high idle won't kick on until after 2 minutes of idling (by my watch it's usually closer to 2:30). Touching the brake will disengage it. All the details are in your owners manual.



If you're doing all these things and high idle still isn't coming on, then you've got a problem.



-Ryan

 

[Tony T.]

High Idle

Last winter I noticed mine idling up to 1000 RPM after the two minute or so grid cycle, it was about 30*F outside temp. I just wish they had a program for the 03 high idle adjustment with cruise control like the 04's.



Tony

 

[opiefire]

Tony,

My dad has a 04. 5 and recently had the high idle program activated on his truck. The tech told him that some 03's could get the high idle program. Do you know the criteria Dodge uses to load the high idle program? Would it work on our 03's? Your right... . it sure would be nice!

 

[Big MAK]

As far as I know the high idle feature is also on the 03s. It's on mine; and it's a fairly early 03. Maybe your truck's been flashed with a program that excluded it for some reason? You can certainly get it re-flashed with a program that will high idle; unless there's a sensor problem and the program is fine.

 

[rbattelle]

Mak,



Your 03 6-speed has the high idle feature where you use the cruise control buttons to set the idle speed!?



-Ryan

 

[DCaswell]

03 6SPD does not have idle speed adj through the cruise control, only the auto has this feature. Don't ask me why as only the dipsticks at Dodge know the answer. When temps are lower than mid 20's mine goes to 1000rpm immediately on startup & will stay there until either the truck is warmed up, which never happens if it is really cold, or I start to drive & then drops back to normal rpm. Truck will also speed up the idle when I stop if it is really cold out.

 

[Tony T.]

High Idle feature would be icing on the cake

The build date on data plate of my engine is 11/15/02 so I might qualify for this, I hope. Is there a TSB that I'm missing somewhere for this to be enabled. I just had two TSB's done this morning an it seems, I have to show them the TSB number an explain what it's far before service writer catches on to what I'm talking about. It would be nice if DC had one or two service writers at each dealership that dealt strictly with Cummins engine an would know service bulletins inside out, upside down, and cross ways.



By the way I'm real happy with the flashes they done this morning seems like a different truck now, or maybe it's psychcological. :-laf



Tony

 

[Big MAK]

... just the cold weather high idle on my 03 6spd; not settable with the cruise control buttons.

 

[mikepvg]

OK... . Just got back from an out of town trip.

Its been in the single digits & unplugged.

It started & made its way to 1000rpm's.

I discovered, I was inadvertantly deactivating the high idle by pressing on the throttle the way I used to on my 94 for its proper starting procedure.



Next question...



How much smoke should you get on these unplugged subfreezing startups?



My 04. 5 smokes just as much as my beat up 94 did & and that is ALOT OF SMOKE!



Once it warms up a little (few minutes) it clears up entirely.

However before it does, it smokes, belches & runs EXTREMELY rough.

I'm thinking this will be normal for any diesel... .



IS IT?????????



Thanks!

Mike

 

[rbattelle]

03 6SPD does not have idle speed adj through the cruise control, only the auto has this feature.

Something just dawned on me. I believe that in 2003 the automatic trucks came with a small vacuum pump that's used to run the cruise control. The 6-speed trucks use the ECM to control the cruise. Could it be, then, that the reason us 6-speed owners can't get the cruise-adjustable high idle is the fact that the programming for that feature simply uses the cruise servo to push on the throttle?



Do the 04 and 05 automatics have a vacuum pump for cruise control??



-Ryan

 

[Tony T.]

High Idle Feature

Dang it Ryan you guys are teasing me with this, I can't find the thread I was looking far concerning the possibly of the 03 auto being enabled with high idle feature. It's been quite a while since I seen it. Something having to do with feature starting in 1998-2003 I don't remember for sure.



I hav't to have some ammo to confront a service writer with, if this can be done.



My theory is it can "wishful thinking" there may be a process that a tech has to go through with other year models other than 04 an there saying that 04 is only year it works on. I'm hard headed an don't buy that "yet".





Tony

 

[Idaho Native]

Hi Idle Works

New truck (see sig) with less than 300 miles on it. Plugged it in last night and the temps were in the mid teens at my house this AM. Started it and began scraping the windshield... as advertised, at the two minute point, the idle gently rose to 1000 rpm and stayed there until I put it in gear to back out of the driveway.



My 99 had a manual "high idle" feature... AKA my foot . This new one is fantastic!!!

 

[AGrubbs]

Fast idle when engine is hot? Normal?

I have a question on the fast idle. I don't remember it doing this last year . . here is what happend.



Just got back from a quick trip up into MN. from NE. On the return trip I was

pulling a trailer of about 3000 lbs. I have the grill covered up with a 'cold front'. Just the 4 honey comb things were covered. Plenty of air thru the bottom/under and over the bumper ect. The engine temp gauge never went above the center tick mark on the cluster gauge... I was keeping a close eye on that to see if I should remove the cover. .



Was running along at about 70 MPH for several hours. I pull into a rest stop and left the engine running while my dad went to 'rest'. I was thinking - turbo cool down. . After sitting for 2 min. it started to idle up to 1K rpms. I thought that this only happend when the engine was cold. The outside temp was about 30 - 32 or so. Not really cold if you ask me. Even so, I could maybe see how the engine could use the grid heater, to warm up the intake air, but not the fast idle for warm up... . it was already good and warm!



Could this be a bad sensor, or... I have never heard of this, but could there be something in the programming that turns on the fan and hi-idle for engine cool down when its hot? I don't think so either, but. . ?



Is this normal to speed up, even when engine coolent temp is warm? Is it controled only by IAT? Lots of questions. . hope someone can give me the low down!



Thanks all!

 

[DCaswell]

Mine does this all the time, it is activated by ambient air temp & sensor is at the front of the truck somewhere, possibly in the air intake tube. Personally I like the feature. Combined with the PacBrake engine stays warm when I stop for a quick bite & a "rest".

 

[AGrubbs]

OK, I just didn't remember that happening before. . Its been a year since its been 'cold' here. Thats more than enough time for me to forget!



It got down to +11F this morning. Guess its time to bring in the brass monkey...

 

[rbattelle]

I agree with Caswell's assessment. I think it's just dependent on ambient temperature. It's desireable even if the engine is up to temp in order to keep it up to temp!



-Ryan