Extremely slow acceleration

[tsolley]

Hi all,

New to the forum, but been a frequent visitor for many years. On my third Ram/Cummins (2004.5 2nd gen, 2008.5 3rd gen, now 2016). I finally traded in the 2008 recently after spending about $12K in repairs. Mostly exhaust issues (DPF, EGR, etc etc etc). What a nightmare. I wanted to keep it until I'm an old man, but just couldn't stomach any more repair costs.

I love this new truck. Incredibly powerful, especially when towing my 5th wheel (have the Cummins high output and Aisin). Very comfortable ride.

I'm curious if others have issues with an extremely slow acceleration? I'm not really talking about the dead pedal issue (which I think mine has). Rather from a dead stop the truck is just a dog. Night and day difference between my 2008 and this one. I'm not sure if this is related to the Aisin or not. Other trucks that I test drove that didn't have the Aisin seemed pretty peppy, though not as much as my 2008. An 80s era Toyota Corolla could easily leave me in the dust in a drag race.

I've also heard that there's an upcoming exhaust system recall to replace a bunch of components (he had relentless CEL for cat converter). Not sure if this applies to my 2016. My dad recently had it done on his 2013 and he says the get-up-and-go is drastically different since having the fix. Fuel economy also better.

Just wanted to see what others experience. If this is normal, then that's fine. If not, then I'll take it up with the dealer. Thanks in advance for any input!

 

[Bob4x4]

Are you rolling into it or just flooring it?there is a diference

 

[kthaxton]

My guess is what you are experience is typical. My 15 is my first Diesel and I was rather surprised at the slow (initial) acceleration. I attribute it to Torque Management and have just accepted it as the way it is if you want to have the drivetrain survive with modern high torque numbers.

 

[Jared Herzog]

My 15 3500 Aisin is no dog. I have learned to drive around the dead pedal and torque management. How many miles do you have currently? You could use a throttle booster like the BD or pedal commander. I do not use one though. My truck felt tight and slower to respond for the first 5000 miles. At 10,000 i felt like it was much better. Now i am at 27,000 and the truck is a joy to drive. It feels like it is looser if that makes sense. It revs faster and just feels more powerful. Just overall a more responsive truck now than when it was new.
I have not done any recalls yet and have no plans to until there is a failure of the recalled part. This may not hold true for me for the water pump once that recall is going. My idea is to get these parts replaced further into the trucks life so i get a new part on an older truck.
Many say the Aisin is doggy compared to the 68rfe. I have not found that to be the case with my current 15 compared to my past 14 68rfe. I think the lower gearing in first and second help offset the additional weight of the Aisin itself.

 

[SnoKing]

For a truck that scales over 4 tons, I do not think the few hundred pounds of Aisin transmission mean much. My bombed 2001.5 was a responsive pocket rocket, the 2015 is just a pleasure to drive, once you learn the driving style that it likes, like rolling into the throttle, and not just flooring it. And not creating conditions that bring on dead pedal. SnoKing

 

[tsolley]

Thanks for the responses guys. It definitely refuses to go if I dump my foot to the floor from a dead stop. I have indeed learned to roll into the throttle a bit. Sounds like this is fairly normal. I just crossed 6K miles, so will pay attention as the miles pile up.

I still love this truck!

 

[kthaxton]

I swear....the harder I press the pedal from a stop, the slower it accelerates. Maybe it's just perception.

 

[Hoefler]

If you gently start to accelerate, once it shifts into second gear and locks up, your can accelerate quite aggressively. Avoid going to the floor with the pedal, just gradually push it down once you get second gear, then hang on. It takes a little bit to learn how to drive it, but once you do, it will be second nature.

 

[2016HO]

What you are experiencing is normal I used to run Rams had 7 of them in the last 17 years. Last one was a 16 3500 Crew Cab short bed Aisin with air suspension. I loved the suspension best I have ever seen. But I had the same problem I fought with Ram for over 2 months to get it fixed they said it was programmed that way so that is how it would stay. Ram even sent engineers to the dealer to look at my ram. I had more close calls with that truck trying to cross busy highways (people flicking me off, honking horns and flashing lights) I seriously though I would eventually have a fatal accident. I even told the guys at the dealer to drive it for a week with their wife and kids but they wouldn't even drive it. They even thought it was a design flaw. Apparently if you push the accelerator over 70% the truck goes into limp mode. I called a local diesel shop to see if they could remove torque management they said they could but they had done 5 already and all blew out the aisin in less than 5,000 miles. (New trans cost $9,000) I had the truck for 17,000 miles before I finally traded her in for a 17 Powerstroke best decision ever insane power compared to the ram especially when towing 20,000 lbs liked it so much I bought another one 6 months later. Lost my ***** on the ram because they wouldn't buy it back will never own one again. P.S ( I started a forum like this over a year ago it got these cummins guys all worked up they were bashing powerstrokes cursing and carrying on saying to deal with torque management. I would seriously consider a Ford or Chevy over a cummins at least look. Don't be a cummins loyalist without looking at other trucks. I was that way once learned my lesson it doesn't pay to be so narrow minded.) It is a fatal design flaw I'm afraid someone will have to get killed before they realize it.

 

[Flash1034]

Look into the BD Throtle Booster. You’ll be pleasantly surprised...

 

[2016HO]

Tried didn't work.

 

[2016HO]

Sold truck long ago was sick of Rams poor customer relations.