High Idle Question

[Scottyg1]

New to DC, how do I find out if my high idle has been activated?



Thanks in advance.



2007 QC 5. 9 48RE, no mods

 

[Hoefler]

Truck in park, foot off brake, turn cruise on, push set, if activated, it will go to approximately 1200 rpm. You then can increase it by pushing resume/accelerate. It will disengage when you press the brake pedal.

 

[LHanks]

Another noob here, why the high idle?

 

[2Rowdy]

Is it on the 6. 7's also, if so mine is not activated. Do you have to go to the dealer to get it activated or can I do it? It was automatic or turned on in my 04 6-speed.

 

[TKeeler]

Another noob here, why the high idle?

Personally I use it to keep the AC cooling better when I stop for a few minutes and its really warm out.

 

[2Rowdy]

I called my dealer service dept. (Frontier Dodge) he said they charge $35. 00 to turn on the high idle feature.

 

[pservano]

I called my dealer service dept. (Frontier Dodge) he said they charge $35. 00 to turn on the high idle feature.

This is for free... . try another dealer. I had mine done in Elizabeth City, NC.

 

[BHolm]

Is it on the 6. 7's also, if so mine is not activated. Do you have to go to the dealer to get it activated or can I do it? It was automatic or turned on in my 04 6-speed.

There are two different high idle features. One is automatic, when the truck is cold, wintertime cold not just cool, and just started the automatic high idle will come on and run the engine at about 1000 rpm. The second one is driver controlled and can be used anytime. It only works on auto trucks unless you bypass something on six speed trucks. But it is turned on with the cruise control buttons, and is adjustable for rpm.

The adjustable version is the one that must be enabled by the dealer. I have never heard of a truck being delivered new with the function turned on. If you buy a $40k truck new from a dealer, I think they should take the 5 minutes with the DRB and turn it on for free. Charging a customer for something so simple seems petty. That isn't the kind of dealership I would frequent.

 

[rbattelle]

Another noob here, why the high idle?

I see two main reasons. First, if you're running engine-driven accessories you need to be able to idle the engine up.



Second, during cold weather the engine won't stay warm at idle. This is bad not only for driver comfort, but also due to something sometimes called "wet stacking". Very low cylinder temperatures begin to permit unburned fuel to exist within the cylinders, which will tend to wash off the lubrication. It also leaks into the oil pan.



Having said that, I'm not aware of anyone in the entire history of the TDR who actually did any damage to his engine by idling it in cold weather. And I believe there are people who have idled them for many hours at a stretch.



Ryan

 

[JEstes]

Which year did they start to put the cruise activated high idle on the trucks? I've got an '03 and I was wondering if it's something mine can do.

 

[Pawpaw]

It started with the early '04 MY. Here's the original TSB.



TSB 18-004-04



Bob

 

[HBarlow]

I called my dealer service dept. (Frontier Dodge) he said they charge $35. 00 to turn on the high idle feature.

Frontier Dodge specializes in ripping off anyone who ventures onto the lot. I avoid them like contagious disease.



Harvey

 

[2Rowdy]

Frontier Dodge specializes in ripping off anyone who ventures onto the lot. I avoid them like contagious disease.



Harvey

I have always been of the same opinion but with my 04 that I bought somewhere else the service dept. did a good job. I was even shocked by the deal I got from the sales dept. They may be up to there old tricks again.