No Throtle Response, idle only

[rncordy]

I have a 2003 with 60,000 mi. After starting normally, the engine did not respond to throttle movement in drive, reverse, park or neutral. Truck was in garage, temp in garage about 40 deg. The heater cord had not been plugged in.



I then plugged in the heater, waited an hour, and restarted. All was ok then.



Oh dear, what could the matter be? Having this happen in garage at home is one thing, but out in the woods at 0 deg, or less is another.



Does anybody have suggestions 1) as to what went wrong, and 2) how to fix in the boondocks?



Thanks!



Bob in (snowy) Idaho

 

[betterthanstock]

You must have started with your foot all the way on the throttle (perhaps you are used to doing this on some carburetted truck). There is some TSB for this, but, if you keep your foot off the pedal, it should not happen again. If that's not what happened, you may need a new throttle potentiometer.

 

[Alan Reagan]

You must have started with your foot all the way on the throttle (perhaps you are used to doing this on some carburetted truck). There is some TSB for this, but, if you keep your foot off the pedal, it should not happen again. If that's not what happened, you may need a new throttle potentiometer.

That's right. If the throttle is off idle when started, you'll have a dead pedal.

 

[rncordy]

No throttle response...

Thank you BTS and Alan,



It is possible that I had some slight pressure on the throttle but I have been successfully starting this truck for 2 1/2 years without this happening. I'll conduct a test and see if your suggestion may have been the problem. Again, many thanks!



Bob

 

[rncordy]

It starts just fine even with the throttle depressed. Of course I do not do this in my normal starting routine.



Any other ideas out there?



TX



Bob

 

[CPittman]

Is your lift pump on the fritz?... Could be intermittent inop of the lift pump...

 

[Not_Agn]

I have had a dead pedal symptom twice now. Both times I was already going down the road and I go to take off from a stop and there is nothing. Just Idle. No reving at all. No matter the position of the accelerator. After a couple of pumps it comes alive. I get 2 codes each time. A 2121 and 2122. Low pedal position? Anyone have any ideas on what sensor, or what is going on? I have noticed on some other occaisions that the idle won't come down below 1000 rpms while coming to a stop light. Any ideas would be appreciated. Thanks. Lee.

 

[jray]

Hi guys, I've had the same problem with my 03. I haven't taken it into Dodge yet because the instances have been somewhat rare. I believe that I read that theres a fix for this problem that requires a reflash of the computer.

 

[Alan Reagan]

I have had a dead pedal symptom twice now. Both times I was already going down the road and I go to take off from a stop and there is nothing. Just Idle. No reving at all. No matter the position of the accelerator. After a couple of pumps it comes alive. I get 2 codes each time. A 2121 and 2122. Low pedal position? Anyone have any ideas on what sensor, or what is going on? I have noticed on some other occaisions that the idle won't come down below 1000 rpms while coming to a stop light. Any ideas would be appreciated. Thanks. Lee.

Sounds like the TPS is dirty. The 2003 have the throttle cable right?

 

[Not_Agn]

Yes it has the cable. Is there a way to clean it, or is it a replace? Thanks. Lee.

 

[Alan Reagan]

There is a way to clean it, but I don't know how. This should be covered under warranty.

 

[Not_Agn]

I'll check it out, as for warranty. There hasn't been any for a while! Lee.

 

[rbattelle]

The TPS is a hall-effect device on the 2003-2004 trucks mounted beneath the driver's side battery. It's possible it's dirty or corroded, or (more likely) a connector has gone on the fritz.



This might be of help.



-Ryan

 

[rncordy]

All. Thanks again for all the hints. I'm off the the dealer in a few days and then off on a 10,000 trip (to warmer climes). If I get a solution, I'll let all know. (For me, there has not been a second occurence of this "dead pedal" problem. )



Bob