surge problem...dealer says normal!!!

[JedRattle]

mine does the same thing... 300 rpm isn't much to worry about... but when i am coming to a stop, i don't go into neutral until i am at about 1000rpm in 3rd gear, then pop into neutral and coast/stop.

it is the nature of the engines electrical programing. it isn't fueling much [if any] when the engine rpm is coming down and has to start fueling to main idle speed... also, the ecm does not know if you have it in gear or not without doing this. . it won't do it at a stand still since there is no vehicle movement. . while moving it is trying to make sure it is in gear... my 03 gasser with 5 speed manual did a very similar thing.



it is normal... don't get so worked up over it...







hard for the truck to take off when in neutral or clutch pushed in... and it won't surge when in gear...



***edit***

i guess i should read all the posts before posting, as i wrote nearly the same thing macdaddy wrote...

I was in the local mall parking lot. I waited for a woman to back out ( I was being nice to let her out, I was not parking, just passing by). I put it in first gear while waiting. when she pulled away I started to pull forward. I just let the clutch out no throttle (slight down hill). The truck started to move but slowly because of first gear. I lightly accerated, lifted, clutched, put it second, let out the clutch ( no throttle) the truck rev's up and takes off ( my foot is flat on the floor). I am taken by surpise and put in the clutch and slam the brakes. I looked down as it was coming to a stop the tach is swinging down past 1500 rpms!!! The truck had gone at least 1/2 to 3/4 a truck length before I got it stopped. This type of thing has happen twice in 1300 miles. Both in low speed situations. What if someone had backed out or worst someone stepped out in front on me while this is happing. See why I am very upset?



P. S. I drive for a living, so no it's not operater error. I thought maybe on the first time but when it happen again I knew there was a problem. Thanks guys

 

[mberry]

Sounds like you may need to learn the governed take off programming thing. If it is going over 1000 rpm's I think something is wrong. Mine does the swinging rpm but I don't even notice it anymore and certainly not like JedRattle is describing.

 

[formula]

On mine, it will hunt a bit if I'm moving and throw in the clutch. It's most noticeable when the exh brake is on because the engine slows down really quick. I tried this several times yesterday just for kicks, taking note of the rpm. At most, it will dip down to about 600 rpm and then back up to about 850, then down to 750 and stay there. The change is gradual, taking 2 seconds or so. I've never had it go to 1000 rpm. If it's in gear, it won't do it at all, just creeps down towards 750rpm and stays there, although this isn't the greatest thing to do to the trans on a regular basis



Sean

 

[mconstable]

MMeier, sometimes I crack myself up... I meant a few hundred!

I might just be a little more alarmed if it was idle to redline constantly!!LOL

When I posted, It "might" have bben late, and I "might have had a few beers!

"might", mind you

 

[byoslandry]

My fellow TDR member

First thing, calm down. Second thing, contact the local BBB (Better Business Bureau) by phone/computer, etc. Third thing, send a (signature required by USPS) copy of your BBB complaint that you sent to the BBB to both the service manager and the manager of the dealership. Also to the owner if you can find out who he is. Fourth thing, contact the customer service department of Chrysler by computer (listed in your manual) and attach your BBB complaint.

You will get a response to your complaint within days. Do not take the complaint off the books until the issue is resolved.

The above procedures were used by me with great success recently.

I learned quickly in life that foaming at the mouth will not get you very far, but take action that lodges your complaint with the right people and you get results.

Also, at the bottom of your BBB complaint, make sure you list all the names of the people who will be receiving your complaint. This lets everyone know that the other guy is aware that the other guy received the same compaint at the same time.

I tell you this from experience.

byoslandry

2004 CTD 2500 stock QC LB 305 555 series

 

[TSturges]

The explanations make sense, but it still doesn't seem normal. Besides, given those explanations, why don't all these trucks do it? I had a California 04 Standard Output which I traded on the 04. 5 HO. I noticed this as soon as we pulled out. The SO never did anything even close to this. If yours does it, you'd know. And it's not just from watching the tach-- you can feel it, and it's at every stop. Mine bounces between 650 and 900 every time before finding the normal idle speed.



Hopefully it does go away with break-in... that's convenient for the dealer though if it doesn't and then I'm out of warranty...

 

[drasko]

i have the same thing on mine. if you all didnt notice, when its cold, the idle changes depending on the temperature. i wonder if this is in any relation to the problem.

the surge while in gear i dont really find a problem cause i am usually rollin through a parkin lot and it just keeps me movin. ive just gotten used to it.

as for the drop when puttin the clutch in and comin to a stop? it shouldnt be hurting the motor and i too sorta wondered when i first saw it do it. so far so good on it though so no problem yet here

 

[rbattelle]

When it starts it's hunting idle, try applying the brakes. Mine will "hunt" between 750 and 850 if I'm coasting along with the clutch in and no brakes. The second I apply brake it snaps right to 750 RPM. I have always assumed the ECM was fueling the engine slightly in preparation for an impending shift, since you're obviously in a transient state gliding along at speed with the engine disconnected from the wheels. When you hit the brake it says "oh, we're not shifting, we're stopping... go to idle".



Every fuel-injected gasser I've ever driven did the same thing when the vehicle was moving at idle with the clutch in.



The surging in gear in the parking lot? That's not normal.



-Ryan

 

[BOdil]

I agree with Rbattelle - I think it is somehow tied into the brakes. My truck does the same thing about coasting to a stop and RPM hunts between 650 and 850 rpm. Has done it from mile #1. Another friend of mine's truck does the same thing. With mine though it seems to do it worse when I go into neutral and apply the brakes at the same time! If I just go into neutral with no brakes it still does it but not as severe. I think mine is like Rbattelle in that if I go into neutral and then hit the brakes the RPM's seem to level out more quickly. Still does it and it used to bug me but no I try not to look at the tach - the engine sound does seem to lower a little - would like to have a fix for it though!

 

[NDanecker]

They call me today and say it's ready. I asked what did they do? The service writer says they could find any thing. They called star... Star said certain models just do that. WTF!!!!!!! A $45,000 vehicle should not do this!!!

:-laf Welcome to the Dealer Insane Asylum. All of them, along with DC, are smoking some serious crack!!! Believe me, I've had my share.



Really don't have any advice except hang in there. Eventually you'll be kicked in the nuts so hard that you'll just submit. I did! :{

 

[DPKetchum]

It sounds normal. Give it some break in time.

 

[jwilliams3]

Its normal, my 04. 5 does it still after 19k miles and no ill effects.

 

[Big_H316]

You people are crazy... . that is in no way normal!!! My '03, since it had 74,000 on the tach has done this and no one knows what is wrong with it. Mine will first start clattering, then rpm's drop, and then VRROOOOMMM! It will hit about 1800 on the tach and go back to idle and then do it all over again until I take off or it kills itself. Try taking off while pulling about 20,000# and have it do that..... I'm waiting to hear my nv5600 go BOOM.



When this whole problem started so did the constant cloud of white smoke. Had it put on a scanner the other day while it was going nuts and the fuel pressures were bouncing off the wall. The ecm wanted 5400# of pressure and the sensor on the fuel rail was reading anywhere from 2k to 9k at any given second. I replaced the fuel pressure sensor and no change. I've given up on the dealership because the three times they looked at it before the warranty expired they said, "No check engine light, no codes, there is really nothing we can do. " I call B. S. on that crap. Luckily the diesel shop that has it right now has not and said they will not charge me a dime unless they figure out the problem. At least they're trying.



Mine will sometimes surge at idle all day long for days and sometimes it will run like a new one for weeks at a time so don't tell me that this normal. I love my Dodge but they know there is a problem and are unwilling to do anything about it which I'm sure i speak for many other in saying that it leaves a very bad taste in my mouth about Chrysler.



Once mine starts going crazy there is a steady pop coming from the exhaust pipe and will only quit once the engine clears up. The shop that has my truck now disconnected the fuel pressure sensor the other day and started the engine..... sounded just like the good ol' clattering of a 24V. The engine never surged and the constant cloud of white smoke ceased. Plugged it back in and there it went all over again. That was the main reason for sensor change but to no avail..... problem still exsits.



I'm glad I got all that off my shoulders.

 

[DWestfall]

Just wanted to say mine has done this as well. Took it to dealer and they cant duplicate. It does it when I have it in park for a few minutes and then put it in drive or reverse. Yes it is scary. You really have to get your foot on the brakes.

 

[DPKetchum]

Well thats not normal but hunting a few hudered RPM up and down(750 to 900)coming to stops etc. is normal.

 

[Bob4x4]

Once mine starts going crazy there is a steady pop coming from the exhaust pipe and will only quit once the engine clears up. The shop that has my truck now disconnected the fuel pressure sensor the other day and started the engine..... sounded just like the good ol' clattering of a 24V. The engine never surged and the constant cloud of white smoke ceased. Plugged it back in and there it went all over again. That was the main reason for sensor change but to no avail..... problem still exsits.



Sounds like the shop that is working on your truck doesn't know how it works either... ... ... . disconecting the sensor will make the pressure soar :-laf



Bob

 

[Big_H316]

After the diesel shohad my ride for 2 days i said I had to get back on the road and make some money. The only thing they found was a crack in the banjo fitting on the return side of the pressure pump and a low output from the LP. New LP coming free of charge, thank God, and new banjo fitting. Still surging uncontrollably. Maybe THIS lift pump will work okay. It hasn't been on the truck but a month and a half. Hopefully it'll be at the dealership by the time I get back from Kansas City, Misery.



Well, gotta go make some bucks.

 

[NDanecker]

I've NEVER noticed an idle problem before but now you guys are going to make me look for one.



As for this being normal? It may be 'normal' in that many trucks have this phenomena but IMO I don't think the engineers intentionally designed this feature into our engines. Since this one lands into that gray area of is or isn't it broke, I'm guessing DC is taking the easy route out and stating its 'working as designed'.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

I still like one guys response to a service writer's assertion that an obvious flaw was "normal" - he told the service guy that he personally knew 4 OTHER owners who must have something WRONG with THEIR trucks, cuz theirs didn't do that - and he would send them right on over to get theirs "fixed"... :-laf :-laf

 

[DPKetchum]

Lots of vehicles with EFI do this and have for years. Load sensors in powersteering,ac,elect. draw etc. . The computer and sensors always adjusting for items causing load. Its normal. Most or lot of vehicles seem to be more noticable new and as they wear in its not as previlant.