Light Throttle Surge

Poison Fraction · Jul 29, 2020

I have a 2019 Ram Cummins that surges with light throttle pressure. Off idle the motor jumps 500 RPMS with the slightest touch of the pedal. This is most noticeable while trying to navigate dirt roads at slow speeds. The ride becomes jerky trying to keep the speeds below 10MPH. Is this normal? Anybody else noticed this? I've tried to calibrate the TPS with no change. Thoughts?

RedneckHippy · Jul 29, 2020

You purchase it new?

Poison Fraction · Jul 30, 2020

RedneckHippy said:
You purchase it new?

Yes, 5k miles

Sent from my Pixel 4 using Tapatalk

mtnrider · Jul 30, 2020

How did you try and calibrate the TPS? Didn't think that was possible since the old 3rd gens?

Such a new truck under warranty I'd have the dealer look at it. You are the first person I have seen complain about something like this so don't have any other suggestions.

.

Poison Fraction · Aug 5, 2020

mtnrider said:
How did you try and calibrate the TPS? Didn't think that was possible since the old 3rd gens?

Such a new truck under warranty I'd have the dealer look at it. You are the first person I have seen complain about something like this so don't have any other suggestions.

.

you are correct even the dealer can't calibrate the TPS, they tried to calibrate it with their diagnostics tools and it doesn't exist for gen 5 trucks. They had me drive a 2020 cummins and it does exactly the same thing as my 2019 cummins. They both have a light throttle surge and appears to be part of the programing. You can't drive these trucks under 10mph. Its not too noticeable for normal day driving but off road its awful. I have a 100 mile off road trip coming up and I'm dreading it. For those that have 2019 and newer cummins with your truck in park try going from idle to 1000rpms. In my truck its impossible. off idle it always jumps to 1200rpm. You can't control the throttle between idle and 1200rpm. The 2020 was exact same way. Makes for a really jerky ride. It becomes really apparent the first time you go off road and try to drive at slow speeds. I would be interested to hear from others with Cummins if your throttle is the same as mine

nukegm · Aug 9, 2020

my 18 2500 g56 cummins does the same thing. most notice the surge at 1500 rpm up a hill at light throttle. almost like a miss on a gas engine. done this since day 1. 40k miles on it now. changing fuel filters does nothing to eliminate the surging. cheers.

Poison Fraction · Aug 9, 2020

Here is what my dealer is telling me

"I am still working with the engineers for Cummins and they have had me trying different things on our truck since it acts just like yours. We have found that unplugging the EGR valve makes a huge improvement but I don't know how they plan to resolve the issue yet."

Sent from my Pixel 4 using Tapatalk

Poison Fraction · Aug 11, 2020

Another update from my dealer

'I have received information that a software update was release on Friday that includes surge and idle improvements. They feel that this should resolve what you are experiencing. Let me know when you can swing by and I'll get the software loaded for you."

Sent from my Pixel 4 using Tapatalk

olyelr · Aug 12, 2020

I wonder if a pedal commander would eliminate the issue?

Poison Fraction · Aug 12, 2020

olyelr said:
I wonder if a pedal commander would eliminate the issue?

I wondered the same thing. I am confused when it comes to the pedal commander, does it work with the cummins? Seems like mixed messages when I look at their website.

Dealer installed software update today and it made no difference is pedal response. Still surges. He unplugged the EGR and it made a world of difference, surge was gone. He suspects EGR is opening too soon causing the surge. Extra air from the EGR is causing truck too fuel fast. He is still trying to work with cummins engineers to fix this issue.

So am I the only one who is bothered by this? No one else takes their trucks off road?? its ok on the asphalt but slow speed off roading is awful.

Poison Fraction · Aug 12, 2020

nukegm said:
my 18 2500 g56 cummins does the same thing. most notice the surge at 1500 rpm up a hill at light throttle. almost like a miss on a gas engine. done this since day 1. 40k miles on it now. changing fuel filters does nothing to eliminate the surging. cheers.

try unplugging your EGR

mtnrider · Aug 12, 2020

Poison Fraction said:
I wondered the same thing. I am confused when it comes to the pedal commander, does it work with the cummins? Seems like mixed messages when I look at their website.

Dealer installed software update today and it made no difference is pedal response. Still surges. He unplugged the EGR and it made a world of difference, surge was gone. He suspects EGR is opening too soon causing the surge. Extra air from the EGR is causing truck too fuel fast. He is still trying to work with cummins engineers to fix this issue.

So am I the only one who is bothered by this? No one else takes their trucks off road?? its ok on the asphalt but slow speed off roading is awful.

Yes a pedal commander will work on a cummins, I have one on mine. With that said just be aware of what it is. It is simply a box that alters the voltage curve from the pedal. It is not a tuner, it does not add any power, It does not re-map anything, all it does is ramp up the throttle voltage quicker.

I do enjoy mine, I like to drive with a light foot so it gives the appearance that the truck is a little snappier? Have no idea if it will solve the problem you are having though? I've never noticed it in my truck. It's a daily driver and farm truck so it does go off road but more in a working sense and not a rock crawling one or something like that.

.

scott lass 18 · Aug 12, 2020

how about a tuner to raise rpm to me it feels like the rpm s at idle 550 600 low on all dodge s so on my 5.7 have a diablosport tuner love it plus can put a electric fan in and set at 190 to go on ! here in california in the 90 s it really helps a lot for me !

Poison Fraction · Aug 13, 2020

mtnrider said:
Yes a pedal commander will work on a cummins, I have one on mine. With that said just be aware of what it is. It is simply a box that alters the voltage curve from the pedal. It is not a tuner, it does not add any power, It does not re-map anything, all it does is ramp up the throttle voltage quicker.

I do enjoy mine, I like to drive with a light foot so it gives the appearance that the truck is a little snappier? Have no idea if it will solve the problem you are having though? I've never noticed it in my truck. It's a daily driver and farm truck so it does go off road but more in a working sense and not a rock crawling one or something like that.

.

Looks like you have a 2016 Ram. I traded in my 2015 for a 2019. My 2015 didn't have this issue. It appears to be a Gen 5 quirk. I am driving around with the EGR unplugged and it is so much better, not perfect but better. So far no CEL.

mtnrider · Aug 13, 2020

Poison Fraction said:
Looks like you have a 2016 Ram. I traded in my 2015 for a 2019. My 2015 didn't have this issue. It appears to be a Gen 5 quirk. I am driving around with the EGR unplugged and it is so much better, not perfect but better. So far no CEL.

That's crazy that it is better without the EGR and it doesn't throw a code? Hopefully they can get it sorted out. Wonder what happens to the EGR when you uplug it? ie: does it default to open or closed or just stay where it last was?

.

Poison Fraction · Aug 13, 2020

mtnrider said:
That's crazy that it is better without the EGR and it doesn't throw a code? Hopefully they can get it sorted out. Wonder what happens to the EGR when you uplug it? ie: does it default to open or closed or just stay where it last was?

.

I spoke too soon. Just threw a code. It's normally closed. I'm still going to leave it unplugged for now.

Sent from my Pixel 4 using Tapatalk

Jeremy Cain · Sep 22, 2022

I’m having the same issue with my 2020 after the fuel pump recall. Did the dealer ever figure out what was causing the issue? I’d be interested in knowing as my dealer claims it perfectly normal.

Light Throttle Surge

Junior Member

Senior Member

Junior Member

Senior Member

Junior Member

Senior Member

Junior Member

Junior Member

Senior Member

Junior Member

Junior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Junior Member

Senior Member

Junior Member

Junior Member

Similar threads

Forum statistics

Share this page