Some things I noticed, is this normal?

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ChronOfMaintMan

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Howdy,

A couple things I noticed after driving some miles in my recently purchased 2014 Ram 1500. It has 94K miles so I would like to know if this is normal, or if something may need attention.

The accelerator pedal is very sensitive. I barely touch it and I’m spinning the (single, no limited slip) rear wheel and lunging to a start. With some concentration I can barely touch it and pull out smoothly. Is this normal?

I’m getting random periodic vibration feedback through the accelerator pedal. I understand it’s electronic so whatever is causing this vibration is just hitting the resonant frequency of where it’s attached. Anyone else notice this?

This is the first pre-owned vehicle I’ve ever purchased so I may be overly attentive of things, but I figure it can't hurt asking..??..

Thanks Much,

BT
 

JPT

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Is there a pedal commander (or one of the alternative)? Without a throttle module, and with traction control on, you have to mash the pedal to lose traction (when in dry weather).
 

JPT

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If you see 2 harnesses next to the pedal, there is a module there. If there is one harness plugged directly into the pedal, there isn't one.
 
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ChronOfMaintMan

ChronOfMaintMan

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It looks like there is not anything connected between the accelerator pedal and the factory harness. The troubleshooting continues...
 

hunterdan

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What gearing do you have? 3.92s will spin pretty easy, especially on the smaller 31" tires.
 
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ChronOfMaintMan

ChronOfMaintMan

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It has the 3.21 axle with the 20" wheels and 275/60R20 tires.

Going to do a little test here shortly to see if the ESC light comes on when it's burning tire. I never paid attention to it before. If I understand correctly, the ESC should kick in while it's spinning and the light on the instrument cluster should light while it's working then go back off. The light works since it lights when I push the button to turn it off, just never noticed it lighting in operation before.
 

jws123

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The vibration you are probably feeling MDS kick in I think if you put it in tow haul it shouldn't do it? i forget on the newer years mine you just shift manually to 5 on selector.
 

Burla

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Is this a problem? I know many guys who bought their hemi because it was so easy to break some traction at a stop. Is it worse in tow haul mode? press th button get back to us. 8 speed or rfe?
 
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ChronOfMaintMan

ChronOfMaintMan

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Tested the ESC yesterday in the rain. Mashed the pedal and it started spinning. After what seemed to be a couple seconds I felt a thumping sensation, the wheels stopped spinning and the light on the instrument cluster lit. So I figure that it is working as it should. This is my first gasser truck and the first without a limited slip rear end so I guess I just need to get used to it. I’m going to look in to getting a limited slip assembly for the rear axle too, another 600 bucks. Thanks for all the input,,, Live and learn…
 

Marshall

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I have a14 sport 8 speed 3.9 gears 20 “ tires HDMI 75KM. I have to hit it hard to smoke the tires, unless there is gravel on the road
 

Marshall

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I think these trucks will learn how you drive, last owner, so maybe he punched it all the time and computer makes it that way?
Or maybe not?
 

crash68

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This is my first gasser truck and the first without a limited slip rear end so I guess I just need to get used to it.
If your used to driving a diesel, your probably stepping on the pedal a little harder than you think. I catch myself doing this when driving a gasser.
 

D3dp3wl

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Try un hooking the battery for 10 minutes. Sometimes the computer is tailored to the old driver and disconnecting the battery starts it back off at non-insane person levels. If not, someone flashed it is my guess.
 

KenR 955

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FWIW, I came to this Hemi gasser from a 5.9 Cummins truck. What would make the Cummins normally move forward will haze the gassers tires. It took a little time to get used to GENTLY pressing on the long skinny pedal.
 

GTyankee

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a friend at my last 40 hour a week job, just could not figure out why his car, would act differently on Monday & Tuesday
( 20 miles each way to work )
Then it would start shifting smoothly again.
He never went anywhere on the weekends.
What he did not realize, was his son would use his own truck during the week & his Dads car on the weekend.
The car would be driven enough by the son on the weekend, that it would learn his driving style :)
 
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ChronOfMaintMan

ChronOfMaintMan

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Update:

So it finally became apparent the source of the “random” vibration was a hub bearing going bad. No surprise with that many miles. Anyway I used the opportunity to visit my friendly Ram dealer and have them check the surge problem and give me an estimate on the hub repair.

The “surge” is apparently my heavy foot from decades of driving Cummins trucks with limited slip rears. No codes which I had already checked, and nothing out of the ordinary to report.

They replaced the passenger side hub and performed an alignment for $350.00 total out the door. I was pretty happy with their offer since a good hub from Rock Auto and an alignment would have cost almost the same if I factor in my hours spent swearing in the garage. I knew hub and wheel bearings are conveniently not covered by power train warranties either so there’s that.

Anyway, all is well for now (until the other side goes out :) ).
 
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ChronOfMaintMan

ChronOfMaintMan

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Howdy,
The mystery of the “acceleration surge” is solved. My throttle body was extremely gummed up. A thorough cleaning with some CRC Throttle Body cleaner and this thing is now smooth as silk. Pulling out from a stop is controlled and smooth with no wheel spin. Glad that’s over with…
 
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