Hesitation in acceleration after first start of the day

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El_Lobo_Gris1500C

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Just wondering if anyone else has experienced the same thing as me on my truck, in the morning when I start it to go to work, back it out of the garage and go to drive up the street for the first little bit it has some hesitation between me pressing the Excelerator and the truck actually going forward. It feels like there’s like a dead spot or how the engine would feel if it was all gummed up or had a dusty air filter or something but none of those things are the case on my truck.

I have pulled the intake tube off the top of the engine and checked the throttle body and butterfly valve and all clean, The air filter is perfectly clean no issues there, I use good quality gas from Shell gas stations not cheap Cornerstore one off gas stations, I have no codes or lights on the dash at all, I have the non-electric fan so I know that kicks in at first it might have something to do with it a little bit but it seems like there’s more hesitation then there should be for the first minute of driving in the morning.

After this there is zero hesitation when I am out on the road driving to and from work or when the truck is already warmed up it’s just that initial first a little bit of driving after sitting all night.

Just wondering if anybody else has experienced this with their 5.7 L engine and if you found something to fix the issue or if it’s just something these engines do when they first get started after sitting for eight hours or so.

This feels like it is in the engine, not the transmission or shifting hesitation. Fees almost like it would stall out if it were any worse, but it never stalls out, just a real sudden lack of acceleration and it just dies out for a second or two then goes.

2021 Classic, 5.7L 8-speed with 3.92 gears.

Thanks for any input on this.
 
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Atcer2018

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Just wondering if anyone else has experienced the same thing as me on my truck, in the morning when I start it to go to work, back it out of the garage and go to drive up the street for the first little bit it has some hesitation between me pressing the Excelerator and the truck actually going forward. It feels like there’s like a dead spot or how the engine would feel if it was all gummed up or had a dusty air filter or something but none of those things are the case on my truck.

I have pulled the intake tube off the top of the engine and checked the throttle body and butterfly valve and all clean, The air filter is perfectly clean no issues there, I use good quality gas from Shell gas stations not cheap Cornerstore one off gas stations, I have no codes or lights on the dash at all, I have the non-electric fan so I know that kicks in at first it might have something to do with it a little bit but it seems like there’s more hesitation then there should be for the first minute of driving in the morning.

After this there is zero hesitation when I am out on the road driving to and from work or when the truck is already warmed up it’s just that initial first a little bit of driving after sitting all night.

Just wondering if anybody else has experienced this with their 5.7 L engine and if you found something to fix the issue or if it’s just something these engines do when they first get started after sitting for eight hours or so.

Thanks for any input on this.
You don’t mention what transmission you have or if the truck has just started to do this. If the truck is new to you and has the 8 speed transmission it’s normal to have the delayed 1-2 and sometimes 2-3 shift when cold. Chrysler has tried to software program it out on various models that use the ZF 8 speed but it’s designed that way to heat up the fluid for fuel economy. After the vehicle is warmed up it doesn’t present itself.
 
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El_Lobo_Gris1500C

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You don’t mention what transmission you have or if the truck has just started to do this. If the truck is new to you and has the 8 speed transmission it’s normal to have the delayed 1-2 and sometimes 2-3 shift when cold. Chrysler has tried to software program it out on various models that use the ZF 8 speed but it’s designed that way to heat up the fluid for fuel economy. After the vehicle is warmed up it doesn’t present itself.
I’m not talking about delayed shifting, I meant hesitation from the get go, from stopped (at my garage). I have a 2021 Classic, 5.7L 8 speed with 3.92 gears. The hesitation is engine related not transmission related. Almost sounds and feels like if it were any more hesitation that it would stall out, but it doesn’t.
 
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El_Lobo_Gris1500C

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Can you hear the engine stumble?

Could it be the first cold shift or two out of the transmission that maybe mimics an engine stumble?
No it’s definitely an engine stumble, not a shifting issue, this happens in first gear from a stop to 1st, hesitates for 1-2 seconds only.
 

PoMansRam

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Weird one none the less..

If no codes are present, it would take some live scanning of data to even get an idea of what may be happening.

My 2019 classic hemi has never hiccuped and I start it and go after the 10sec it takes me to get out of my driveway and on the road. I never let it sit, idle and waste fuel.. I mean.. warm up. My ambient temps can be anywhere from -10F to 90F.
 

Atcer2018

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I’m not talking about delayed shifting, I meant hesitation from the get go, from stopped (at my garage). I have a 2021 Classic, 5.7L 8 speed with 3.92 gears. The hesitation is engine related not transmission related. Almost sounds and feels like if it were any more hesitation that it would stall out, but it doesn’t.
Hummm, definitely makes it more interesting. The computers control so much of drivetrain that it could literally be any number of things. If you are still under warranty it would probably be best to have the dealer do a live scan of the data. Fuel trim has a wide parameter when the engine is cold that wouldn’t set a code. Could be anything from a weak injector to a failing sensor. I know this doesn’t help but without the data there isn’t much to go on.
 

ramffml

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Probably normal, mine does it too. So did my previous pentastar and the ride before that (GM 3.8). The longer you let it warm up and idle before taking off first thing, the less it does it. It's just cold, mine did that from day one.
 

hemihustlin

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as far as I can tell its normal. i have almost the same truck 21 warlock classic hemi 8 speed. it seems the factory tune prioritizes emission targets which includes warming up the cats as fast as possible.
when the motor is in cat warm up mode the truck gets a high idle and it must play with the vvt a bit because it really rumbles at idle (not stock exhaust). after a while it settles down into a nice low idle and I usually take off then. if i dont wait that period it will almost always do that behavior you are talking about.
when i take off from my place in the morning i always go the same way because its a 1 way street. there is a nasty speed bump a few hundred feet from my driveway that forces you to slow down to almost a stop then take off again thats where it will get a bogging down feeling then after that its fine. it doesn't happen every day but it sure does when i dont warm it up enough before leaving
I also limit my gears to 2 before leaving the driveway and for the first 3 street corners because with that damn speed bump i have to do like 3 stops and goes in a 1/4 mile. i dont know how much this actually helps but it feels better to me that it warms up faster.
i feel like if i didnt have to slow down right after leaving the driveway i might not feel it because when i leave other places where you just get on open road ive never noticed it

hope this helps lol :favorites13:
 
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El_Lobo_Gris1500C

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as far as I can tell its normal. i have almost the same truck 21 warlock classic hemi 8 speed. it seems the factory tune prioritizes emission targets which includes warming up the cats as fast as possible.
when the motor is in cat warm up mode the truck gets a high idle and it must play with the vvt a bit because it really rumbles at idle (not stock exhaust). after a while it settles down into a nice low idle and I usually take off then. if i dont wait that period it will almost always do that behavior you are talking about.
when i take off from my place in the morning i always go the same way because its a 1 way street. there is a nasty speed bump a few hundred feet from my driveway that forces you to slow down to almost a stop then take off again thats where it will get a bogging down feeling then after that its fine. it doesn't happen every day but it sure does when i dont warm it up enough before leaving
I also limit my gears to 2 before leaving the driveway and for the first 3 street corners because with that damn speed bump i have to do like 3 stops and goes in a 1/4 mile. i dont know how much this actually helps but it feels better to me that it warms up faster.
i feel like if i didnt have to slow down right after leaving the driveway i might not feel it because when i leave other places where you just get on open road ive never noticed it

hope this helps lol :favorites13:
That’s exactly what mine does, right at the first speed bump then after isn’t too bad … that’s funny
 

CanRebel

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Don't notice that with my Rebel(5gen).
I use cheap reg. gas from Petro-Canada.
Don't know if it's factor or not. But I do have pedal commander on max city setting, truck moves hot or cold.
 
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El_Lobo_Gris1500C

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Don't notice that with my Rebel(5gen).
I use cheap reg. gas from Petro-Canada.
Don't know if it's factor or not. But I do have pedal commander on max city setting, truck moves hot or cold.
I have a pedal commander too, should have mentioned that. I might try turning it down or off one morning to see if that is a factor or not, rule it out maybe.
 

Tominator223

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I’d let the dealer check it first . If they can’t find anything wrong , & it really bothers you . Try a pedal commander . (I’ve never used one . But it may work for you.)
 

BCLJ

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I have a 2020 Classic as well and mine does the exact same thing, however my 2017 also did this but was far worse. After start, regardless of idle time the first accelerate causes the engine to stumble and feel like its about to stall but it never does. Almost like its flooding or getting far to much air. It corrects itself after the initial stumble. I dont use MDS so I have ruled that out, though a very similar vibration and stutter in acceleration. I dont believe this is any way related to a cold transmission but anything is possible. I do however notice it is worse using 87 fuel and improves using 91 but does not illuminate it. I have just learnt to live with it as one of the many small defects/quirks of these engines and transmissions.
 

Oliver Closehauf

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So I would expect something to do with the coolant temp sensor. The sensor may be out of range and the computer thinks the engine is warm (140+) but since it's cold you aren't getting the enrichment you need. It could be within spec, just not reading correctly. I'd check the resistance value when cold and compare it to a value chart.

This sensor is typically different than the one that feeds the temp gauge. I don't know what you guys have on your Hemi's, just experience fixing this in other cars.
 

clayinfla

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My truck does the same when cold. Feels like it is about to die. 2020 Bighorn. 5.7 Hemi, 3.92 rear. No MDS.
 

quadredun

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I have 2022 ECOIDIESEL which also hesitates when cold, and it is very annoying. Waiting for first dealer visit to address issue but I think it is throttle issue possibly electronic.
 

hemihustlin

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wow i didn't realize it was this widespread
but its basically impossible for the average dealer to find. you would have to be friends with the service manager and have him take it home overnight
even then he might live on a county highway and just gets on and goes and never has the momentary problem

probably the most effective way would be to datalog and have an experienced hemi tuner look over the data tables they would see right away what is happening in that exact circumstance
 
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