Can't find anyone to repair my 2004 Ram Truck 5.7 Hemi

[Telewrangler]

Hi,

I have a 2004 Ram 1500 5.7 two wheel drive. It has mainly been our extra truck / weekend driver as I was a plumber and pretty much always drove my work van all week for years. The Ram has 107,000 miles on it.

The lightning bolt will flash as you are driving. It will lose all power for a second or two then resume like nothing happened. The lightning bolt on the instrument panel will then disappear. It will show no codes. Several people said that the throttle body is most likely the problem. I replaced it and nothing happened. I replaced the accelerator position switch, the second thing that they told me, and nothing happened.

I took it to the Dodge dealership. They could not find anything wrong or any codes. They unhooked the battery and drained all of the power and did a computer reset.... It seemed to work, I drove it for another few weeks and it has been fine. I thought we were good to go, but was I wrong! ... We went on vacation this week, four hours away from home from NC to VA to Kerr Lake. Now, it is doing it again, but even worse. Now, when you start it,,,,,, it revs to 1500 rpms and the accelerator pedal does not work. You turn the engine off and it may start and drive normally for a while. Then when you go to start it again the engine will turn over but it will not start at all. If you let it sit for a few minutes, it will finally work okay again. I'm thinking that it is going to leave us stranded here 200 miles from home..... Nobody, not one of the Dodge techs in Shallotte NC, could find anything wrong with it or repair it..... The truck will not produce codes since it is an intermittent problem.

Any suggestions would be great! .... How can something be repaired if nobody knows what to repair?

I would appreciate your help! ... We need to drive this truck back home somehow.

Thanks!

 

[RodeoRam]

Bumping this thread because it sounds like you need some help quick.

Just a WAG since I've never dealt with this before, and hopefully some experts will chime in, could it be a loose or corroded connection on your PCM/ECM? Might it be the PCM/ECM itself?

Check out this thread: https://www.ramforum.com/threads/ecm-issue.198826/ It doesn't have a resolution, but the guy was having similar problems.

 

[jws123]

Sounds like a wiring issue possible but RARE pcm issue you need to find someone good with electrical DIAG start testing wires from throttle body to pedal it can be a real pain in the....

 

[Sherman Bird]

Hi,

I have a 2004 Ram 1500 5.7 two wheel drive. It has mainly been our extra truck / weekend driver as I was a plumber and pretty much always drove my work van all week for years. The Ram has 107,000 miles on it.

The lightning bolt will flash as you are driving. It will lose all power for a second or two then resume like nothing happened. The lightning bolt on the instrument panel will then disappear. It will show no codes. Several people said that the throttle body is most likely the problem. I replaced it and nothing happened. I replaced the accelerator position switch, the second thing that they told me, and nothing happened.

I took it to the Dodge dealership. They could not find anything wrong or any codes. They unhooked the battery and drained all of the power and did a computer reset.... It seemed to work, I drove it for another few weeks and it has been fine. I thought we were good to go, but was I wrong! ... We went on vacation this week, four hours away from home from NC to VA to Kerr Lake. Now, it is doing it again, but even worse. Now, when you start it,,,,,, it revs to 1500 rpms and the accelerator pedal does not work. You turn the engine off and it may start and drive normally for a while. Then when you go to start it again the engine will turn over but it will not start at all. If you let it sit for a few minutes, it will finally work okay again. I'm thinking that it is going to leave us stranded here 200 miles from home..... Nobody, not one of the Dodge techs in Shallotte NC, could find anything wrong with it or repair it..... The truck will not produce codes since it is an intermittent problem.

Any suggestions would be great! .... How can something be repaired if nobody knows what to repair?

I would appreciate your help! ... We need to drive this truck back home somehow.

Thanks!

You need someone who understands the system of that vehicle AND knows how to diagnose! The dealer is the LAST place to find someone that skilled on a 21 year old truck!

 

[Harry Paratestes]

I absolutely dispise these electronic throttles. I never had any issues with any of my Dodges with non electronic throttles. Just more electronics to save on manufacturing costs and screw the consumer over when it needs to be repaired unlike a cable

 

[Slinge]

Did you use Mopar parts when changing T/body and accel pos sensor ?

 

[Sherman Bird]

I absolutely dispise these electronic throttles. I never had any issues with any of my Dodges with non electronic throttles. Just more electronics to save on manufacturing costs and screw the consumer over when it needs to be repaired unlike a cable

Here's a counter point! Drive by wire is an integral part of today's ADAS. It is essential to save lives.
Toyota began integrating it as a parallel control on their "VSC" systems. (Vehicle Stability Control).
I had 2 occasions in my 2002 Sequoia that this system absolutely saved me from imminent crashes, one would have likely been fatal. In these instances, the computer system took over braking and throttle. I had control over steering, but with modern ADAS/ VSC/or whatever nomenclature each manufacturer puts on these safety systems, electronic steering completes the package and lives are saved.
My wife and 2 of the girlfriends were on a trip from Houston to Des Moines, Iowa some years ago. The took one of the girl's then brand new Toyota Avalon, equipped with ADAS. They were on a curvy, hilly 2-lane highway going around a blind curve at highway speed. Someone coming the opposite direction turned left in front of them; leaving no room for a normal evasive maneuver. As was related to me by both my wife and the woman driving, the ADAS system took over so fast, they didn't know what was happening. In the few brief seconds that they should have had a devastating head on collision at high speed, the ADAS took over throttle, brakes, AND steering. They wound up on the opposite side of the road, facing backwards to the way they were traveling, unharmed, not a scratch on the car.... just dirty undies!

Just as other innovations have had growing pains, so have electronic drive by wire functions. No one wants a nanny state, especially me. But I'm very grateful that those innovations combined to keep my wife from harm.

 

[Grams]

Here's a counter point! Drive by wire is an integral part of today's ADAS. It is essential to save lives.
Toyota began integrating it as a parallel control on their "VSC" systems. (Vehicle Stability Control).
I had 2 occasions in my 2002 Sequoia that this system absolutely saved me from imminent crashes, one would have likely been fatal. In these instances, the computer system took over braking and throttle. I had control over steering, but with modern ADAS/ VSC/or whatever nomenclature each manufacturer puts on these safety systems, electronic steering completes the package and lives are saved.
My wife and 2 of the girlfriends were on a trip from Houston to Des Moines, Iowa some years ago. The took one of the girl's then brand new Toyota Avalon, equipped with ADAS. They were on a curvy, hilly 2-lane highway going around a blind curve at highway speed. Someone coming the opposite direction turned left in front of them; leaving no room for a normal evasive maneuver. As was related to me by both my wife and the woman driving, the ADAS system took over so fast, they didn't know what was happening. In the few brief seconds that they should have had a devastating head on collision at high speed, the ADAS took over throttle, brakes, AND steering. They wound up on the opposite side of the road, facing backwards to the way they were traveling, unharmed, not a scratch on the car.... just dirty undies!

Just as other innovations have had growing pains, so have electronic drive by wire functions. No one wants a nanny state, especially me. But I'm very grateful that those innovations combined to keep my wife from harm.

Such systems might save the inexperienced or talent-challenged operator…but such designs are aimed at the lowest level of operator skill…. those who shouldn’t be driving at all.

(Air France 447 comes to mind)

(But I realize that in the “land of the free and the brave” EveryOne with a credit-rating can drive out here with the rest of us.)

((No intent at denigrating your wife and friend.))

 

[Sherman Bird]

Such systems might save the inexperienced or talent-challenged operator…but such designs are aimed at the lowest level of operator skill…. those who shouldn’t be driving at all.

(Air France 447 comes to mind)

(But I realize that in the “land of the free and the brave” EveryOne with a credit-rating can drive out here with the rest of us.)

((No intent at denigrating your wife and friend.))

Air France 447 had absolutely NOTHING to do with TCAS (Aircraft crash avoidance from hitting other aircraft). Inasmuch as aircraft routinely cruise at 400-500 MPH, 2 of them in a collision course are thwarted from collision WAY different than cars. Both transponders MUST be turned on and employ the anti-collision algorithm.

Level of operator skill had NOTHING to do with a putz turning left into your lane oncoming at a blind curve. Bobby Rahal couldn't have "driven" out of that scenario. The car that turned into their paths was a VERY old Pontiac Bonneville... devoid of ANY modern safety systems. That Toyota was and is WAY advanced and WAY faster in operation of radar/brakes/steering/throttle than ANY human is ever capable of.

The condescending tone of "lowest level of operating skill" says, perhaps, YOU might think differently if such a "but for the Grace of God" event, ever happened to you or your loved one!

 

[Grams]

Air France 447 had absolutely NOTHING to do with TCAS (Aircraft crash avoidance from hitting other aircraft). Inasmuch as aircraft routinely cruise at 400-500 MPH, 2 of them in a collision course are thwarted from collision WAY different than cars. Both transponders MUST be turned on and employ the anti-collision algorithm.

Level of operator skill had NOTHING to do with a putz turning left into your lane oncoming at a blind curve. Bobby Rahal couldn't have "driven" out of that scenario. The car that turned into their paths was a VERY old Pontiac Bonneville... devoid of ANY modern safety systems. That Toyota was and is WAY advanced and WAY faster in operation of radar/brakes/steering/throttle than ANY human is ever capable of.

The condescending tone of "lowest level of operating skill" says, perhaps, YOU might think differently if such a "but for the Grace of God" event, ever happened to you or your loved one!

Sorry if my post triggered-you.

I never made any reference to TCAS whatsoever. I was addressing automation which removes the operator from full control of the vehicle.

(In the case of 447, operator-error was certainly the major contribution to the accident,….but reliance upon automation was/is the underlying cause of what drove the training of those pilots who failed at basic operating skills.)

There is no “condescending tone” intended. That is a misunderstanding of my comment.

 

[Sherman Bird]

Sorry if my post triggered-you.

I never made any reference to TCAS whatsoever. I was addressing automation which removes the operator from full control of the vehicle.

(In the case of 447, operator-error was certainly the major contribution to the accident,….but reliance upon automation was/is the underlying cause of what drove the training of those pilots who failed at basic operating skills.)

There is no “condescending tone” intended. That is a misunderstanding of my comment.

It would have sucked to be a passenger on that flight 447.

 

[Pull Ya]

You need someone who understands the system of that vehicle AND knows how to diagnose! The dealer is the LAST place to find someone that skilled on a 21 year old truck!

The truck is probably older than many of the techs. LOL-
Jay

 

[Grams]

It would have sucked to be a passenger on that flight 447.

Sorry to “hijack” this thread a bit…. but during that investigation I was a Sim Instructor and Pilot-Examiner at DFW on similar equipt and we rec’d a briefing on the BEA reports.

An item in the investigaion not made public was that the relief pilot (pilot not flying, but took control at one point was actually in the company’s management,…not actually a regular crewmember that flew. He was Only On that flight so he could “claim” currency as a pilot for salaried-reasons.
Air France was charged (twice) with manslaughter over accusations…but French prosecutors dropped it (twice) because they didn’t “think” they could prove it.
The pilot flying was the least-experienced in the cockpit and the training programs (which relied upon the airplane’s automation programming that misled the pilots, …the airplane’s automation-overrides, and false indications contributed to the confusion of the crews inexperience levels.

Back down-to-earth….. We already have an entire generation of young drivers that rely excessively on automation as they speed down thoroughfares looking at technology and listening to their music. Yes, this is nothing new….but we’re not learning the lesson that increasing automation for driver convenience does not equate to safer operations.

.

 

[Sherman Bird]

The truck is probably older than many of the techs. LOL-
Jay

So what? Learning the full on concepts of mechanical function and the abstract nature of things mechanical is incumbent to the tech. That is, unless he/she is merely seeking a paycheck. There is also the idea of just admitting that one knows what one doesn't know!
I remember the first few years I was a mechanic. I was born in 1955, and began my professional life as a mechanic in 1976. In 1982, I worked at an indie shop and was given a 1952 or 53 Cadillac to work on. The power windows didn't work, and some kind of fluid was leaking from the driver's door. After assessing the system, I determined that the fluid leaking from the door was brake fluid, and that the power windows were hydraulic, using brake fluid in the system. The old Geezer who owned the shop was patient in showing me the book with service info on that car and it's systems. Being that I wanted to learn, I did. But, that's the culture I came into.

Many of those who mentored me and taught me were WW2/ Korean Vets who came up in the Depression. These men were true artisans and they willingly passed the torch to us "whippersnappers". The care and craftsmanship they infused into their every day work was and still is remarkable. There weren't very many pusillanimous mechanics who were in the game very long back then. Those who had integrity and valued their part of the process thrived. Lesser folks went on to other professions.

Today, everyone seems distracted in "what's next" as opposed to concentrating on the job at hand. The culture is largely fueling this it seems. An example is that I'll call the parts supplier for price and availability of a part. The Young'un who answers the phone, most often will ask me to repeat the year, make, and model and what part I want 3 or more times. They are is such a damned hurry when I call, that they get palpably miffed when I go through the normal greeting of "good morning, This is Sherman Bird with Avian Automotive. How are you this fine morning?".

They are so pent up with hurry-up-itis, that they skim past the friendliness and bark "What do you want?". Their voice inflection and the staccato ridden fast pace through the process reflects that they have been bullied by their upper management.

And customers who take their car to a shop are crap shooting whether or not the culture of that shop matches the culture of everyone out there in business land. THESE are reasons I stay busy on a consistent basis. I tell folks that if they can't give me time to go through the processes of fixing their car the first time, how do they expect me to find time to do it again for the second time, for free, no less.

 

[Pull Ya]

In my experience, there are far more "here just for the paycheck" than there are techs that are truly interested in making a career out of mechanics. Pride in workmanship is becoming less and less important in my opinion. You seem to be an exception, proud of your knowledge and skills. IMHO you are in the minority.
Jay

 

[turkeybird56]

In my experience, there are far more "here just for the paycheck" than there are techs that are truly interested in making a career out of mechanics. Pride in workmanship is becoming less and less important in my opinion. You seem to be an exception, proud of your knowledge and skills. IMHO you are in the minority.
Jay

Hey glad to see u banging around hope all is well.

There is no pride or craftsmanship or QC in anything these days.

 

[Harry Paratestes]

Such systems might save the inexperienced or talent-challenged operator…but such designs are aimed at the lowest level of operator skill…. those who shouldn’t be driving at all.

This. Natural selection is what comes to mind

 

[Sherman Bird]

This. Natural selection is what comes to mind

Sound tough! Downright MANLY! OOHRAH!.... until it's YOUR tender aged daughter whose bacon was saved by modernity. My own daughter (now 48) had a horrific crash in September, 1999. She was in college. Modern car design coupled with "new fangled" safety measures saved her life. It didn't matter whose fault the accident was. What mattered was and still is, that she survived a terrible crash in pretty good shape. She had a bruised sternum from the seatbelt!

I'll never forget the day she called and told me that she'd had "an accident" and expressed concern that I might get upset that she'd wrecked the car. I had the car towed to the dealer I worked at..... having not seen it since the accident. She told me she was "fine" over the phone, so I took that at face value.

When the car arrived by wrecker, I got REAL emotional. See, that car was foo-barr'd. The seatbelt had saved her life along with the crush zone parts of the car diffusing much of the impact energy. The passenger compartment kept it's integrity. The doors still opened and shut, but the transmission was shoved into the master cylinder/ power brake booster, and the radiator/ A/C condenser were crumpled into that mess. IOW, the front end had been reduced to about a foot long. (it was a FWD Chevy Cavalier)

I'll take modern science any day over "natural selection", which, by the way, tends to blame the victim by implying an IQ under 70.

 

[Harry Paratestes]

Sound tough! Downright MANLY! OOHRAH!.... until it's YOUR tender aged daughter whose bacon was saved by modernity. My own daughter (now 48) had a horrific crash in September, 1999. She was in college. Modern car design coupled with "new fangled" safety measures saved her life. It didn't matter whose fault the accident was. What mattered was and still is, that she survived a terrible crash in pretty good shape. She had a bruised sternum from the seatbelt!

I'll never forget the day she called and told me that she'd had "an accident" and expressed concern that I might get upset that she'd wrecked the car. I had the car towed to the dealer I worked at..... having not seen it since the accident. She told me she was "fine" over the phone, so I took that at face value.

When the car arrived by wrecker, I got REAL emotional. See, that car was foo-barr'd. The seatbelt had saved her life along with the crush zone parts of the car diffusing much of the impact energy. The passenger compartment kept it's integrity. The doors still opened and shut, but the transmission was shoved into the master cylinder/ power brake booster, and the radiator/ A/C condenser were crumpled into that mess. IOW, the front end had been reduced to about a foot long. (it was a FWD Chevy Cavalier)

I'll take modern science any day over "natural selection", which, by the way, tends to blame the victim by implying an IQ under 70.

I dont have children and you might want to look up the definition of natural selection

 

[Sherman Bird]

I dont have children and you might want to look up the definition of natural selection

Nah.... already have. Let's move on! Peace!