The "lightning bolts" warning lights come on and my truck goes into limp mode.

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

stringring

Junior Member
Joined
Feb 1, 2024
Posts
7
Reaction score
6
Location
Florida
Ram Year
2003
Engine
Hemi 5.7
The "lightning bolts" warning lights come on and my truck goes into limp mode. Sorry if this is long winded, but it's the only way I can explain this problem.
I was getting ready to do an over 3000 mile trip in my 2003 Dodge Ram 1500 with 5.7 hemi. My gas mileage had been about 12 mpg, so I changed the spark plugs and cleaned the throttle body. We headed out on our trip and I noticed that I was now getting 18 mpg, which was great! The truck was running fantastic! We had gone about 350 miles on I95 doing about 70 mph when all of the sudden the engine dropped of into limp mode and the lightning bolt signal came on. I'd never seen that and was kind of freaked out. I worked my way to the shoulder and turned off the truck. I checked the truck manual to find the lightning bolts meant the issue was related to the throttle control sensor. I turned the truck back on to see what would happen. The truck went back to running fine and we managed to drive another 40 miles to our days destination in Savannah, Ga. I did some research online when we got to our hotel room. Everything I read seemed to lead to throttle body sensor issues. I found that on my truck that the sensor was incorporated in the throttle body. I figured that I needed to address this issue by replacing the throttle body. I located a new throttle body and went to the parts store to pick it up. The truck was still running fine. As I headed to parts store, my check engine light came on. I plugged in my OBD2 scanner and the code PO441 EVAPORATIVE EMMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM INCORRECT PURGE FLOW came up. I tightened up the fuel cap and erased the code and the check engine stayed off. The parts guy told me to do this or it might be the purge valve. I went back to the hotel and installed the new throttle body and went through set up procedure. All went well and the truck ran great. We got on the road again and after about 40 miles the lightning bolts came back on and the truck went into limp mode again. I pulled to the shoulder, turned it off then back on and it ran fine. I got to a rest area and called the parts store and told them the issue. They said it could be a faulty part and I could return it for another. ( My gut feeling was that this wasn't a faulty part ) so they found one in a parts store along our way in North Carolina, about an 80 mile drive from where we were. I drove to that part store without issue. I installed the second throttle body. We drove about 200 miles without an issue. I figured the problem was solved. We stopped at a rest area and turned the truck off. We got back in the truck and drove, staying in the right lane and after about 80 miles the lightning bolts came back on. Turned it off and on and then made it to our destination in NJ. Long story short, we made it back to Florida and had the lightning bolt issue happen 4 times over the 1200 mile trip home. One time along the way, the check engine light came on with PO441 code and then the lightning bolts came on. When I got home, I replaced the purge valve. I've only been using the truck to drive around town, but the issue happens every once in a while. This has been a great truck and this is very frustrating. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks for reading this!
 

Bills86e

Member
Joined
Dec 11, 2019
Posts
55
Reaction score
9
Location
tampa bay
Ram Year
2004
Engine
5.7L Hemi Longbed
PCM faulty. I got mine from Flagshipone.com $228 shipped.

I cannot properly diagnose, so it will send out all kinds of DTCs. remove it and send them the part # on your faulty pcm, then chuck it.
 

gamjunior

Junior Member
Joined
Mar 25, 2015
Posts
4
Reaction score
2
Location
the burg
Ram Year
2004
Engine
5.7 Hemi
Was curious if you have got this issue fixed and if so what was it that fixed the issue. I am having the same issue but my 04 has not thrown. Been running just great then all of the sudden driving into work one morning I was at a light started to drive and it started bucking like a bull and the red throttle body lighting bolt was on. Pulled over shut it off and cranked right back up and got me home with no issues. The next day same thing.
 

rgloede

Junior Member
Joined
Apr 9, 2017
Posts
1
Reaction score
0
Ram Year
2008
Engine
3.7
I recently had the dreaded lightning bolt. New throttle body and new gas pedal . It came on once since. It was a misfire in cylinder 4. Cleared it, hasn’t been back in 3 weeks.
 

Curmudgeon

Senior Member
Supporting Member
Joined
Jul 22, 2017
Posts
611
Reaction score
1,538
Location
York, Pennsylvania
Ram Year
2014 1500 Laramie 4x4 QC, True Blue Pearl
Engine
5.7L Hemi
Unfortunately the OP seems to be another one of our one-post
wonders as they haven't been back since...


stringring
Junior Member · 71 · From Florida
Joined Feb 1, 2024
Last seen Feb 1, 2024
 
OP
OP
S

stringring

Junior Member
Joined
Feb 1, 2024
Posts
7
Reaction score
6
Location
Florida
Ram Year
2003
Engine
Hemi 5.7
Sorry, I didn't receive any notification that anybody responded to this thread. Just checked in. No I haven't resolved this issue. It was suggested by someone not on this forum, that the problem is caused by a faulty APPS -Accelerator Pedal Position Sensor. Unfortunately Dodge has discontinued the part and the auto parts stores don't carry it either. I saw an after market one online for $400. I also found that it is a Mercedes part. I checked on a Mercedes match up, about $50. It is pretty much the same, except for the 6 pin plug configuration. I found one on a junked 2003 pickup like mine. I installed it. The same issue occurred after about 50 miles driving. I've heard some folks say it's in the wiring. Very frustrating
 
OP
OP
S

stringring

Junior Member
Joined
Feb 1, 2024
Posts
7
Reaction score
6
Location
Florida
Ram Year
2003
Engine
Hemi 5.7
PCM faulty. I got mine from Flagshipone.com $228 shipped.

I cannot properly diagnose, so it will send out all kinds of DTCs. remove it and send them the part # on your faulty pcm, then chuck it.
Sorry, I never got alerted that anyone responded to my post. Thanks for the response
 
OP
OP
S

stringring

Junior Member
Joined
Feb 1, 2024
Posts
7
Reaction score
6
Location
Florida
Ram Year
2003
Engine
Hemi 5.7
Sorry, I never got alerted that anyone responded to my post. Thanks for the response
PCM faulty. I got mine from Flagshipone.com $228 shipped.

I cannot properly diagnose, so it will send out all kinds of DTCs. remove it and send them the part # on your faulty pcm, then chuck it.
 
OP
OP
S

stringring

Junior Member
Joined
Feb 1, 2024
Posts
7
Reaction score
6
Location
Florida
Ram Year
2003
Engine
Hemi 5.7
The "lightning bolts" warning lights come on and my truck goes into limp mode. Sorry if this is long winded, but it's the only way I can explain this problem.
I was getting ready to do an over 3000 mile trip in my 2003 Dodge Ram 1500 with 5.7 hemi. My gas mileage had been about 12 mpg, so I changed the spark plugs and cleaned the throttle body. We headed out on our trip and I noticed that I was now getting 18 mpg, which was great! The truck was running fantastic! We had gone about 350 miles on I95 doing about 70 mph when all of the sudden the engine dropped of into limp mode and the lightning bolt signal came on. I'd never seen that and was kind of freaked out. I worked my way to the shoulder and turned off the truck. I checked the truck manual to find the lightning bolts meant the issue was related to the throttle control sensor. I turned the truck back on to see what would happen. The truck went back to running fine and we managed to drive another 40 miles to our days destination in Savannah, Ga. I did some research online when we got to our hotel room. Everything I read seemed to lead to throttle body sensor issues. I found that on my truck that the sensor was incorporated in the throttle body. I figured that I needed to address this issue by replacing the throttle body. I located a new throttle body and went to the parts store to pick it up. The truck was still running fine. As I headed to parts store, my check engine light came on. I plugged in my OBD2 scanner and the code PO441 EVAPORATIVE EMMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM INCORRECT PURGE FLOW came up. I tightened up the fuel cap and erased the code and the check engine stayed off. The parts guy told me to do this or it might be the purge valve. I went back to the hotel and installed the new throttle body and went through set up procedure. All went well and the truck ran great. We got on the road again and after about 40 miles the lightning bolts came back on and the truck went into limp mode again. I pulled to the shoulder, turned it off then back on and it ran fine. I got to a rest area and called the parts store and told them the issue. They said it could be a faulty part and I could return it for another. ( My gut feeling was that this wasn't a faulty part ) so they found one in a parts store along our way in North Carolina, about an 80 mile drive from where we were. I drove to that part store without issue. I installed the second throttle body. We drove about 200 miles without an issue. I figured the problem was solved. We stopped at a rest area and turned the truck off. We got back in the truck and drove, staying in the right lane and after about 80 miles the lightning bolts came back on. Turned it off and on and then made it to our destination in NJ. Long story short, we made it back to Florida and had the lightning bolt issue happen 4 times over the 1200 mile trip home. One time along the way, the check engine light came on with PO441 code and then the lightning bolts came on. When I got home, I replaced the purge valve. I've only been using the truck to drive around town, but the issue happens every once in a while. This has been a great truck and this is very frustrating. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks for reading this!
 
OP
OP
S

stringring

Junior Member
Joined
Feb 1, 2024
Posts
7
Reaction score
6
Location
Florida
Ram Year
2003
Engine
Hemi 5.7
PCM faulty. I got mine from Flagshipone.com $228 shipped.

I cannot properly diagnose, so it will send out all kinds of DTCs. remove it and send them the part # on your faulty pcm, then chuck it.
PCM faulty. I got mine from Flagshipone.com $228 shipped.

I cannot properly diagnose, so it will send out all kinds of DTCs. remove it and send them the part # on your faulty pcm, then chuck it.
Sorry, I never got alerted that anyone responded to my post. Thanks for the response
 
OP
OP
S

stringring

Junior Member
Joined
Feb 1, 2024
Posts
7
Reaction score
6
Location
Florida
Ram Year
2003
Engine
Hemi 5.7
Was curious if you have got this issue fixed and if so what was it that fixed the issue. I am having the same issue but my 04 has not thrown. Been running just great then all of the sudden driving into work one morning I was at a light started to drive and it started bucking like a bull and the red throttle body lighting bolt was on. Pulled over shut it off and cranked right back up and got me home with no issues. The next day same thing.
Sorry, I never got alerted that anyone responded to my post. Thanks for the response
 

dblagbro

Junior Member
Joined
Apr 20, 2024
Posts
4
Reaction score
2
Location
USA
Ram Year
2003
Engine
5.7L
Sorry, I didn't receive any notification that anybody responded to this thread. Just checked in. No I haven't resolved this issue. It was suggested by someone not on this forum, that the problem is caused by a faulty APPS -Accelerator Pedal Position Sensor. Unfortunately Dodge has discontinued the part and the auto parts stores don't carry it either. I saw an after market one online for $400. I also found that it is a Mercedes part. I checked on a Mercedes match up, about $50. It is pretty much the same, except for the 6 pin plug configuration. I found one on a junked 2003 pickup like mine. I installed it. The same issue occurred after about 50 miles driving. I've heard some folks say it's in the wiring. Very frustrating

^ THIS was exactly my problem... and it's not available from Dodge anymore, because it was from a Mercedes and the 2003 and 2004 Dodge RAMs were made when it was Dahlmer Chrysler so Mercedes had a deal with Dodge, owned by the same parent company at the time, to make the APPS but they aren't the same parent company anymore.... so, there are none left in junk yards too because it's a part that goes bad relatively often -- so I figured out how to use one Mercedes still uses and makes and came up with a replacement kit to retro-fit a new harness. You can find it on eBay by searching for the OEM APPS part numbers: 53032456AE / 53032455AD
 

RemoB

Junior Member
Joined
Oct 5, 2024
Posts
1
Reaction score
1
Location
Iowa
Ram Year
2003
Engine
5.7 Hemi
Had the same problem. Don’t have to pull over just shift to neutral and turn it off and right back on. I finally got around to doing some work on it, did o2 sensor, cleaned throttle body, hit dirty looking connectors with spray, changed plugs and did the deal where ya turn key press down on gas turn off key and release gas and I haven’t had that problem since. But when I did the plugs the driver side where all cover with oil not spark side of plugs just the connector side and now it throwing code saying it’s running lean. Changed map sensor because it was really loose but new one wasn’t better so I made a hold down strap from a strip of old garden hose a 2 screws. Changed valve gaskets and had to replace the plugs again because they were carbon covered bad. Did smoke test and no leaks but still says I’m lean but it’s running smoothly except battery cables keep corroding fast and had a couple weird electrical issues that fixed themselves. Batteries good so im taking a break right now from changing the battery wires just got the positive to starter left. Started out trying to fix the throttle problem which so far I’d say I did but seems like I’ve started a domino effect of other things if the new cables don’t fix the random electrical problems that start whenever it feels like and then fixes itself overnight then I agree that it almost has to be the pcm just don’t know if it’s bad or if it’s working off bad info from a sensor. Throttle problem has to be electrical not mechanical because mine really didn’t have much to clean, wish I had only fixed 1 thing at a time so I could have gotten a real answer for it. I’d check cables and whatever grounds you can just to make sure whatever’s going on isn’t because of weak power to a sensor or pcm causing it to not work correctly. Hope yours doesn’t turn into a to do list. Just remembered I also changed hose from oil filler to air intake because previous owner used a piece of radiator hose and zip ties which is 4-5 times larger than it should be. I shouldn’t have ever lifted the hood and just lived with restarting while coasting every now and then
 
Top