I was recently driving my 2004 Dodge Ram 2500 5.7l and the electronic throttle control lightning bolt flashed and the engine dropped to 1100RPM and held there.

 

I pulled off, turned it off, re-started, same issue.

 

I tried to do a re-learn on the side of the road with no success.   I was about 1/2 mile from a Dodge dealer, so I creeped it there at 6mph(getting flipped off and beeped at) and left it.

They called and, typical of a dealer said "Well, it looks like your plugs and wires need replaced, you've got an upper ball joint that's loose, you need a new tranny pan ...."   And????

 

These guys didn't seem to understand that the frickin truck had a crippling throttle problem and I asked "No we didn't find any problem with that, let me call you back".

 

"Comes back with 2 codes related to the PCM, we can replace it for $680 for the PCM, $180 reprogramming plus whatever I owe them on a diagnostic.   No thanks, whatever had failed, was now working, so I went and picked it up.   A reman throttle body is $130 and a reman PCM is $289.  $680 is insane.  If they'd come at me with a realistic number I would have probably let them fix it.

 

They also "lost" my keys, or claimed it was locked in a tech's toolbox.   I asked for a discount off the $135 diagnostic bill since they can't find my keys and they gave me $25 off.    I went home(9 miles), got another key and found they'd locked the key in the truck.

 

 

Anyway, I know Dodges tend to have throttle body issues and I'll probably clean it and maybe even just replace it.

 

I tried to use an Autel Maxidas DS708 to pull the codes on the PCM but for whatever reason the tool just hangs.  It might be that particular one needs an update.   I was hoping someone with either a Chrysler tool or snap-on would could scan it for codes.   I suspect I have a bad connection somewhere or maybe the throttle body is just flaky.    It would be nice if someone is in north Jersey somewhere that could scan it for me.

 

I'm also open to suggestions.

i've got a launch, a solus, and an otc. but i'm in cherry hill.

i've got a launch, a solus, and an otc. but i'm in cherry hill.

 

Yeah, thanks.  I get to Cherry Hill as the in-laws live there, but rarely with the truck and right now I don't want to be on the side of the road 100 miles from home.   I think I'll try disconnecting the battery next time it happens and see if I can get it to reset itself.  Clearly, sitting on the lot for a day did something or maybe it was just the 4th restart that reset it.

For what it's worth, someone(the tech I assume) left a piece of cardboard on the seat with some codes of some kind on it.

 

I don't recognize the code numbers, nor do I see them in a Google search.

 

If anyone has any thoughts, maybe these are what he pulled out of the DRB III or whatever tool they are using now?  I've never used one, no idea what it spits out.

 

 

If you just want to read the codes, they sell $5 obd scanners on eBay that connect to your phone via Bluetooth.

 

Or you can go to an autoparts store and have them read / delete the codes for free.

 

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If you just want to read the codes, they sell $5 obd scanners on eBay that connect to your phone via Bluetooth.

 

Or you can go to an autoparts store and have them read / delete the codes for free.

 

Sent from my Z812 using Tapatalk

 

ELM327 or other DTC scanners don't read PCM or other module codes.   I'm talking about scantools that interrogate the various engine modules and whatnot.  They start at about $1000 for an Autel Maxidas and go up to $10k or more for a high end Snap-on or other reader.

i'll look up those codes for ya when i sit down for lunch. u codes are usually bad.

i'll look up those codes for ya when i sit down for lunch. u codes are usually bad.

 

Thanks!

not a single one of those codes is coming up on the system i normally use. i'll look on alldata tomorrow.......

not a single one of those codes is coming up on the system i normally use. i'll look on alldata tomorrow.......

 

Yeah, I couldn't find them in any of my resources.   Maybe they are the tech's dry clean tickets.