I drive a 1999 dodge durango and this is my first post so hopefully I can get some help. Yesterday I was driving and my rpms were going up and down and my suv was lugging. I pulled over turned it off and back on and put it in gear and it was good to go. I went to the gym just fine, got home and popped the hood and noticed my throttle cable wasn't even connected. Its had to have been like that for a few months cause when I put it back on it ran like crap, wouldn't shift and gas pedal was really hard, I tried adjusting the cable spot 20 times and the same thing every time. Can I just keep it disconnected? I read it's bad on the transmission but it runs like garbage with it on. Even tho I changed many parts in the tranny and out. 1999 durango 5.2 v8

 

I think you are referring to the TV (throttle valve) cable, that goes down to the trans? It shouldn't make the truck RUN bad, either on or off, it WILL, however, alter how your trans shifts.

If the cable itself is binding, you should just replace it. If it causes troubles, sort it out when you have a known good cable on there.

Welcome to DF! Going to move this to First Gen Durango forums for ya.

 

Ah yes I couldn't remember the exact name of it and thank you! It's just that when the TV cable is connected Its a hard shift and about 3 thousand rpms when it does. When it's disconnected it shifts smooth at 1 to 2 thousand and is so smooth and driving. No matter the position it just sucks. Any other information is greatly appreciated

 

I would suspect the cable is binding, or is seriously out of adjustment. It's whole job is to tell the trans how hard you are stepping on the go pedal, and modulate shift points/firmness accordingly. If you are just leisurely taking off, you get earlier shifts, that are relatively soft. If you are trying to stick your toenails thru the radiator, the trans will hold gears until darn near redline, and positively POUND into the next gear. (except O/D...... )