Hey,

New to this board. I just bought a 2003 Dakota SLT. I love the truck, although I am having a few issues.

1) Truck starts up fine every time, but once engine gets warm, the idle RPM will fluctuate. Not too much fluctuation, probably go from about 550 to about 800 RPM. Hasn't stalled on me yet, but sometimes it feels like it will. It will do this at every stoplight and stop sign.

2) These issues are probably related, but I am getting horrible gas mileage. Maybe 10 mpg around the city. Now I know the 4.7 isn't the greatest on gas mileage, but I should be getting better than 10mpg.

I have done some research and looked at other posts on the board, and I am thinking about starting with cleaning/replacing the Throttle Position Sensor and the Idle Control Valve.

I was just looking for some advice/knowledge as I am a very new Dodge owner.

Thanks in advance!

 

Throttle Position Sensor= TPS is a good one to replace

Idle Air Control= IAC should be cleaned or I should say the throttle body should be cleaned do not clean the IAC but by hand no soaking or spraying with brake cleaner or carb cleaner it will damage it.

You don’t need to remove the throttle body at first if you like just use some throttle body cleaner spray and spray down the throttle body as the engine is running this may do the job make sure to spray down the idle slot.

Manifold Pressure= MAP may need replacing also

Thats a start for you.

A tune up is also a good idea.

 

Alright, sounds good.

I will replace the TPS and clean the IAC and see what that gets me.

Where is the MAP located on the engine? I have a general idea of where the TPS and IAC are.

 

looks like this for a 2003 4.7

 

Sounds good, will probably be doing that this evening some time. I will post results back to here. Hopefully this will fix this issue as it is the only problem with the truck.

Edit: Didn't get around to replacing anything tonight. But I noticed that coming home from dinner tonight that the issue is getting worse, especially the rough idle. A few stoplights the RPMs would go as high as about 1100 and down almost under 500, it almost stalled on me twice.

Now the list of things to possibly replace are:
TPS
IAC
Cleaning the throttle body
MAP Sensor

Any suggestions on what to start with first, I would hate to have to replace all four parts unless neccessary? Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

Clean Iac and check, then replace TPS

 

Forget all the bull****! Start by changing your distributor cap and rotor It's suppose to be done every 24,000 miles! I do mine about every 40,000 miles. The contact points in the distributor cap really starts to erode in that time and can't jump the spark. Believe me it needs to be done that much. If it's idling rough, stalling, fluctuations in idle rpm or a miss fire obd code, start there. For $20 you can't go wrong.

 

The TPS tends to be the number 1 culprit and if never replaced is a good bet the MAP is an over looked problem maker and power robber both cheap so worth replacing if never done.

Throttle body and IAC only need cleaning up most IAC never need replacing.

Tune up is a obvious needed job.

So whats with the

Quote:

Forget all the bull****!

crap

 

Update:

Replaced the TPS yesterday afternoon and boy did it make a difference. I drove it around for quite some time last evening and never did it once fluctuate RPMs. The true test though was this morning, as firing the engine up cold caused the most issues before. But this morning the truck fired up and the RPMs settled. Never had one issue on my commute to work this morning.

I am going to keep an eye on it for the next few days to make sure, but I thinking of calling this one fixed.

Will keep the MAP sensor idea around though, especially because that sensor is cheaper than the TPS. But thanks for all of the help guys, will definitely be coming back on this board for any help I need or any help I can dish out.

 

You should keep in mind at about 130K start replacing all the sensors but in groups like all O2 as a start they cost the most then slowly replace the rest the MAP, Air Temperature Sensor, PCV Valve and the Cooling System: Temperature Sender / Sensor and a tune-up.

I think I forgot a few. Also put some injector cleaner in the tank two times a year or more keeps the system clean.

If you do these you will be keeping ahead of the problems