I'm getting pretty bad throttle response while driving at various speeds. Acceleration off the line is good but once the truck hits O/D, the throttle response is terrible unless I really lean into the throttle and cause it to kick down. Cruising along at 65, the trucks a dog and can't get out of it's own way unless I stand on it. If I just give it more pedal, it seems to bog down, especially if your on an uphill rise.

Here's what's been done in the past 12 months. Note that this issue has existed for as long as I've had the truck (about 14 months) so it didn't start with any of the work mentioned below:

- Transmission overhauled with new TC and all new electronics
- New heads
- Plenum gasket replaced when the heads were done
- New plugs
- New wires
- New cap & rotor
- New coil
- Cleaned the TB
- New O2 sensors
- New Magnaflow cat
- New dual exhaust
- New cam sensor
- New crank sensor
- New TPS
- New IAC
- New purge valve
- New leak detection pump
- New fuel cap

Basically, everything short of a new truck! I'm at the point where I'm starting to think it might be the TV cable adjustment because it also does something odd every now and then. If I'm getting on the highway and I stand on it, it will occasionally act as if it jumped into neutral. The RPM's hit the redline and the truck doesn't go anywhere. If I back off the throttle and then get back on it, it's fine. Since the transmission has already been overhauled by a reputable local shop, I'm leaning towards TV cable. Question is, could that also lead to poor throttle response? Would a Fastman TB help the situation? Anyone have any ideas? Trying to avoid bringing it to the shop if I can since I can't walk out of one these days for under $500-

 

if it was replaced with the same kinda plenum outta dodge it could be leaking agian , havee you done a comprssion test on the cylenders??

 

i'd replace the TPS again for about $40-45.

 

Welcome to the forum!

The throttle response in O/D is always going to be terrible. That gear was designed for the best possible gas mileage (as much as can be expected out of these trucks, anyway), not power. Only way to "fix" it that I know of is turn O/D off or get a different transmission, like the kind that "Dr. Evil" or APS builds.

As far as that thing that happens every once in a while, my transmission in my 1995 Dakota used to do that occasionally. Like it just couldn't quite kick into a different gear. I was told it was a sticky valve. "All new electronics" in the tranny wouldn't help that, you'd have to replace/fix/etc. the mechanical parts in the transmission. Not sure if its the same thing that my Dakota had, but it sounds similar. I would think if it was a problem with the TV cable, it wouldn't do it once in a while, it'd be consistent.

 

My truck was doing the same thing when I first got it, I installed Sonnax Sure Cure kit,Gov pressure solenoid and sensor, tcc and od solenoid, now it shifts great, od comes in about 50, when in od if I want to go it drops down smooth and gets up and go.

 

Thanks to everyone for all of the replies.

- Compression was tested a while back when we discovered a cracked head but it's easy enough to test again so I'll give that a shot.

- The TPS is only a few months old and it didn't make any difference in the behavior when I replaced it but could be worth a shot.

- The suggestion about the transmission is interesting but I would really hate to have to get into that again. It was completely rebuilt in jan 09 due to a broken snap ring that prevented it from going into reverse so since that band is first in / last out, it was a complete rebuild. Not cheap. The overhaul included all new solenoids and sensors but I'm not familiar with the Sonnax Sure Cure Kit. Are these just better rebuild parts or are they an upgrade to make the transmission perform better?