This is a long shot but I had similar things happen about a year or two ago with my 05'. The engine would bog down, throttle would stop working or act really sluggish (like the dead spots you are describing) and the cruise control would not work. No CEL however I got a code when doing the key fob. I'd check it with my SC but even the SC couldn't find the code but it would go away for a while after that then without any reason at all it would do it again. The code that would pop up was for the sensor that is on top of the rear diff.

Now I dont know how or why, but I took my truck down for a brake job the following week cause they were squeeling up a storm (still had pad left just not that much) and ever since then I have not had any codes pop up and the problem went away. I dont know if there was some excessive heat or if there was a electrical line that was near the brake system that was getting heated up or what that caused the problem BUT doing the brake job somehow or another fixed the problem. I'll do a search and see if I can find my old post that basically told what had happened and the code I got.

 

Alright here is the link to what was happening to my truck.

https://dodgeforum.com/forum/3rd-gen...iagnosing.html

What I was experiencing while this was going on:
- Lack of throttle responce/sluggish from stops
- Truck dieing at stops (after rush hour traffic/stop-and-go)
- Cruise Control would not engage
- NO CEL/Scanner could not see code
- Key FOB Code P2161

 

What key fob trick?

 

Turn the key on/off/on/off/on (not starting the truck) and a code should pop up where your odometer reading is. If there is no code it will flash "Done" followed by "----" and return to your odometer reading

http://s185.photobucket.com/albums/x...28-09_2135.flv

 

Oh ok that's what you're doing. In the 03-04 we have to hold the trip reset button in while turning the key to the on poisition. I thought it was something else.

I still didn't turn up any codes though.

 

Gotcha.. But yeah when my truck was acting up with similar issues to yours I was getting that code P2161 right after, doing a brake change and cleaning everything up got rid of the code and the truck drives just fine now.

 

Now you have got me curious, so I went out and looked at the peddle of MY '04. I have the APP sensor at the top of the peddle, just like in the diagram I posted from the service manual. HMMMMMMMMMM.....

Now I'm not about to rip through the battery box and look for the one you found. I have the adjustable pedals, do you?

I'm just trying to find a reason why some would have it one place and others the other for the same model year...

 

Now you guys have me curious. I guess I am going to have to go outside and look at my 04 and see what is going on in there.

 

No adjustable pedals here. But my APPS is definitely under the battery box. Nothing but a cable at the pedal.

Truck goes to the dealer tomorrow to check for any flash updates. The problem is getting worse as the weeks go by. It now needs to have the truck turned off to reset the ETC light. As in, you lose throttle going down the road and you need to coast to the side, shut the truck down and restart to continue driving.

If they can't find anything, the truck goes to a used car lot. I'm done with Dodge. This truck has been nothing but a headache since day 1.

 

i'm gonna throw fuel flow out there as a possible problem. i had an old ford that would constantly die when i was driving. i spent months replacing parts, tweaking mixtures, and searching. i finally found out that the dumbass that owned it before me put a fuel filter on it and it was airlocking, causing the carb to run out of gas and kill the engine. by the time i found it i had spent 200 bucks on new plugs, wires, harnesses, fuel lines, etc. might check your fuel system.