Hello, first post here.

Just purchased a 2003 1500 4.7L with 61,000 miles. The CEL was on when I purchased it but only showing evap codes, so found the hose with the issue and swapped it. Disconnected battery to reset computer and clear the code, now the truck shuts off randomly at idle though the CEL doesn't come on. I'm guessing it's because of a dirty throttle body.

Is there a post out there somewhere about how to clean the throttle body? I've seen several that say to use brake cleaner...but I'm not exactly a genius under the hood, so my question is if anyone has posted a detailed explanation of what to do to clean it. I searched the community posts but couldn't find anything.

Thanks in advance for your help! This is my first Dodge so I'm still learning.

 

Take out the 4 bolts around the TB, unplug it and then either spray the rag and wipe it down or spray the TB carefully so you dont get any on the sensor that you unplugged. Then wipe down inside the intake as far as you can go. Done

 

Thank you. I'm going to be completely honest here. My husband used to do all car maintenance, but I no longer have him, so I'm trying to learn things on my own because I don't want to pay for something I can do myself.

So, that said, if this is something I can really screw up then I'll just take it somewhere, but if it's relatively simple, I'd like to try. I was able to fix the hose issue so I'm not a complete failure at car repair. Is the throttle body easy to access/remove? I'm looking at diagrams trying to figure out if I'm going to screw this up.

 

Well even though your CEL went off dosent mean the problem is fixed, and do you remember the EVAP Codes?? Most of the EVAP stuff is next to the gas tank usually the hoses leak crack and split sometimes you can replace the hose or seal it back off. Let us kno wwhat all you remember esp. the CEL codes. Oh yeah how many miles have you been since you cleared the codes?

 

The EVAP codes were PO442 and PO456. The truck was running fine with the CEL on (drove it around 300 miles after purchasing and having the codes read), but when I had time to get under there, I checked the hoses near the black box and sure enough one had about a one inch crack in it. Replaced that hose.

After that, the truck was still running fine. Drove it probably 30 miles or so before I got tired of seeing the CEL. Disconnected the battery, waited a bit, reconnected, CEL is off. Now the truck seem to be running fine except at idle when it shuts off occasionally. Probably have only driven about 25 miles since the battery was reconnected. I guess that probably wasn't the best course of action but I didn't want to pay a mechanic to clear the code.

 

Im with you im cheap! So the way ypu cleared your CEL is the way most of us do it so you are right on track. As for the code its seems as if you fixed it, i also had the same P0442 and i just took the hoses off cleaned and inspected them put them back on no CEL for that one reason since.
Now for the shutting off im not sure. If it is going to give you a CEL it will in the next few miles thats for sure maybe then it will be easier to figure out the problem for now i would do the KEY TRICK sometimes that shows codes even though your CEL isnt on

 

Yep, already did the key trick. It doesn't show any codes, just says "DONE". From what I've been able to figure out by reading forums, it seems like the computer resets to factory default and if the throttle body is dirty then the computer isn't telling it what to do correctly, because it's assuming it's clean and new.

I guess it's possible that driving it around a bit more will "teach" the computer how to regulate it with a dirty throttle body, but if I can fix it by cleaning the throttle body, and it's not too complicated to do on my own, I'd rather get it taken care of instead of randomly shutting down at stop signs!

 

The TB cleaning is incredibly simple. It's actually more difficult if your truck is stock because you have to remove the "HEMI Hat" to get to it. But if you have a CAI its easier. But basically just remove the thing that says "5.7 Liter HEMI" and disconnect the AIT sensor on the front of it and boom, the TB will be staring you in the face

 

It's just the 4.7L and it is stock. Will it be in the same place?

 

Yes it its the same place. Its on top of the engine dead center. Idk if the resonator is there on the 4.7 but its a 3" circle with a blue or orange ring around it