I bought this 2004 ram new, hemi, 160,000 miles. I have noticed a decrease in acceleration when the rpms are low. When I get it going a little faster, then it just takes off with all kinds of acceleration. Now, I have put hi test fuel in, fuel injector cleaner with no luck. I am thinking that it may be an electrical problem. Last week, the truck would turn over, but not start. (fuel pump wasn't coming on). I moved the fuses and relays under the hood and the truck started. In limp mode. I drove it home, no high gear, no low gear. I reset the computer, (had several codes about transmission), and it seems fine now. I have an intermittant problem with the heater motor not turning on, until I hit a bump, then it seems fine. I also cleaned the positive battery terminal on the fuse box under the hood. After all of this, I still have the decrease in acceleration, at low rpms, most of the time. Maybe the throttle body needs cleaned out, but after all of the electrical problems, which seem to come from the fuse panel under the hood, I am wondering if it may be electrical. Any Ideas??? I'm in Ohio, lots of salt.

 

Check for a loose crank position sensor. Definitely clean your throttle body.

 

Could be crank sensor or as simple as needing a tune up. Throttle body could be a gummy sticking mess also if it's been more than 30k since it was cleaned. Also, might want to ground the throttle body to give it that snap at low rpms....

 

update: I cleaned the throttle body, and it didn't seem to make a difference. But when I grounded the throttle body, that worked great. Thank!!!

 

A weak battery can cause odd symptoms as well.

 

...having same symptoms with mine since owning. Sluggish like low speed accelerations from time to time as if using a delay from the control to the response.

I will definitely inspect the throttle body ground circuit as this seems most likely.

Also agree with previous comment from lxman1, a weak battery can wreck havoc with these systems.


2004 Dodge Ram 2500 SLT Offroad 4x4 Quadcab Heavyduty 5.7l Hemi and runs

...like a beast!

 

A dirty throttlebody can cause the the throttle blade to hang up when almost closed which can cause the delay.

Mine @ 60K Before


After

 

oops replied to wrong post

 

I replaced mine in January 2017 soon after I bought my used Durango (now with a new engine). I believe it was like $150+ at the dealer which I feel they should have included as part of a recall. My mechanic installed it but I don't think he caulked anything since it wasn't indicated.

What I found interesting is that Dodge dealer said that one I got was the latest hood cowl and its 7th iteration of it. 7th! I'm like huh...wow is there going to be an 8th and will I be informed and will they pay for it? Probably not.

Still I don't get the hydrolocking issue. My mechanic said at worst, water would drip on 1 particular coil pack...and not inside the actual coil pack, since that is covered/protected. And even if somehow it got in there it shouldn't lock it up since it's not getting IN the cylinder. Anyway

 

This thread is 14 years old!!! lol