Hi, I have a 2004 Ram 1500 2WD, with 5.7 hemi. I bought about 6 years ago when it had 85k miles on it (has 192k on it now). ran good for a long time. About two years ago, in the winter only, I occasionally had problems with the throttle, and the little lightning bolt light coming on, but it only happened when it was cold. The first year it only did I a couple time. the next winter it did it a lot. I cleaned the throttle body, and it was better for a while then it went back to doing it. That next spring, while on the interstate cruising about 75 or so, it would all of a sudden spit and sputter. If I hammered down on the throttle, it would come out of it, and be fine for a while. I finally changed out the throttle body (that's what I read on the internet for when that lightning bolt light comes on all the time) I then had to have the computer flashed for it to run right. (that's what the dealer said anyway)
I am still having trouble with it. It has gotten way worse. here is what its doing currently:
1. Rough idle all the time
2. sometimes dies especially when you first start it
3. if setting idle for a while 15-20 min, when you do hit the gas pedal, a puff of white smoke comes out exhaust.
4. a bit of lack of power
5. poor gas mileage


What I have done to try and fix it:
1. replaced plugs, and wires
2. replaced throttle body


I have had it at 4 different shops, and know one can figure it out. I tested compression (with my crappy tester) and looks like about 135 psi on each cylinder.


it used to through bank one misfire codes, now it doesn't. sometime I see a P0113 code, but not often.


Can anyone point me in the right direction to get this fixed? I'm all out of ideas!


Troy


(whew, that was a lot of typing...)

 

Are you losing coolant. Not on the ground?

 

Well, it is low occasionally. But not by much. Oil don't look to have any water in it.

 

Did you have it re flashed? That code is for the inlet temp sensor, maybe worth replacing.

 

I had it re-flashed when I replaced the throttle body. Where is the inlet temp sensor?

 

In the intake tube. Between the airbox and throttle body.

 

Thanks the replies P38251! While I was typing the first post, I was thinking the same thing you were about may a head or head gasket. But was in denial. So I decided (while waiting for a reply) to take the intake off, and start working my way to the head. However this morning when I finally got the intake off I found this. What do you think? Could this be causing my problem?

 

Here they are...

 

Looks pretty normal from what I can see. Looks like you have a good start. Might as well pull the heads and have them done.

 

I have an 04 dodge ram 1500 with the 5.7 it ran perfect till just after I put gas in an parked it at home. Went to get ready to run to the store really quick for dinner when it just cranked but wouldn't start at all, so a few days later I dropped it at the mechanic's an got a call saying I'd be better off selling my truck for parts! So I brought it back home because I didn't believe that at all, the pcv valve never got replaced before I bought it so oil pushed it's way through the exhaust system somehow an leaked out the pipe an now the only way I can get it to start is by removing the oil cap but still it runs sluggish, dies soon as I put the cap back on. Please can someone help me to figure this out this problem has affected my life I saved an saved to buy this truck for my family as transportation but believe it our not this problem started the same day we were released from the hospital to bring my first born son home 12-25-15 it's been hard so please someone help me with this if you can thank you...