Red Lightning Bolt - Tried Everything
#1
Red Lightning Bolt - Tried Everything
Had a few threads on this... not getting anywhere sadly.
Initially figured it was a throttle body deal... had the error come up and engine shudder and shut off. I cleaned the TB and it ran fine for a few days then did it again. Grabbed a TB from the wreckers, worked a few months then did it again. Bought a new TB and lasted a few hours and got the error again.
I have a 2003 Laramie 5.7l Hemi 4x4, and for 2003-04 of this model, the Accelerator Pedal Position Sensor was below the battery tray. No longer made, NOS is around $650USD and I'm in Canada. Finally found a local(ish) wrecker with what I needed. Grabbed the APPS, cleaned the contacts with contact cleaner, and at the same time the plug for it as well as the contacts/plug for the TB. Installed it, did the reset and worked for a week.
By this time, my truck has sat around over a year total because can't work on it in the snow and various back related issues.
Drove it today, first time in a few months (needs brakes but want to drive it to keep this from seizing and battery charged) and 20min to town, grabbed a coffee, 20min home, city/highway driving... ran perfect. Then in my driveway I did a 3 point turn to back into it's parking spot and while in reverse, yup... that damn red lightning bolt and everything shuddering again.
What's left?
Initially figured it was a throttle body deal... had the error come up and engine shudder and shut off. I cleaned the TB and it ran fine for a few days then did it again. Grabbed a TB from the wreckers, worked a few months then did it again. Bought a new TB and lasted a few hours and got the error again.
I have a 2003 Laramie 5.7l Hemi 4x4, and for 2003-04 of this model, the Accelerator Pedal Position Sensor was below the battery tray. No longer made, NOS is around $650USD and I'm in Canada. Finally found a local(ish) wrecker with what I needed. Grabbed the APPS, cleaned the contacts with contact cleaner, and at the same time the plug for it as well as the contacts/plug for the TB. Installed it, did the reset and worked for a week.
By this time, my truck has sat around over a year total because can't work on it in the snow and various back related issues.
Drove it today, first time in a few months (needs brakes but want to drive it to keep this from seizing and battery charged) and 20min to town, grabbed a coffee, 20min home, city/highway driving... ran perfect. Then in my driveway I did a 3 point turn to back into it's parking spot and while in reverse, yup... that damn red lightning bolt and everything shuddering again.
What's left?
#2
PCM stock tuned? Some tuners will trigger throttle issues. Not as common as you seem to be experiencing, but I've had it happen maybe a dozen times on my last truck (04) with a superchips. Running fine for a few days might also indicate that your manipulation of the harness in and around the throttle body might be a clue.
Verify all grounds and current carrying capability of said grounds at the throttle body. As it's a plastic intake, it has no natural block ground.
Verify all grounds and current carrying capability of said grounds at the throttle body. As it's a plastic intake, it has no natural block ground.
Last edited by Prismatic; 12-12-2021 at 11:15 PM.
#3
#4
As far as I know it's stock... But the previous owner did a few things to the truck, so maybe not.
I often wondered if the remote starter he added may have been done wrong. Remote is busted so no idea if it even works but, I heard sometimes those aftermarket starters cause issues too.
I often wondered if the remote starter he added may have been done wrong. Remote is busted so no idea if it even works but, I heard sometimes those aftermarket starters cause issues too.
#5
Other forum, guy popped up... grounding straps on the engine/valve covers were rotted and some sparking.... replaced and done.
Which, I did have a few weird sparks near the spot where the oil goes in and sure enough, just a nubbin' of a strap left... not sure where the rest went.
Problem is, I can't seem to find on parts sites the grounding straps, not even just to see how long I need.
Far as I can tell in diagrams.... I guess there is 1 strap connected between the two covers, 1 strap where the oil goes in which connects to the valve cover on the driver side. The post I saw said he also ran 1 more from that driver side cover to the metal body just to make sure it's grounded.
Sound right?
Any idea how long? Since mine's rotted and missing I can't measure it.
Which, I did have a few weird sparks near the spot where the oil goes in and sure enough, just a nubbin' of a strap left... not sure where the rest went.
Problem is, I can't seem to find on parts sites the grounding straps, not even just to see how long I need.
Far as I can tell in diagrams.... I guess there is 1 strap connected between the two covers, 1 strap where the oil goes in which connects to the valve cover on the driver side. The post I saw said he also ran 1 more from that driver side cover to the metal body just to make sure it's grounded.
Sound right?
Any idea how long? Since mine's rotted and missing I can't measure it.
#6
I just bought a 5-wire grounding kit off Amazon for $30CAD. 8AWG spool of wire was $35 plus needed the ring terminals and such. This was cheaper and easier.
Ran a cable from the passenger side valve cover to the driver side, and from that to the bolt behind the battery where it grounds to the frame, as well as a new ground from that to the negative terminal of the battery. Plus ran a cable from the alternator to the positive terminal (left original cable there). Not yet found the other ground, which I read was at the back of the engine block, but, just not found it it. Drove/Started fine today... fingers crossed.
Ran a cable from the passenger side valve cover to the driver side, and from that to the bolt behind the battery where it grounds to the frame, as well as a new ground from that to the negative terminal of the battery. Plus ran a cable from the alternator to the positive terminal (left original cable there). Not yet found the other ground, which I read was at the back of the engine block, but, just not found it it. Drove/Started fine today... fingers crossed.