The issue started last year with the thunderbolt symbol coming on. This occurred after a recent top end job, valve gaskets were bad and warped the heads ($1900.00). Anyhow, the the TPS (bell crank assembly or APPS) was on back order. I just replaced it with a oem part ( 9 months later), the check engine light came on. I then had a local mechanic diagnose the entire system and run live diagnostics. Turns out the ECM was bad, so I paid for a rebuilt unit. This was not my first choice but spending over $400.00 for a new one plus the outrageous price of $230.00 for the TPS, I was under the gun. Long story short, the TPS light is back on. I won't go into the engine electrical harness nightmare from the previous year. I love my truck but, it's costing me way too much money and to have all these issues with proper maintenance- what a crappy design.
It was very cold out below zero . The intake draws in cold air and meets warm air as the motor is running .The condensation from this freezes after the motor is shut off freezing the electronic throttle . The motor will start but you have no throttle until the heat from the motor builds and frees up the electronic throttle .It took 48 mins for me to get my throttle back so the cabled throttle would go all the way to go .
I have owned this truck since 2009. The ETC light came on in 2010 when I had around 110K km on the truck. I was driving on the highway when the light came on and I lost power. I did some research and found a lot of people complaining of the same problem with no clear solution. One thing I did find was to clean the throttle body along with a few other tips I found online. As it turns out these are very easy to do. Recently the ETC problem has come back and I have repeated what I did three years ago. This is a summary of what I have read and done myself to address this problem with some success:
1. Disconnect negative and positive from battery.
- Disconnect negative first, positive second
- Clamp negative and positive cables together with vice grip.
- MAKE SURE THE CABLES DON'T COME INTO CONTACT WITH THE BATTERY TERMINALS.
- This step apparently resets the computer.
2. Remove the resonator
- This is the black plastic piece with Hemi 5.7 written on it
- Unclip the electronic coupler in the front of it
- Undo the two bolts holding down the resonator
- Loosen and remove the air intake pipe from the resonator. It is secured with the metal strap
- The throttle body is now visible
3. Remove the throttle body
- Unclip the electronic coupler that is attached to the throttle body
- Remove the four bolts
- Remove the throttle body from the engine
4. Clean the throttle body with carb cleaner.
- Make sure there is no more gunk left in the passageway
5. Replace throttle body and resonator
6. Inspect air filter
- If dirty, blowing it clean with a compressor and air gun is a temporary fix.
- Ideally, replace air filter
7. Reconnect the battery cables to the terminals
- Positive first, negative second
8. Turn the ignition to on and wait ten seconds before cranking.
If your ETC warning is not the result of wires being frayed from being rubbed under the resonator (apparently this is one of the culprits), this should almost certainly solve your ETC problem, at least until you need a new air filter and/or need to clean your throttle body again in 2-3 years.
- Paul L.,
Winnipeg, Manitoba, canada
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A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
The issue started last year with the thunderbolt symbol coming on. This occurred after a recent top end job, valve gaskets were bad and warped the heads ($1900.00). Anyhow, the the TPS (bell crank assembly or APPS) was on back order. I just replaced it with a oem part ( 9 months later), the check engine light came on. I then had a local mechanic diagnose the entire system and run live diagnostics. Turns out the ECM was bad, so I paid for a rebuilt unit. This was not my first choice but spending over $400.00 for a new one plus the outrageous price of $230.00 for the TPS, I was under the gun. Long story short, the TPS light is back on. I won't go into the engine electrical harness nightmare from the previous year. I love my truck but, it's costing me way too much money and to have all these issues with proper maintenance- what a crappy design.
- drewnik, Silver lake, WI, US