Newer cars are stupid.

[Kern Dog]

Are you with me?
Late model cars take what was simple and make it far more complicated than it should be.
Remember when the old cars had mechanical levers and bellcranks for throttle linkage? Later on, cables were used and yes, they worked just fine. Now with pretty much everything being "drive by wire", there is no direct physical connection between the gas pedal and the carburetor/EFI throttle body.
Almost 2 weeks ago, I had to be towed home in this:

I had warning that it was going to have some trouble...

I researched this....it looked like a gas pedal issue. Get this....the gas pedal on this 2007 truck looks like this:

I'd get this icon on the dash:

Sometimes along with this:

By the way....that is NOT a "check engine" light, it is called a Malfunction indicator lamp.
When the red lightning bolt comes up, the gas pedal often goes dead. The engine will start and run but not move off of idle. Since April, the red bolt has come up a few times but when I shut it down and restarted it, it was normal again. I put off repairs until the problem got worse.
Two weeks ago, it did and I had to be towed home in this truck, the first time ever in over 411,000 miles.
At home I swapped in another gas pedal from a junker. It would idle but would not move so I ordered a new one....

I swapped it in yesterday and it seemed fine. I went out to run errands and it failed again...same lights on the dash, same code: P-0122.

I had it towed to a local shop that I trust. I thought that maybe the throttle body itself was maybe bad so this morning, I brought them a spare:

I got a call a few minutes ago....they found the problem and fixed it.
GREAT.....so it was the throttle body?
No, it was not.
It turns out that the computer needed a REflash to mate/recognize the gas pedal.
What the heck, man ?? Reflash for a damned gas pedal? In the time I've owned this truck, I've replaced two transmission shift solenoids, and EGR valve, all the fuel injectors, 2 oxygen sensors and every one of those had some electrical connector so why would the gas pedal need a reflash ?
I'm on my way to go get the truck. This was an instance where simpler would have been better. Combinations like a gas pedal, throttle CABLE and no computer still work just fine.

 

[RemCharger]

You're not wrong.

 

[DeltaV]

What does the FSM say?

 

[RT68440]

I absolutely hate drive by wire. I had a 2019 RAM with the hemi and I absolutely loved it. It was a quad cab (the smaller doors). We had our son in 2022 so that fall I traded it for a 2022 crew can so the car seat would fit better. I was set on Patriot Blue and the only one that they had in that color and a crew cab was a V6. Fine, whatever, it's a lease so I'll only have it for 4 years. The pedal lag is the worst that I've ever experienced. My '19 had no issues with the V8. Why can't they just have a damn cable. I'm looking forward to my lease ending in 2026. I won't leave with anything but a hemi, I don't care if it's hot pink...

 

[eldubb440]

You're not wrong.

he's not..... but after 411K his issue is pretty minimal

 

[Budnicks]

I hate most all of the new electronics & computer **** in cars today

Years ago, like 20
I bought a tuner Hypertech for my 1999 Dakota, OBD2 tuning & code reading stuff
to see codes & do some limited programs changes, trans, tires or gears etc. or cleared codes
That's bad enough...
Even that can be a issue...

My newer 2020 Jeep Gladiator Launch Edt. Rubican 'is drive by wire',
I can't do **** with it
now trying to kill the engine stop start crap,
I can push (or my dad is the issue) a button every time I get in & start it
or it does that start stop **** every time you stop
my 88 y/o dad is really lame in cars, he's the issue really
he used to the/my old 2002 F350 dually diesel simple deal no bells & whistles
or everything, or all electronic throttle BS, like this truck
& He has a hard time shutting it off
he keeps touching the throttle, brake or something & keeps starting back up
& him shutting if off again
sometimes several times, when he comes home,
it's frustrating as all "HELL"

we no longer have a CDJR dealer here, 50+ miles away is the nearest on now,
way down in Oakdale
our old Sonora CDJR it closed/sold (not sure it will open again)
for like the 4th time in 6 years now, bad management
& lack of sales/no advertising at all
or
I'd just go in & have it reprogrammed like it was org. when we bought it
the start stop feature was disabled, ordered from the factory
NOW right after they had to do the new motor
after dad put diesel in the old one, at 12k miles & ran it & hydro-locked it up
That took 7 months to get my truck back & $14k for a new engine/ins. covered it
but damn, that start stop ****

 

[RemCharger]

he's not..... but after 411K his issue is pretty minimal

Ya surprising the pedal hasn't fallen off..

Since the dbw's came out... I don't recall ever changing a pedal.. lots of throttle bodies though
don't recall seeing something with 661,440 kms either.
Damn you California!

 

[69 Sleeper Bee]

That is the way all the new vehicles are. Just helped my mechanic neighbor replace a trans. selector switch on a 01 Suburban and had to reset the computer to recognize it because it wouldn't even power the starter solenoid till that was done.
I'm more worried about the steer by wire that everything is now. No steering column shaft just a big servo at the rack.

 

[RemCharger]

I'm more worried about the steer by wire that everything is now. No steering column shaft just a big servo at the rack.

Haven't heard of that one yet! Electric assist, yes

 

[Kern Dog]

$190 to diagnose and reflash.
I can't blame the shop. They are in business to make money and I'm glad they are there. I've used them with the electronic stuff that I can't figure out for myself.
The man explained it.....The gas pedal sends variable voltage to the throttle body to read. They have to be able to read each other to function properly. He thought it was luck that it started and ran as long as it did without them being "synchronized" or able to read each other in time.
I guess I'm good to go, then, right?
Maybe. I'll drive it and if/when the throttle body decides to crap out, I have my spare. Of course, I will have to get another REflash at that time.
One thing that really annoys me is that stuff like this shakes my confidence in driving long distances. Yeah, I'm way long in the tooth with 411,000 miles but the truck runs smooth. Plenty of power, oil pressure is great, oil consumption isn't bad so I trust the engine. It is the electronic crap that is likely to leave me stranded.

 

[69 Sleeper Bee]

Haven't heard of that one yet! Electric assist, yes

My neighbor said all new cars and light trucks are that way now. Anything that is electronically controlled ( which is everything now ) and replaced will not be recognized by the computer and will not work till a reset.
He also said all the new cars wiring is in micro volts 3-5 range and the wires are like tiny computer wires and if you tug on them any little bit and they will break internally.
Oh and the steering is not an assist it is an all electric controlled servo. My buddy's new Corvette E-Ray is that way and it will go 200+

 

[Kern Dog]

I mentioned this issue on the Ram truck forum and was corrected....
The gas pedal and throttle body were Recalibrated. The computer was not Reflashed.

 

[Photon440]

I mentioned this issue on the Ram truck forum and was corrected....
The gas pedal and throttle body were Recalibrated. The computer was not Reflashed.

Who're you going to believe...the shop that found the problem or the truck forum? ;)

 

[JackR]

I was on my way to w ork in my maybe 6000 mile grand Cherokee a couple years ago. First the stability control light came on then check engine then every other light came on and engine went into limp mode.
Every light. Like it was Christmas time. Towed to dealer.
Dealer called me a few hours later and asked me to describe exactly what happened while I was driving. Then asked if had hit anything when that all lit up. Nope
They told me it was throwing every code and the hadn’t seen this before….they have no idea what it could be. A Chrysler rep was due in a couple hours they said.
Next day get another call. They claimed the throttle body failed. They said they have never seen that.
No one has a replacement in stock as they don’t fail?
Asked if I minded if they took one off another grand Cherokee on the lot. Still under warranty so go ahead.
70,000 trouble free miles later I guess that was it.

 

[WileE]

Are you with me?
Late model cars take what was simple and make it far more complicated than it should be.
Remember when the old cars had mechanical levers and bellcranks for throttle linkage? Later on, cables were used and yes, they worked just fine. Now with pretty much everything being "drive by wire", there is no direct physical connection between the gas pedal and the carburetor/EFI throttle body.
Almost 2 weeks ago, I had to be towed home in this:

View attachment 1875139

I had warning that it was going to have some trouble...

View attachment 1875142

I researched this....it looked like a gas pedal issue. Get this....the gas pedal on this 2007 truck looks like this:

View attachment 1875147

I'd get this icon on the dash:

View attachment 1875151

Sometimes along with this:

View attachment 1875153

By the way....that is NOT a "check engine" light, it is called a Malfunction indicator lamp.
When the red lightning bolt comes up, the gas pedal often goes dead. The engine will start and run but not move off of idle. Since April, the red bolt has come up a few times but when I shut it down and restarted it, it was normal again. I put off repairs until the problem got worse.
Two weeks ago, it did and I had to be towed home in this truck, the first time ever in over 411,000 miles.
At home I swapped in another gas pedal from a junker. It would idle but would not move so I ordered a new one....

View attachment 1875156

View attachment 1875157

I swapped it in yesterday and it seemed fine. I went out to run errands and it failed again...same lights on the dash, same code: P-0122.

View attachment 1875158

I had it towed to a local shop that I trust. I thought that maybe the throttle body itself was maybe bad so this morning, I brought them a spare:


View attachment 1875159

I got a call a few minutes ago....they found the problem and fixed it.
GREAT.....so it was the throttle body?
No, it was not.
It turns out that the computer needed a REflash to mate/recognize the gas pedal.
What the heck, man ?? Reflash for a damned gas pedal? In the time I've owned this truck, I've replaced two transmission shift solenoids, and EGR valve, all the fuel injectors, 2 oxygen sensors and every one of those had some electrical connector so why would the gas pedal need a reflash ?
I'm on my way to go get the truck. This was an instance where simpler would have been better. Combinations like a gas pedal, throttle CABLE and no computer still work just fine.

You're not the only one. Not too long ago, I had to go to the Chrysler dealer in my 46 year old car to get parts so I can repair my late model hemi car.

 

[ckessel]

On my 04.5 dually w/Cummins, I had to replace that twice at different times. There was an easy to do procedure for it to learn/be learned to the truck. Mounted under the lh battery. You were really in for a ride if you didn't pay attention when it failed. You had idle or WOT with a very high torque engine.

 

[Unkle Krusty]

Sometimes when we go to a bar, Shirley says I can drive home. She has a near new Honda. Well I can not drive the dam thing. So Shirley gets it started, and the brake off and in gear. After that I am generally okay.
I was in a bike shop a couple of weeks ago. Could not find anything I liked. Too heavy, too much electronic junk, and too much money.

 

[RemCharger]

I mentioned this issue on the Ram truck forum and was corrected....
The gas pedal and throttle body were Recalibrated. The computer was not Reflashed.

Sounds like a relearn. Have to hit it so many times, let it idle for so long etc

On my 04.5 dually w/Cummins, I had to replace that twice at different times. There was an easy to do procedure for it to learn/be learned to the truck. Mounted under the lh battery. You were really in for a ride if you didn't pay attention when it failed. You had idle or WOT with a very high torque engine.

A throttlebody?

 

[ckessel]

Ha! No, the APPS unit[ accelerator pedal position sensor].

 

[Kern Dog]

I mentioned this issue on the Ram truck forum and was corrected....
The gas pedal and throttle body were Recalibrated. The computer was not Reflashed.

Who're you going to believe...the shop that found the problem or the truck forum? ;)

Well, since the place that serviced the truck is not a dealer but instead an independent shop that is far less formal than a dealership and.....
That sometimes actual dealership mechanics are members of car forums, what the man wrote in the forum could be true.