Q: Truck wants to turn off when first stepping on gas.

asked by on December 27, 2017

I have a 2005 Dodge Ram 1500 SLT 4.7 v8. When I first step on the gas at idle or when first turning on car, car wants to turn off. I need to really step on it and give it gas for it to start moving, otherwise if I step on it slowly or softly, the truck will die, but it will start right back up. Once it happened on the highway going around 65mph the truck just turned off. I have NO check engine codes at all. When this first started, I had a check engine code P0068 (MAP/MAF Throttle Possition correlation) so I changed all three sensors starting with TPS. Also checked for vacuum leak. The engine code went away after that, but the problem stayed. Also the rpm fluctuates between 1000-1500 rpm when in park.

My car has 167100 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.

Your idle RPM is out of range high. The RPM fluctuation could be due to a vacuum leak or a sticky throttle plate or a malfunctioning idle air control valve. Indeed, faults in those components could cause the lag on acceleration and the stalling. Another possibility is that there is still a fault in the manifold absolute pressure (MAP) sensor circuit. The MAP sensor detects engine load and generates a signal that is proportional to the amount of vacuum in the intake manifold. The ECU uses this information to adjust ignition timing and fuel enrichment relative to the amount of power needed. When the engine is working hard, intake vacuum drops as the throttle opens wide and the engine takes in more air, which requires more fuel to keep the air/fuel ratio in balance. When the computer reads a heavy load signal from the MAP sensor, it adjusts the fuel mixture to slightly more rich than normal so the engine can produce more power. The computer will then retard (back off) ignition timing slightly to prevent detonation (spark knock) that can damage the engine and decrease performance. If the MAP sensor circuit is faulty, this foregoing sequence may explain why the engine stumbles or dies as you put a load on the motor. YourMechanic offers a stalling diagnostic which covers all the potential causes of engine stalling and hesitation that your car is experiencing. If you request that service a certified Mechanic, dispatched by YourMechanic right to your location, will get this problem resolved for you. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.

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