Engine dies without foot on gas

Tiny
JMMULKEY
  • MEMBER
  • 1999 DODGE DAKOTA
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 80,000 MILES
'99 Dodge Dakota 5.2 L V-8 Will start easily, but if I take my foot off the gas it dies. No stuttering or bogging down when I depress gas pedal. No check engine lights. This problem started out with the truck not starting at all. We cleaned off the battery posts as much as possible since we were not able to get the cables off of the battery posts. We then disconnected the battery cables from the terminals on the truck, as opposed to where the cables attach to the battery itself. Once we reconnected the battery the truck started and ran fine. I drove it to work and back, no problem. Tried to start it up again about 15 minutes after I got home and it would not run without my foot on the gas pedal.
Saturday, July 2nd, 2011 AT 9:08 PM

5 Replies

Tiny
JDL
  • MECHANIC
  • 16,098 POSTS
Clean the throttle body and idle air control. How long since a tune-up?
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Saturday, July 2nd, 2011 AT 9:13 PM
Tiny
JMMULKEY
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
So, get this. I located the fuel pump fuse, pulled it out and it looked like it was still good (no broken filament) and re-inserted the fuse. Started it up and it runs just fine now. Even drove it around for about 10 minutes to heat it up real good. Got back to the house. Turned it off, restarted, runs at idle no problem. Rather perplexing.
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Saturday, July 2nd, 2011 AT 9:42 PM
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 34,330 POSTS
Hi guys. Common problem, real simple solution. You caused the low idle by disconnecting the battery. The Engine Computer lost its mind and has to relearn "minimum throttle". With some vehicles like Volkswagens, that means towing it to the dealer for a very expensive repair bill. For Chrysler products, drive it at highway speed with the engine warmed up, then coast for at least seven seconds without touching the brake or gas pedal. When the Engine Computer sees high manifold vacuum for at least seven seconds, it knows you're moving and your foot is off the gas pedal. That's when it memorizes the voltage from the throttle position sensor. From then on, any time it sees that same voltage, it knows it has to be in control of idle speed. Until that relearn takes place, the idle speed will be too low unless you keep your foot on the gas pedal, and you usually will not get the nice idle flare-up to 1500 rpm when you start the engine.

What happened to make it stay running is you coasted for at least seven seconds during your last drive cycle.
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+1
Sunday, July 3rd, 2011 AT 7:46 AM
Tiny
JMMULKEY
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
My thanks to both of you for your answers.
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Sunday, July 3rd, 2011 AT 1:36 PM
Tiny
JDL
  • MECHANIC
  • 16,098 POSTS
I forgot about idle relearn, good info, everybody have a good day.
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Sunday, July 3rd, 2011 AT 4:34 PM

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