I've got an '03 SO 5-speed purchased 10/02/03 with 75,000 miles. I'm having a problem with the idle that is very strange. The truck will idle at 1000 rpm's, regardless of outside temp or engine temp, at times. Coming to a stop sign and pushing the clutch in the truck will idle at 1000 or when I stop. I can drop the idle back to normal by releasing the clutch in gear with the brake on just enough for the engine to begin pulling. Once I release it the idle will be normal.

I have no idea where to begin looking for this problem. It started about 8k miles ago. My thought is the throttle position sensor (Dodge mechanic called it an accelerator position sensor) but I don't really know.

Thoughts?

 

Have you tried pulling any codes? Don't overlook the IAT(intake air temp.) sensor. If the IAT sensor is telling the computer that the air temp is below a certain point, that could cause the computer to ramp up the idle.

 

Nope, no codes whatsoever.

I've also had a problem for the last 30k - 40k miles where the truck will begin to lose power and sort of sputter at constant speed on the Interstate. It happens around 70 or 80 mph and begins after cresting a hill and beginning to go downhill. The turbo gauge shows fluctuating boost down to about 3 psi. I've never been able to reproduce that one so I've never brought that in. A Dodge mechanic mentioned the APS or TPS sensor for that one. This idle problem began after that initial problem.

I read a bit about the IAT sensor but was reading up to 2002.5 model years. I'm assuming, based on your post, that cleaning that sensor still applies the 3rd gen?

This is what I was reading regarding the IAT sensor:

http://dodgeram.org/tech/dsl/sensors/IAT/clean.htm

Those are pictures from the older model years, though.