Mechanics Help, Please! '03 Ram 1500 throttle stuck...

[Jst1mr]

2003 Ram 1500 4dr 4X4 with 5.7 Hemi engine. No modifications to engine or electronics, 97K miles.
Twice I have had occasion to floor the accelerator, and the throttle has stuck in a wide-open position. (I have done the same many times without the sticking...).
There are no floor mats or other objects that physically caused the issue. It is an interesting position to be in...throttle stuck wide open, speed growing QUICKLY, luckily not in a heavy traffic situation.
It is a drive-by-wire system, so no obvious linkage binding issue. Yes, the brakes WILL bring down a truck at full throttle, though they weren't happy about it...got me slowed down and in the straight so I was able to shut it down without shifting to neutral and hitting the rev limiter. Started up OK, all seems normal.
Of course, the local Dodge garage is totally befuddled...any ideas I can pass along to them?

 

[URIT]

Too much Ram and not enough Dodge. I'd replace the linkage.

 

[armorer951]

Any engine service light issues or codes?

I would check the throttle position sensor if there is one.

 

[mdhillbilly1]

The wire from the pedal to the attachment point get junk in the wire causing it to stick.

 

[LVSteve]

Does the pedal return when you lift your foot or is it jammed down.

If it returns but the throttle remains wide open, then there are two possible explanations.

1) The throttle plate actuator on the throttle body is jamming open.

2) The signal from the pedal area still says full steam even though the pedal has returned to its normal position.

 

[Jst1mr]

Does the pedal return when you lift your foot or is it jammed down.

If it returns but the throttle remains wide open, then there are two possible explanations.

1) The throttle plate actuator on the throttle body is jamming open.

2) The signal from the pedal area still says full steam even though the pedal has returned to its normal position.

In the excitement, it seems I tried a toe-lift on the pedal, but honestly wouldn't swear to it...too busy putting pressure on the brakes!

No "check engine" or other dash light indications...I will have th tech try and pull any codes.

Thanks for the info!

 

[Bkreutz]

First step would be to clean the throttle body. At 97K the blade could be sticking in the wide open position. Other than that, it's just guessing. Could be the motor on the throttle body, the sensor on the pedal (not likely since there are two sensors that check each other) or the computer that receives the signals from the pedal and sends them on to the throttle body motor. Or you could do like I do and when the truck gets close to 100K, I buy a new one. 100K seems to be when little things (not cheap, just small parts) start failing with increased regularity. I spent a lot of my working life fixing these things, I don't want to do it in my retirement.