# 2016 Ram Hemi starting issue **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 20, 2020, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2016-ram-hemi-starting-issue/921085 "2020-09-20T15:56:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MacCat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maccat/32/216_2.png) [@MacCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacCat)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2020, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2016-ram-hemi-starting-issue/921085/1 "2020-09-20T15:56:58Z")
Not sure if I should post here or in GQs… Mostly trouble free truck, but when I went to start it this morning, it started at and maintained about 4,000 RPMs. I shut it down, started again and exactly the same thing. I tried the accelerator pedal and it had no effect at all, stayed at 4k. Shut it down and tried again, this time just cranked with no start. About 15 minutes later, started with the same 4,000 RPMs and no pedal response whatsoever. I googled high RPMs for the vehicle upon starting but only saw a few talking about 1.5k, nothing about my symptoms. Opinions appreciated. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2020, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2016-ram-hemi-starting-issue/921085/2 "2020-09-20T16:18:03Z")
Look and see if the throttle plate is stuck open. If it isn’t there’s some fault in the Idle Air Controller. ---
**Author:** ![MacCat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maccat/32/216_2.png) [@MacCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacCat)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2020, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2016-ram-hemi-starting-issue/921085/3 "2020-09-20T16:21:32Z")
Thanks, I’ll see if I can figure out how to do that. I’ll check owners manual. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2020, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2016-ram-hemi-starting-issue/921085/4 "2020-09-20T16:36:40Z")
Owner’s manual is unlikely to help. Pull off the snorkel that goes to the filter box. I’m not familiar with your specific engine, but generally there is a tube that runs from the air filter to the throttle body housing. If you remove that tube, the throttle plate is right there. ---
**Author:** ![MacCat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maccat/32/216_2.png) [@MacCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacCat)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2020, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2016-ram-hemi-starting-issue/921085/5 "2020-09-20T16:41:55Z")
You’re right about the manual, but it did tell me how to open the hood 🙂 Not my truck, but I have use of it. I’m going out now to look at your suggestion… ---
**Author:** ![MacCat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maccat/32/216_2.png) [@MacCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacCat)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2020, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2016-ram-hemi-starting-issue/921085/6 "2020-09-20T17:24:22Z")
It looks as you described. I’ll need a very short screwdriver to open the clamp that holds that tube to the TB. I may also need to unplug a sensor(?) depending on how much play I have to get in there. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2020, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2016-ram-hemi-starting-issue/921085/7 "2020-09-20T17:32:17Z")
Good luck. Also check the throttle cable. It might be broken or disconnected. Of course, if this is some super-duper fly-by-wire system, you might not even have a physical cable… ---
**Author:** ![MacCat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maccat/32/216_2.png) [@MacCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacCat)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2020, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2016-ram-hemi-starting-issue/921085/8 "2020-09-20T18:00:08Z")
Thanks, I believe it is drive-by-wire. ---
**Author:** ![DorkVader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@DorkVader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DorkVader)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2020, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2016-ram-hemi-starting-issue/921085/9 "2020-09-20T20:32:07Z")
my guess is that it is a fault with the throttle body or perhaps the electronics that control it. Had the same issue with an old Ford I used to drive. Had to replace the carburetor (i know different technology and all, but an internal combustion engine is an internal combustion engine…all the way down) ---
**Author:** ![MacCat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maccat/32/216_2.png) [@MacCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacCat)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2020, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2016-ram-hemi-starting-issue/921085/10 "2020-09-26T22:11:49Z")
😳 😳 😳 After researching cleaning the throttle body, I decided not to attempt as there is an extended warranty on the truck. Before it was towed we discovered that when I replaced the floor mat after cleaning it, it was on top of the accelerator pedal. That explains the starting at 4k rams and the lack of throttle response. Very embarrassing, but only fair to report back to those that tried to help. 😳 😳 😳 ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2020, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2016-ram-hemi-starting-issue/921085/11 "2020-09-26T23:29:34Z")
You have discovered one of the main causes of unexplained “runaway acceleration.” Glad you got it figured out.