2005 Dodge Ram 1500 5.7 Ran well when parked Tues. nite, thunder storms yesterday. Started tonite, ran rough, would not respond to accelerator pedal pressure. electronic throttle control lite lights. maintains about 1100 rpm without pushing pedal. what does anyone know and/or have to say re. this?

Dick,

My first thought centered around water in the fuel, but admittedly it's a long shot. It's hard to believe lightening had anything to do with it as the tires are very good insulators (not like a plugged in RV).

My second thought is the ECM is being finicky. I would try disconnecting the battery for ten minutes and reconnecting.

Third thought, moisture affecting ignition wires.

How many miles on that baby? Were'nt you driving a Ranger last we saw you?

My friend had almost the same truck. Lightning struck near it when a storm came over a campground where we were. The next day, all sorts of things didn't work right.
As discussed in the thread below, there is a huge electromagnetic energy burst in the proximity of a lightning strike. Weapons have been developed to use such a burst for disabling electronic devices.
My guess is your ($$$) ECU is damaged.
http://barthmobile.com/eve/for...1087061/m/5993978167

The lightening could have been the problem. I am a property/casualty agent. Within the last year, I had a client whose house had a large lightening strike on the roof. The lightening hit the ridge, and insured saw sparks come out of her breaker box in the garage. Her 2004 Mercedes was parked 10 feet away. No visual damage, but we spent close to $5000 replacing the various computers on board.

Five years ago. I had a client with a late model Chevy pickup parked next to a pipe fence. After a night-time storm with lightening, truck would not start or run. We spent close to $4000 replacing computers and sensors in the truck. The truck still has a check engine light that won't go off and they have never figured out why.

Seven years ago, I had an insured driving down a road when lightening hit in a field about 50 yards away from road. Car immediately died. Would not restart. Towed to a dealership and had to replace the main engine computer.

Take to a dealership, find out if a computer/electronics problem. If so, it a comprehensive claimed covered under your auto policy.

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How many miles on that baby? Were'nt you driving a Ranger last we saw you?

Thank you all for your responses.
about 56K miles metalic tan 4 door Ram w Barth emblem on the tailgate nooo Ranger!
I suspected the possibility of some sort of magnetic interference, moisture in the electronic systems but not so much as h2o in the fuel. Too dark last night to check. Will look closer in a few minutes. neighbor has a code reading device I will attempt to utilize. Thanx.

I had a 1999 Ram Van and spent a fortune on blown out sensors. I never thought of the lightening causing this.

Anything pre-computer is looking better,...like a model T Luckily i only have one rig that has a computer in it.

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Posted 06-17-2011 10:27 AM Hide Post
Anything pre-computer is looking better,...like a model T

or a Triumph MG

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Originally posted by Dick Dubbs:

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Posted 06-17-2011 10:27 AM Hide Post
Anything pre-computer is looking better,...like a model T

or a Triumph MG

OTOH, they would have had Lucas ("Prince of Darkness") electrics - wouldn't need lightning to fail.

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they would have had Lucas

...had a '58 TR3-A drove every day for three years + field trials (bashes) and hill climbs never had any electrical problems not even a light bulb.

One of my other rigs is a 1962 Triumph TR-4 that has a 289 and C4 automatic that came out of a 67 Mustang.

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C4 automatic that came out of a 67 Mustang.

sportscar blasphemy!

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1962 Triumph TR-4 that has a 289

Sounds like a BLAST !!!!

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1962 Triumph TR-4 that has a 289

That must be a lot like a Sunbeam Tiger

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Originally posted by Mogan David:

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1962 Triumph TR-4 that has a 289

That must be a lot like a Sunbeam Tiger

Without the toaster fins