When I push the accelerator pedal, about half way down, it gets harder to push and stays that way. Do these P-pumps have a “second stage” or something that requires the operator to use more effort on the throttle once you hit that second stage? The pedal is smooth, its not binding or anything, its just the resistance on the pedal increases at about half throtle, then it stays that way until you reach wide open throttle. Sort of like there's a second set of return springs, like on a gasser 4bbl carb. Is this normal? I hear these 12-valves had an issue with the throttle cable going bad, could this be it? On my 24-valve, it’s the same resistance on the pedal from idle to wide open throttle. Thanks.

 

Could very well be the cable. I'd also check the various parts of the linkage, and lubricate whatever you can.

 

Do what v8440 said , also look for extra return springs somewhere, there should only be two , and they are parallel to each other.

The other thing you can go easily , is punch in your vin # here , and see if the recall has been performed on your throttle cable:

http://www-5.dodge.com/webselfservic...m%28%27R%27%29

 

I agree, check with the dealer using your vin# for the cable recall. It made a big difference in mine. I think it is recall #970

 

If you're talk about the pedal being harder to push while the engine is off it's normal.

 

Nope, this is while driving. From idle to about half throttle, the pedal is smooth. Then at about half throttle, it feels like the mechanism hits some sort of a bump or notch (or second set of return springs) then the pedal gets harder to push and stays that way until full throttle. No binding, the pedal just gets harder to push after half throttle. The engine accelerates fine.

I checked the linkage, and it looks fine to me.

I checked my VIN, and it says no recalls for this vehicle, thanks for the link JKM.

This is my first, and only 12-valve, so I have nothing to compare it too.

 

my 12 valve does the same thing. let me know if you find a solution!

 

Try working the throttle by hand (be carefull when truck is running) and maybe you can feel it get harder, might be able to see whats going on under the hood.

 

I agree with Baja, check the recalls on your truck I had mine replaced for nothing and it had similar sympthoms after they replaced the linkage with the mod problem went away.

 

My 96 is does that when the torque converter locks up and I stay on the pedal. To me it feels like the governor is trying to maintain a certain rpm while the pedal is asking for more.

 

I'm not sure I would trust that website. I know for a fact that my truck has the original throttle cable on it and it says there are no recalls when I check on that site. Odd.

 

Maybe your truck is not covered under the recall. Call your dodge dealer and verify that there are or are not recalls outstanding on your truck and let us know, maybe the site is not accurate.

 

Just called the Dodge dealer, they checked my VIN and said that Recall #970 (the one that deals with the throttle cable) was done in 2001 by the original owner. There are no outstanding recalls for my truck. So I guess the website is accurate.

I wonder if the new cable is having the same problems that the original one had. In 2001, the truck had about 60-70k miles (it has 90k miles now), so there is 30k miles on the new cable.

Again, I'm just wondering if maybe this is normal, the truck accelerates fine, I just noticed because I drive my 24-valve mostly, and its pedal is really smooth. I just asked because it would really suck if the thing jammed up while I was doing 75mph on the interstate.

 

Something does not seem right, if my truck (96) was covered, yours should be. Forget the website, go straight to the dealer with your VIN#. It is recall
#970.

 

Something is not right here, if my 96 was covered, it seems that yours should be too. Call the dealer with your VIN# and check with them. It is recall
#970.