A Mysterious Case of a Dying Pickup Truck. A 2007 Dodge Ram with a 5.7-liter hemi engine was experiencing low power and cutting out while warming up, prompting the owner to seek advice from Car Doctor John Paul.
According to Car Doctor John Paul, the lightning bolt on the dashboard is a clear indication that something's amiss with the electronic throttle body. "At this point, I would start with a visual inspection of the wiring to the throttle body and then scan the computer to read codes but also read live data to see what's going on," he advises.
Considering the truck's age (18 years old), it wouldn't be surprising if there was a wiring issue caused by rust and corrosion. The Car Doctor suggests that the check engine light could be a code for the throttle body or something else entirely, so further diagnosis is needed to pinpoint the problem.
While John Paul can't explain why manufacturers haven't developed a way to prevent hazy headlights, he does recommend cleaning the lenses and applying wax to slow down aging. One manufacturer, Nissan, has found success with a transparent chemical compound coating on their newer vehicles that prevents UV rays from degrading the polycarbonate lenses.
Car Doctor John Paul also weighs in on the debate about three-cylinder cars like the new Chevy Trax. While he appreciates the fuel efficiency and reduced emissions benefits, he finds the start-stop feature to be annoying and doesn't think it's worth the wear and tear on the starter and engine.
Finally, John Paul addresses a reader who recently bought a 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe with a three-cylinder engine. He suggests considering other models like the Honda HR-V, Kia Sportage, or Mazda CX-5 for better reliability and longevity.
According to Car Doctor John Paul, the lightning bolt on the dashboard is a clear indication that something's amiss with the electronic throttle body. "At this point, I would start with a visual inspection of the wiring to the throttle body and then scan the computer to read codes but also read live data to see what's going on," he advises.
Considering the truck's age (18 years old), it wouldn't be surprising if there was a wiring issue caused by rust and corrosion. The Car Doctor suggests that the check engine light could be a code for the throttle body or something else entirely, so further diagnosis is needed to pinpoint the problem.
While John Paul can't explain why manufacturers haven't developed a way to prevent hazy headlights, he does recommend cleaning the lenses and applying wax to slow down aging. One manufacturer, Nissan, has found success with a transparent chemical compound coating on their newer vehicles that prevents UV rays from degrading the polycarbonate lenses.
Car Doctor John Paul also weighs in on the debate about three-cylinder cars like the new Chevy Trax. While he appreciates the fuel efficiency and reduced emissions benefits, he finds the start-stop feature to be annoying and doesn't think it's worth the wear and tear on the starter and engine.
Finally, John Paul addresses a reader who recently bought a 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe with a three-cylinder engine. He suggests considering other models like the Honda HR-V, Kia Sportage, or Mazda CX-5 for better reliability and longevity.
so i was reading about this pickup truck that's dying on its owner lol. basically it's having some issues with the electrical system and a faulty throttle body 
. but what really caught my eye is when car doc john paul talks about how manufacturers need to come up with better ways to prevent hazy headlights 
i mean, who doesn't love clear visibility on the road? 
it's like a game changer for headlights! but what really got me is when car doc john paul says he thinks 3-cylinder cars are annoying and not worth the extra wear and tear on the starter engine 
. i mean, i get it, fuel efficiency and emissions are important, but can't we just have better tech without compromising reliability? 
. at least they've got better engines and don't drive you crazy with annoying start-stop features 
. Eighteen years old? That's ancient! You'd think manufacturers would've fixed the wiring issues by now, especially with all these fancy computers that are supposed to monitor everything... but nope! Rust and corrosion are probably the culprit, and now it's a miracle it still runs at all 
.
. And what's up with the new Hyundai Santa Fe's three-cylinder engine? Buyer beware, folks! Stick with the good old Honda HR-V or Mazda CX-5 if you want reliability 
. 18 years old is old for a truck, so it's not surprising it's giving out on you. I've had my fair share of car troubles too, like when my old Hyundai Elantra's aircon stopped working one day and just wouldn't come back on 
. Anyway, Car Doctor John Paul makes some good points about the wiring issue and checking the engine light codes...it's gotta be frustrating to deal with a mystery problem like this. And can you believe those three-cylinder cars are all the rage now? I'm not sure if I'd want to give up my V6 for fuel efficiency, but I do love how eco-friendly they're supposed to be 
. And Car Doctor John Paul saying it could be wiring issues due to rust, it just makes me think about how quickly things can deteriorate over time 
. I mean, we're not even trying to fix the problems with our headlights anymore, just cleaning and waxing like that's enough 
. And on three-cylinder cars, he says they're annoying to start-stop... I get it, but we're still fueling this planet, right? We need some compromise 
. Anyway, that truck with a 3-cylinder engine in it... yeah, he's probably right, Honda and Mazda are solid choices, not gonna complain about that 
. Can't we just have a discussion without some expert chime in and tell us what's wrong with our cars? Like, can't we figure it out ourselves? And another thing, why do car experts always have to be so negative about new technology? "Annoying" is not exactly the kind of advice I'm looking for from someone who's supposed to be an expert. 
. But seriously, can't we just get some helpful tips on how to fix the thing instead of hearing about all the latest research and technology? I'm not exactly an expert on cars either, but I think I'd rather learn from my own experiences than have some stranger tell me what's wrong with it.
i mean dont get me wrong, fuel efficiency is def important but cant they just make 'em simple again? like, why do we need a three-cylinder engine in the first place? 
i swear, my 2007 dodge ram still has better headlights than most modern cars
The rusty wiring thing makes sense, and it's a shame manufacturers haven't come up with a solution for those hazy headlights yet... 
️ Cleaning and waxing just won't cut it, right?
I feel for the owner, though. Like, who hasn't had issues with their old truck dying on 'em? At least Car Doctor John Paul is trying to help.
Thanks for sharing this weird and wacky truck tale! 
. On the other hand, a 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe with a three-cylinder engine? That's just crazy talk! 
How can something so old still be better than those new-fangled small engines? 
And Car Doctor John Paul is right, rust and corrosion are the real culprits here.