My car will not accelerate?

30

Asked by Feather Mar 21, 2017 at 11:46 AM about the 2005 Chrysler 300

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

I have a 2005 Chrysler 300 and it will not go barely above 5mph when I press
the gas. It does rev up. It is not the throttle body. I have already taken it to 4
shops and they all thought it was the throttle body, but that did not seem to fix
the problem. When this happens there is a red lightning bolt that flashes on
the dash. Someone PLEASE help me!

26 Answers

390

I just towed my 2006 to a shop for the exact same issue, when you start your car does it idle rough and feel like everything is shaking? If you put it in gear from Park to drive, does it get worse? When you are driving it, the lightning bolt light flashes? If all this matches, I will let you know what the shop tells me, I have already been to 2 shops that told me nothing was wrong.

30 people found this helpful.

That sounds like a slipping transmission or it could possibly be a transmission control problem. I would take it to a good transmission shop for diagnosis.

5 people found this helpful.
390

I thought it might be my trans. As well but the shop swapped a map sensor, cleaned out ETC then after they told me all was well, cylinder 1 was misfiring. I took it to an auto/electric mechanic so hopefully this will be the last visit to a shop for a while.

9 people found this helpful.
30

@Grindin247 yes, all of those are happening! Please keep me updated!

3 people found this helpful.
280

That is a air leak in your manifold. Check all hoses connect to it.

10 people found this helpful.
280

I had the same problem that lightning bolt is a loose hose. The recently behind the manifold is classic for coming out the manifold because it's metal and the gasket goes bad on it. Find the air leak and that should fix it.

18 people found this helpful.
40

I have the same problem my mechanic got the code for the throttle body car ran fine for about 45 mims now doing it again i was told ita the accelerate pedel sensor please tell me its not my trans

4 people found this helpful.
150

vacuum leak from the EGR pipe or where it goes into the intake manifold.

3 people found this helpful.
130

This is hilarious. Im hearing sensors this sensors that. I just chnged my 300 water pump those idiots at chrysler put it behind the timing belt. I have no tranny dipstick, bot i have a hole for one, my a/c recharge valve is positioned under the aluminum refrigerant line, so i cant use a store bought can to recharge. Chryslers are garbage. Aluminum engines and plastic everywhere else.

11 people found this helpful.
50

Your lightning bolt is due to a EGR or ERG valve stuck open/close. Rought $50 to $60 dollar part. Between firewall an motor closer to the passenger side. What was causing every problem listed on this page.

5 people found this helpful.
120

Ok so you are saying that the egr valve has to be replaced to take the lightning bolt off and this will fix the acceleration problem and the poor idleness?

8 people found this helpful.
130

My car is doing the same thing replaced egr vavle cleaned the egr tube and replaced seal on tube going into inatke. I replaced my throttle body my pedal sensor and pcm!!!! What could be the issue?????? I go for miles then the red lightning bolt comes on and I have no acceleration and have to pull over. Then I start it again it's fine for a while but always does it again? Could it be a loose wire somewhere ?

11 people found this helpful.
40

My 300 just stared today..it moves when its in drive or reverse..but when i press on the gas all it does is rev up the engine..

4 people found this helpful.
130

Check for airflow obstruction between the airfilter and throttle body. I had the same symptoms. Turned out to be some paper towels stuck in the airway, before the throttlebody. I put them their when I replaced the timing belt. Duhh

2 people found this helpful.
90

I have read that it is an issue with the engine wiring harness having a wire break from moving so much, a tech said he learned that and that is what has fixed all the ones with them issues that have came into his shop.

5 people found this helpful.
30

Please I have the same problem can someone help me?

3 people found this helpful.
90

Unfortunately my issues with my 2006 5.7 300c dieing at idle and while driving in town and coming to stops for turns, lights and stop signs has turned out to be either bad piston rings or valve on a cylinder, compression was between 170psi and 185 psi on all cylinders except one which tested at 90 psi, engine rebuild and power upgrades here I come.

4 people found this helpful.
30

Everyone it s the key you have to get a new key fob or key chip. And get your security theft system checked. This stop the car from performing right. It also stops the fuel injectors from igniting and that is what causes the misfire in cylinder 1 and 3...after i did this the car performed great.

3 people found this helpful.
30

Well it happen to. Red lighting bolt. Cost was 400. I took it off cleaned it. And drove 5000 miles since no lighting bolt

3 people found this helpful.
50

I have a 2005 300 Touring Limited 3.5 V6 that had the Lightning Bolt, the Throttle Body Code, running really rough/vibrating, and was stuck in “Limp Mode” with no response from the gas pedal! I took my car to the Dealership and they replaced the Throttle Body $1200.00! And then 100 miles later it did it again and they replaced it again! And the next day it happened again.. They then sent me home in a free rental car for 5 WEEKS while they tried to figure out the real problem... Turns out It was a bad PCM... They had to order a replacement that came with a Software Flash specifically for MY CAR (programming specific to my cars VIN and how many miles it had on it). That was 5 years ago and I I think around $1700 or $1800 for the new Brain but have not had any of those problems since :) Have almost 190,000 miles on it now and I still Love my 300!!!!

5 people found this helpful.
30

Did u ever figure out what was wrong with your car?? I'm having the same problem every mahanic seem to be playing the guessing game

3 people found this helpful.
10

i have chrysler 300 just drove it this never happened i thought i stayed without gas but turns out it dident fix it it had the red lighting bolt you guys speak of someone help me out

1 people found this helpful.

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