[keith4.7]

2002 Dakota Quad Cab 4.7 and automatic trans. 206,000 miles

Engine seems to be surging at lower RPM once in awhile.
This morning when it started it was idling at 1150 or 1200 RPM then dropped to 850 RPM.

Setting at a stoplight it sometimes increases to 850 from 650 or 700 at idle in gear.

Anyone had this problem? No codes are appearing.

 

[ImperialCrown]

The TPS (throttle position sensor) signal voltage may be wandering a bit at idle. It should have a steady 5 volt input and 0.2-0.3v ground measured to the neg battery terminal. The signal voltage will be around 0.65 volts.
The voltage value itself isn't as important as the fact that it should sit at that set voltage 'rock steady' without varying at all. If the voltage is being 'tickled' up or down even a few hundredths of a volt, it will change RPM's.
Since the TPS voltage is believable to the PCM (it may think that someone is playing with the gas pedal) it won't set a fault code.
I've had to clean throttle bodies and replace these TP sensors before.

 

[keith4.7]

Thanks for your answer. Do you check this with the engine running? Or just with the key on.

 

[ImperialCrown]

I would probably prefer it running so that you could tell if the high idle revs coincided with an elevated TPS signal voltage.
If it isn't acting up, the signal voltage may appear normal.