BTSI and 4Th Generation CTD's/RAMS

[12LaramieHO]

Been having a problem, on and off for about a year getting my CTD out of "Park" after a start up. This started happening maybe about a year ago and would occur maybe 2 or 3 times out of 10 start ups. Now it is occurring about 9 out of ten times after starting the truck. "Fiddling" with the transmission shift level, on-off-on the foot brake, setting and re-releasing the Parking brake and or turning the truck off and restarting it eventually it would allow the transmission to be shifted out of Park.
At NO time during any of these occurrences was there any bind on the transmission. I always let the drivetrain relax, no forward/rearward strain, transmission in Neutral, prior to setting the parking brake and then shifting into Park.
I've called my local worthless Dealer several times asking if the BTSI could be causing this, always the same "don't know" answer. Watching and reading ALL BTSI posting's on TDR's website never gave me a definitive answer as to whether or not this could be another issue of a faulty BTSI system, in addition to the "roll away" hazard.
This morning the local worthless Dealer called me and said my 2012 RAM CTD is now subject of the BTSI recall. Problem is NO PARTS to correct, I am on the list, estimated 2-4 weeks. Also asked if this will take care of transmission getting stuck in Park, short answer "they don't know".
Question to the Forum: Has anyone else experienced this same issue and does the BTSI recall solve the problem?

Thanks in Advance to the Forum for the help.

~C

 

[Bob4x4]

There is no way Anyone can tell you if the recall will fix your truck without inspecting it.
It may very well fix it but no one can diagnose with certainty over the phone

 

[Catcherman]

I had the same problem with my 2013 3500 and had the recall done, still had the problem. I took it back and they did some software change that they said was part of the recall, no problem since. The service manager said right off when I described the problem that the recall would cure it, she was right!

 

[12LaramieHO]

There is no way Anyone can tell you if the recall will fix your truck without inspecting it.
It may very well fix it but no one can diagnose with certainty over the phone

Bob,
I appreciate your response and I do understand that the BSTI recall may or may not solve the problem and that further diagnostics might be required. However after reading everything on the BTSI issues, I was just wondering if anyone else had experienced this specific issue.
Thanks,~C

 

[12LaramieHO]

I had the same problem with my 2013 3500 and had the recall done, still had the problem. I took it back and they did some software change that they said was part of the recall, no problem since. The service manager said right off when I described the problem that the recall would cure it, she was right!

Cathcherman,
Thanks that's exactly what I wanted to hear! Your answer gives me the insight I need when the CTD goes in for the recall. It also gives me a starting point if the recall doesn't resolve the issue and also the foresight to point out the software change/update may be needed for the recall to be successful.
Thanks Again, ~Chad

 

[12LaramieHO]

UPDATE BTSI RECALL COMPLETED! transmission SMOOTHLY SHIFTS OUT OF PARK!!
Well the 4 hours for the forecasted for BTSI recall turned into an ALL Day Sucker, but that's another story.
BTSI Recall completed and the CTD 68RFE smoothly shifts out of Park as it should! NO MORE NEED TO USE EMERGENGENCY PROCEDURE to get the transmission out of Park.
Thanks once again to Catcherman for the heads up on making sure they follow the Recall procedure to the letter! I was very insistent on making sure they followed the procedure.
When I took it in and left it, Service Advisor (Young enough to be my grandkid) told me that the BTSI RECALL probably WOULD NOT solve my issue. I detailed it out for him and told him when I walked out, "I bet it will".
When I picked it up, I asked the Service Advisor did you drive it? Answer: Yes Q: Does transmission come out of Park as it should Answer: Yes
Now let me try. Start CTD with Service Advisor standing along side drivers window, smoothly shift 69RFE into drive, look at Service Advisor smile, laugh a little and say "Gee, how about that? Have a nice weekend, CYA Later, Bye"
Before driving away I said, "Look up Akums Razor" and learn to bet the "Come Line"
Thanks Again to Catcherman and the Forum!
~Chad

 

[Shiner]

I have noticed this to some degree, usually when waiting in line somewhere. Goes something like this: get in line, shift into park with foot on brake, if I never take foot off brake, trans will not shift outta park, release brake, then depress brake and shift into drive, and carry on. I just thought it was a fluke. Subtle change in my habits and all works.

 

[12LaramieHO]

I have noticed this to some degree, usually when waiting in line somewhere. Goes something like this: get in line, shift into park with foot on brake, if I never take foot off brake, trans will not shift outta park, release brake, then depress brake and shift into drive, and carry on. I just thought it was a fluke. Subtle change in my habits and all works.

Shiner,
The original issue was: Following the correct "Procedure" from get go, day one when the truck was "new" everything was just fine. BUT after 4-5 years ownership I noticed it was getting a little sticky, mechanically. I could feel mechanically binding. (This was prior to the BTSI RECAL coming out) It got progressively worse, until the Truck would not come out of Park at ALL resulting in having to use the emergency procedure found in the Owners Manual. So searched the internet looking for this specific issue, finding little or no information on it.
Then I received the BTSI Recall (The 2012's were NOT originally included at first) in December 2018 and asked about, I called the Dealer and nobody could tell me if they had ever experienced the 2 issues being related.
So they finally got the parts this week, scheduled the appointment and they completed the RECALL.
EVERYTHING WORKS JUST FINE NOW, LIKE THE DAY IT WAS NEW in 2012. Smooth as butter. Somehow, even though the 2012's were not in the original RECALL, they are in it now, somehow related and it solved my issue completely.
~Chad

 

[12LaramieHO]

Just a P.S.: If this issue is starting to rear it's ugly head subtly on your truck, it will progressively get worse.

 

[Catcherman]

Shiner,
The original issue was: Following the correct "Procedure" from get go, day one when the truck was "new" everything was just fine. BUT after 4-5 years ownership I noticed it was getting a little sticky, mechanically. I could feel mechanically binding. (This was prior to the BTSI RECAL coming out) It got progressively worse, until the Truck would not come out of Park at ALL resulting in having to use the emergency procedure found in the Owners Manual. So searched the internet looking for this specific issue, finding little or no information on it.
Then I received the BTSI Recall (The 2012's were NOT originally included at first) in December 2018 and asked about, I called the Dealer and nobody could tell me if they had ever experienced the 2 issues being related.
So they finally got the parts this week, scheduled the appointment and they completed the RECALL.
EVERYTHING WORKS JUST FINE NOW, LIKE THE DAY IT WAS NEW in 2012. Smooth as butter. Somehow, even though the 2012's were not in the original RECALL, they are in it now, somehow related and it solved my issue completely.
~Chad

Glad too hear it was a success!

 

[12LaramieHO]

Glad too hear it was a success!

Thanks Again Bud! The heads up prevented, IMHO, being ran in further circles.
"Information is ammunition and a powerful tool"
~Chad

 

[Shiner]

Has anyone noticed this issue on 2017 trucks? I figured what I was experience was just the way it was designed, irritating though.

 

[rikbakke]

I just had the BTSI recall done this morning. I did the initial diagnostic test at home - the solenoid would stick open if I held the brake for a few minutes. Hardware change and software flash. Whats interesting is that the shift lever has much less play when locked than previous. Also the solenoid click sound is much softer and higher pitched. They also did a restraint system recall refresh -now my doors lock automatically and unlock I pull the door latch handle (and in park).