Nick's new Ram 2500

[Ltngdrvr]

Thank you for the advice, I am not a good AC guy so I was stumped already. I hope that is all it is. I think I read where the 19-20 may have issues?

I've said from the get go the HVAC really sucks on these trucks. Sweat on a 90 degree day and freeze on a zero degree day. It's unfortunate in this day and age but I've seen it on multiple gen 4 trucks.

HVAC works extremely well on my truck, I barely ever set the temp to max a/c, and usually only run the fan at the lowest setting.

 

[JR]

I hate to be negative I'm just relaying my experiences with my and several other trucks.
As Nick has already found out, the gen2's were superior. And I never really considered my 98 to be exceptional.

 

[NIsaacs]

I hate to be negative I'm just relaying my experiences with my and several other trucks.
As Nick has already found out, the gen2's were superior. And I never really considered my 98 to be exceptional.

I just checked the vent temps. After 6 minutes of fast idle, the center vents are at 56-58 degrees and the two outer ones at 60-62. Outside temp is 90. Pretty sure something is not right but no clue what. If the refrigerant is low, I need to get it fixed before I haul steady, that might be hard on the compressor?

 

[Ltngdrvr]

I just checked the vent temps. After 6 minutes of fast idle, the center vents are at 56-58 degrees and the two outer ones at 60-62. Outside temp is 90. Pretty sure something is not right but no clue what. If the refrigerant is low, I need to get it fixed before I haul steady, that might be hard on the compressor?

Heck man, it's a new truck and that's what the warranty is for!

 

[petersonj]

I just checked the vent temps. After 6 minutes of fast idle, the center vents are at 56-58 degrees and the two outer ones at 60-62. Outside temp is 90.

Was your ventilation set to outside air or recirc?

What speed was the blower fan on?

If your blower fan is on high and your ventilation is set to outside air, the six minute reading could be normal for a 90 degree day. If you were inside the cab with both doors closed using one of the lower blower speeds in the recirculation mode, then you definitely have problem.

- John

 

[Oil Stain]

Congrats!

 

[Tuesdak]

Napa has their house brand DEF on sale @ $7.95. What is in the box? Are there jugs inside or a plastic bag or what? They look clumsy.

Walmart has Supertech @ $6.95 for a 2.5 gallon jug and pour spout, seems way more user friendly?

Generally jugs in the box, but, some boxes have do not remove from box printed on them. It's an art to use them and not have a leak on the jug contraption. DEF will spot a concrete driveway.

With our extreme high temps in the summer and known short DEF life from heat I don't add more than 2.5 Gal of DEF at a time from warning message empty unless I need it for hauling. I run it till the low DEF message comes on at the end of our hot season. I then fill the DEF tank for the cooler months generally from a truck stop. You will get a feel for how much it goes through. Do stop on the first click off for both diesel and truck stop DEF to keep spills to a minimum. DEF at the pump is somewhat rare, but, you can buy the boxes of DEF at more places than you can diesel fuel. So it's not so critical to keep the DEF tank full.

 

[NIsaacs]

Heck man, it's a new truck and that's what the warranty is for!

Yes, I understand that, but it might be operator error, that's why the questions. I don't want to be the "cry wolf type" and run to the dealer all the time, like some people run to the doctor for the sniffles.

I just read the book again and it appears I might have more HVAC features on the screen. I didn't think the Tradesman had that so I didn't even look, only used the knobs.
I do have the Uconnect 4 w/8.4" screen which appears to have ATC on it. The book didn't say "if equipped" like it does for most options. I will look this morning when it gets light out.

Was your ventilation set to outside air or recirc?

What speed was the blower fan on?

If your blower fan is on high and your ventilation is set to outside air, the six minute reading could be normal for a 90 degree day. If you were inside the cab with both doors closed using one of the lower blower speeds in the recirculation mode, then you definitely have problem.

- John

John, I had the drivers door open and the fan on high. I don't know if the setting was inside or out. I need to check that part out.

 

[NIsaacs]

This is a post and picture from 7/19 on my '01.

"Filled my 18 year old pickup with refrigerant this morning, it took about 1/2-3/4's of a can. I do this about every 2-3 years. Never been worked on. With ambient temps at 71*, max cool, max fan and auxiliary cooling fan on, at idle"

 

[Ltngdrvr]

A truck with manual HVAC controls like your tradesman, doesn't have any more settings adjustability on the radio screen than it does by the knobs.

 

[Wiredawg]

A truck with manual HVAC controls like your tradesman, doesn't have any more settings adjustability on the radio screen than it does by the knobs.

Even with the 8.4 screen? Haven't seen a Tradesman with 8.4, but I'm pretty sure it has more features/capability than just a larger screen. I do have my 2017 Ram 5500 OEM owner's manual and diesel supplement on my smart phone, but out shopping with DW... she's giving me stink eye over being on the TDR... catch a later.... Coming DW

 

[Ltngdrvr]

Even with the 8.4 screen? Haven't seen a Tradesman with 8.4, but I'm pretty sure it has more features/capability than just a larger screen.

You can't adjust it any colder or make the fan speed go any higher from the radio screen than you can from the manual knobs.

 

[NIsaacs]

So, I don't see anything on the screen for HVAC, just knobs. I have it set on high cool, just under the max cool so it should be outside air, 3/4 fan speed. After an hours run it still is at 56-58 degrees out the vents. So that is as good as it gets.

I called my selling dealer, he said the specs are 40 degrees below ambient, really?? So at 94 ambient they should be about 54 degrees, so it is normal then?? With 2 guys on vacation, they are 3 weeks out.

So I called my local dealer, he didn't know the specs but said he would be glad to look at it, he thinks it might be low on refrigerant. He also made all kinds of excuses for Ram, like I have never had any other vehicles, that way out perform it. Elevation, 94 degrees is hot, the truck cab is big, etc. So I have an appointment for Wednesday. He also said it was ok to drive it.

Installed the Westin steps and Fastway 2.5" adjustable ball mount, made in USA 20k rated.

 

[Ltngdrvr]

So, the menu buttons along the bottom of the radio screen doesn't have an HVAC button?
You actually get cooler outlet temps at the lower fan speeds, slower moving air across the evap coil allows for more heat to be extracted from the air.
And, you know, of course, that the ball mount may be rated at 20K but the receiver on the truck isn't.

 

[NIsaacs]

So, the menu buttons along the bottom of the radio screen doesn't have an HVAC button?
You actually get cooler outlet temps at the lower fan speeds, slower moving air across the evap coil allows for more heat to be extracted from the air.
And, you know, of course, that the ball mount may be rated at 20K but the receiver on the truck isn't.

No buttons on the screen that I could find, here is a picture of it. Yes, lower fan gets more heat or cooling.

The operators manual says Class V/2500 models are rated 20,000/2,000, the 3500 is 23,000/2300. Gooseneck/2500 models is 20,000/3000, 3500 is 35,250/5,287.

 

[AH64ID]

Go into apps and see if it’s there.

You can rearrange the buttons on the bottom.

 

[NIsaacs]

Go into apps and see if it’s there.

You can rearrange the buttons on the bottom.

Not there either.

I guess like OZZY says, the Tradesman is painful

 

[AH64ID]

Not there either.

Looking at your photo closer that makes sense since you don’t set a temp, but rather have a standard knob (kinda miss that).

Glad the local dealer will look at it.

 

[Wiredawg]

On both on our 2019 (12.0) and 2017 (8.4), the only control for HVAC on the screen is "Climate" that you select which ducts air flows from. On our 19, buttons control fan speed and temp... on our 17, dial controls fan speed and buttons control temp.

 

[Ltngdrvr]

No buttons on the screen that I could find, here is a picture of it. Yes, lower fan gets more heat or cooling.

The operators manual says Class V/2500 models are rated 20,000/2,000, the 3500 is 23,000/2300. Gooseneck/2500 models is 20,000/3000, 3500 is 35,250/5,287.

View attachment 128572

Maybe where it says "CONTROLS" on the right end of the screen buttons.
And, do you still have the peel off protector on the screen, is that what that blue strip on the right side is?

And, I guess they uprated the receiver on the newer trucks, mine is like 18K rated.