04.5 flash to improve fuel economy available today

[buddys06]

Got mine done monday and it does shift better. The overhead says 3 mpg better, after some driving i'll post if there was a real mpg improvement.

 

[TFerrari]

Got my reflash done today also. Overhead is up atleast 2MPG will know more after some more mile and a hand calc. Turbo seems to spool up faster and pulls longer and harder to redline

 

[OT-OF-HERE!!]

It's not for the '03,... just '04. 5 and '05 with certain VIN grp.

 

[phloop]

I'll join the group that has had this done. What I've felt in my truck has been the bottom end responsiveness has improved a whole bunch but it feels as if the top end has been turned done a bit. In my case the trade off is worth it, the top end get up and go is great for passing really quickly but I don't pass people all the time. I guess if I want or need more get up and go, I can always put a box on it. This isn't really a bad thing. I'm not putting any stock in the overhead so I need to wait till I've ran a tank of fuel through it to see if I have any MPG improvement. The only for sure, noticeable outcome that I can say about this right now is that the fast idle TSB I had enabled at the same time works.

 

[Prairie Dog]

I'd like to see a dyno graph before and after the flash. They have to be getting fuel economy from something, and I am sure it isn't compromising on the emissions.

It could easily be from remapping the HPCR fuel pressure ramp and/or timing adjustments which wouldn't have to be detrimental to performance. Both of these can be done to a moderate degree w/o effecting emmisions too much.

 

[LewisD]

I took my truck in for a remote starter and also gave the dealer a copy of the TSB 18-037-04 and told them I had white smoke at startup and poor fuel economy. I picked up the truck and the work order says that they reprogrammed the flash per TSB 18-007-04.



I read a previous post that said this might be the same thing, does anybody know if this is the case?



Also, do they put a sticker somewhere that would show the latest flash version? If they do, I sure can't find it.



Not sure if it helps my fuel economy yet, its only 5 miles to the dealer so I'll have to take the family out for dinner and see what she'll do.



Thanks in advance,

Dave

 

[JimBob24]

Dave, It seems like there is some confusion between TSB 18-007-04 & 18-037-04. The one they mention on your work order covers engine serial no. s 57130285 thru 57149668. See http://dodgeram.info/tsb/2004/18-007-04.htm . TSB 18-037-04 covers eng. serial no. s 57246361 thru 57246361 with manufacture dates of 12/10/03 thru 8/17/04.



It looks like you should have had 18-037-04 since your engine had to have been made after 12/10/03 and they obviously are different programs.



Jim

 

[klenger]

JimBob: Correction to your post. TSB 18-037-04 covers S/N 57130285 thru 57246361 (your post shows the same S/N for begin and end). Both TSB's start from the same S/N, which would be the 1st 600's. TSB 18-037-04 covers a the later S/Ns because it came out later. Note that TSB 18-007-04 never had any claims of improved milage.



You can see TSB 18-037-004 at http://www.klenger.net/dodge/3rd-gen-reference/tsb-18-037-04_pg1.pdf

 

[Rhinohd]

Rhinohd:



What is the build date of your engine (Found on the sticker on the driver's side of the valve cover)?



Mine falls into the date range and I have an apt scheduled for this Saturday.

My build date is 4/22/04. Good luck with the flash!

 

[jnelson]

Best thing about a reflash (had mine done on Monday) it covers any and all computer problems to date. So if you get a TSB reprogram for 1 problem - if there are any others - they are all covered by the reflash.

 

[mfrost]

Got the TSB 037 done this evening. Good sign it started right up. Had to show the service writer a copy of the TSB suz he didn't know what I was talking about. The Tech that did had done it before and i stood there and watched him do it. Didn't have the ping before they did it and it wasn't there after the flash either. Seemed to guiet the engine so can hear some turbo whine now. My wife heard it also and said if we had to listen to that now :-laf Turbo lag seems about the same with a improvment. Overhead is reading about 1-2mpg more. That makes it about 17. 4mpg at 65 if it is accurate. Readout was pretty accurate before and if it is accurate now, I am happy. Oo. Will be towing my fiver about 3K miles during the next couple of weeks so will see how that goes.



Is the tsb for high idle incorporated in the 037? Oh ye they did put the flash update sticker on the ECM and chassis with out me asking

 

[LewisD]

JimBob24: Here's the kicker! I gave him a copy of the TSB 18-037-04 that I printed from the link (Thanks klenger). My engine serial number is 57220510 which means that I should have received the later.



Now the question, is my dealer just a dumba$$? Is there data in the form of a DC document that will point out their flaw?



Thanks,

Dave

 

[txhawg]

Had the flash done yesterday. Maybe ist's placebo, but it does seem to run differently now. Shifting is smoother, engine runs quieter when cruising, but I still have that annoying pinging. The overhead shows improved mileage on the little bit of driving I've done, but I will have to run this tank out to hand calc. One bad thing - 52 degrees this morning, and a ton of white smoke on startup. Anyone know what causes the white smoke?

 

[BlueRam2500]

I got my truck back today from getting the flash done and the speedo recalibrated, and I can tell a difference already, even though the DTE still reads 250 miles and the truck has 3/4 tank of fuel. The overhead said 18. 8 at 68MPH on the highway today, so I guess it worked. However, I don't see any kind of sticker under the hood that says they did it. Isn't there supposed to be a sticker on the passenger side by the firewall?

 

[JimBob24]

JimBob: Correction to your post. TSB 18-037-04 covers S/N 57130285 thru 57246361 (your post shows the same S/N for begin and end).



Thanks, Klenger. I was looking at a copy of the TSB I got from your website (nice site!) Guess I got in a hurry.

 

[buddys06]

So far i am getting 1 mpg better but i want to start on a fresh tank. And yea it was hand calculated 147. 6 miles @ 9. 01 gals= 16. 38 mpg it used to always be 15-15. 5

 

[Donn]

I'd like to see a dyno graph before and after the flash. They have to be getting fuel economy from something, and I am sure it isn't compromising on the emissions.

I just had the tsb flash done on my truck. It made quite a difference in not only the smothness of the engine and transmission, But the fuel milage hase went up by over 3 MPG. I installed a aFe filter kit and had the flash performed on the same day, so I am not quite sure what portion to contribute to what. Befor milage has been about 12. 5-13. 5. I have ran the truck (all around town, non towing) I filled the truck up before I took it to my local Dodge dealer. I ran the truck for 54 miles and used 3. 2 gallons of fuel. 16. 87 MPG. That is all around town milage. I have 6000 miles on the truck, and I switched to mobile one synthetic oil at 3500 miles. I am happy!!

 

[phloop]

I got my truck back today from getting the flash done and the speedo recalibrated, and I can tell a difference already, even though the DTE still reads 250 miles and the truck has 3/4 tank of fuel. The overhead said 18. 8 at 68MPH on the highway today, so I guess it worked. However, I don't see any kind of sticker under the hood that says they did it. Isn't there supposed to be a sticker on the passenger side by the firewall?

Check the ECM for your sticker. When I got the TSB done I watched the tech slap the sticker on the ECM instead of on the firewall or the core support.

 

[MVaden]

Had TSB 18-037-04 and 18-004-04 done yesterday. Truck seems to shift

better and it seems to have better low end power from a dead stop. Engine sounds the same. The fast idle feature works great, when you turn it on it goes to 1000 rpm and you can take it up to 1500 rpm with the resume/accel button.



I don't know about mileage yet but I just filled up and will post back later after I go through a full tank.

 

[EMathis]

Just had the flash done on Thursday and my 2004. 5 3500 48re seems to run better, smoother and with much less pinging. The mileage on the overhead is up by over 2mpg to 16. 7 for combined city and highway from 14. 4 . Truck only has 1700 miles so I am hoping for continued increases as she breaks in. Will have to see what the first hand calculated mpg's are after the TSB. Before the overhead was very accurate with what I was actually seeing.





2004. 5 3500 SRW Shortbox 4x4 48RE (wife made me :-{} ) Deep Molton Red

Quad Cab. Old truck 1998. 5 5sp 2wd Club Cab with BD plug n' power and 4in exhaust.