08 FCM problems...

[jelag]

We have an 08 5500 with a box on the chassis... . its got over 50K and is out of warranty... . I have to say that the dealer has gone to bat for us and continued to service our problem out of warranty... . but here's the problem...



1 - the truck will do what it wants with the head lights, tail lights, turn signals, and wiper washers... . in that they will work or not work... .



2 - when they won't work, one head light is on. . the other is off but no "lamp out" indicator... and than if you flip the lever to high beam, the light that wasn't working goes on and the good light goes off...



3 - in all cases when the lights don't work the washer will not work... .



Here's the rub The dealer has taken care of us. . in that they take the truck, see the problem and say its covered... but often the truck will drive into the service bay and start to work fine... . no codes... no problems...



The service guy keeps saying its the wiring on the box van... but 90% of the time its the head lights that don't function... and of course at night or a spot check at a scale house is a real scare...



Its now had 6 trips to the dealer and this week they have installed the second FCM... but I'm not sure that's the real problem... .



problems get worseThe dealer is trying to help but I think the tech is over his head and doesn't understand the full operation of the system and Chrysler ties his hands when it works... no codes, it works there is nothing wrong



The problem as I see it - The dealer has his hands tied, and each time we take the truck to the dealer its tied up for 3-5 days while they mess with it... . of course it is not in the bay all that time... I've asked to see the time card... actual time spent during say a week at the dealer... no dice...



Whats kept this working is the fact we want the truck working... we don't get mad and play their game... if the truck is in town we take by the dealer... if the truck is out of town and not working we drive it by a local dealer and let them see the problem and note it in the computer... under the vin of the truck... so the moral of this story is that if the problem is noted often enough, they will take care of you... . might not be really what you'd want to happen... but will take care of you... .



I've offered to lone them my 05 and let them move parts from one truck to the other... . to see if we can get the problem to move... thus spending only 1 day at a time. . keeping both trucks working... they won't do this... as they can't get paid for this... I won't do it... because I don't want to break the chain of control over the warranty... and service... .



But if the time comes where they won't fix it or look at it free... I'm going to do the work myself by switching parts... I personally think we have a dirty pin, bad ground, or connector and not a computer problem... but warranty won't pay them to take it all apart and examine it and put it back together...



We had an F550 that we an interesting problem with over the 500K we had it... buts that's a longer story... .

 

[JCasper]

What kind of lights are on the flatbed/box on this truck?



When I ordered our new 5500 a couple weeks ago the upfitter at the dealer told me they would be using LED lights because of some wiring/electrical problems if they didn't.



I didn't ask any more beyond that, I figured they new what they were talking about and I like LED's any ways.



Joe

 

[jelag]

Joe

I don't use LED's... . the reason is that in the snow and bad weather the snow drift or dust will cake on the back of the trucks... and cover the lights... . there isn't enough heat from an LED to melt off the snow so that the truck can be seen... .

But remember that each circuit off the FCM, low beam, high beam, left turn, right turn, tail, clearance, wiper washer, wipers etc... is a unique circuit... . in my mind, there is nothing that you can do at the rear of the truck to make the headlights do what they are doing... nor the problem with the wiper washers... .

Looking forward to dinner tonight and I have a hall pass from my wife... . smile...

BTW - if your picking up your new 5500 from Rob, have him show you my truck... . its sitting in the lot waiting on parts... its been there all week... .

 

[JCasper]

Yup I'm picking it up from rob and josh. If I have time I'll take a look



I'm at the airport now waiting to fly out



I hope they can fix the problem for you

 

[jelag]

Joe.....

Well, they now tell me parts won't be in town until Tuesday of next week... so it will have been tied up for close to 10 days before we see it back... .

 

[sag2]

Ask the dealer how many StarMobiles he has. Have them set up one for data recording and see if you can capture what is causing it. There are inputs and outputs to the TIPM, and also bussed inputs and outputs. With the mobile you can record multiple modules, so you can look at data from the TIPM, CCN etc.

If it happens fairly regular he will not be without the tool long. I don't know if you run over night, but if you do perhaps you can capture the problem and they will not miss the use of the tool at all.

When it does happen has it ever stayed broken while you were at the dealer? Are you convenient enough where you can stop by while it is broken and have them at least look at the inputs and outputs?

As for Chrysler tying their hands that is not exactly true. The dealer is free to try to find the problem within reason. They should have access to "operation diagnostic" time as long as they document the time spent and the story they write matches up with the time. The problem with intermittent electrical problems is if you are testing while the problem is not there, you will almost never find the problem. And any diagnostic tree you follow for a stored code (not active) will always lead you to replace the module. That's because all the diagnostic trees are written assuming the fault is active at the time of the diagnosis. That's why so many modules get replaced and the problem is never fixed, because the technician fails to heed the intermittent problem warning.

 

[jelag]

"""When it does happen has it ever stayed broken while you were at the dealer?"""" Yep... . they have seen the problem at least 3 times... when they move the truck inside and let it sit in a warm shop for 20 - 30 min the truck goes back to working. . """Are you convenient enough where you can stop by while it is broken and have them at least look at the inputs and outputs?""" Each time we drive it by it doesn't have inputs and outputs stored... As it sits now, the have ordered a FCM and are awaiting on delivery...
As for Chrysler tying their hands that is not exactly true. The dealer is free to try to find the problem within reason. They should have access to "operation diagnostic" time as long as they document the time spent and the story they write matches up with the time. The problem with intermittent electrical problems is if you are testing while the problem is not there, you will almost never find the problem. """ Since they have seen the problem they have gone out of their way... and have approval to spend money for out of warranty issues since they have a track record of non repair under warranty...

I have to give them a "B" for effort, but in the same breath with this truck having to scale here in OR & WA we're afraid that a spot check will find the lights not working... which red tags it and it can't leave without the lights working (field repair) (tow truck) and of course the ticket.....

Sag2, thanks for your thoughts.....