Attention: TDR Forum Junkies 
You may have seen my recent post about the "irratic oil guage".
Read it for info as to what I experienced.
All replys agreed with my private mechanics preliminary phone diagnosis as a faulty sensor/sending unit. Mike Brolin mentioned a TSB which required the dreaded re-flash.
I found the TSB at Dave Fritz's www.dodgeram.org
TSB 09-001-01
I took the TSB to my mechanic who was going to replace the sensor/sending unit (sorry if I've got these confused, or if they are the same thing). He'd already found the same TSB, so this wasn't news to him. My engine serial number is within the range on the TSB. He told me it was illegal for him to do the re-flash even though he has the equipment and knowhow. Trust me, my mechanic is a small shop owner who is the best I've ever seen. If it has tires and a motor he can fix it, up to and including exotic computer programming for racers, engine builds, etc. He also does considerable diesel work.
He has a very good and trustworthy friend in the service dept. at a Dodge dealer ( I will not reveal the name or location of the dealer... . could be anywhere, DC police, so chill) whom he says he can trust with the bombing/warranty issues. This dealer also has a true diesel guru... . I've met this guy ( can't remember where, but it may have been VERY far away from here) and heard him speak at seminars, etc. , he is the real deal. My mechanic talked to them both and was adament that I only have the re-flash pertinent to fixing this problem, and that I WAS NOT to have any other of the re-flashes that have ended up causing power losses, mileage loss, etc. , that some of you TDR folks have posted about. This phone call was made in my presense. My mechanic knows of the practice at some dealers of doing re-flashes when not necessary, and he fully understood my apprehension.
The diesel guru told my mechanic to replace the sender/sensor and not to do the re-flash BECAUSE THIS RE-FLASH DOWNLOADS ALL OF THE RE-CALIBRATIONS FOR THE OTHER FUEL, transmission, ETC. WHICH ARE IN OTHER TSB'S. (sorry for the all caps... I know it's considered shouting, but I don't know how to bold it instead). In other words, this is a catch-em all re-flash. The guru said that the result was that some trucks experienced none of the dreaded loss of power, etc. , but some did, so it was a crap-shoot, with no way of knowing the outcome. It would fix the oil guage issue, tho.
I'm going to pass on the re-flash. The part is guaranteed for one year, and I'll just keep replacing them if it happens again. I just don't want them messing with my ECM even if they are competent to do so.
I hesitated about posting this, fearing I might be offering inaccurate or just flat wrong info. I decided to post as I trust that what I've been told is from sources I trust with no hidden agendas, and kinda like I "owe" it to my fellow TDR members because I have learned so much from all of you over the past six months.
So, draw your own conclusions about this, and proceed with what you feel comfortable with. Hope none of you have the problem in the first place.
Thanks, Michael Brolin for the heads-up on the TSB.
Read it for info as to what I experienced.
All replys agreed with my private mechanics preliminary phone diagnosis as a faulty sensor/sending unit. Mike Brolin mentioned a TSB which required the dreaded re-flash.
I found the TSB at Dave Fritz's www.dodgeram.org
TSB 09-001-01
I took the TSB to my mechanic who was going to replace the sensor/sending unit (sorry if I've got these confused, or if they are the same thing). He'd already found the same TSB, so this wasn't news to him. My engine serial number is within the range on the TSB. He told me it was illegal for him to do the re-flash even though he has the equipment and knowhow. Trust me, my mechanic is a small shop owner who is the best I've ever seen. If it has tires and a motor he can fix it, up to and including exotic computer programming for racers, engine builds, etc. He also does considerable diesel work.
He has a very good and trustworthy friend in the service dept. at a Dodge dealer ( I will not reveal the name or location of the dealer... . could be anywhere, DC police, so chill) whom he says he can trust with the bombing/warranty issues. This dealer also has a true diesel guru... . I've met this guy ( can't remember where, but it may have been VERY far away from here) and heard him speak at seminars, etc. , he is the real deal. My mechanic talked to them both and was adament that I only have the re-flash pertinent to fixing this problem, and that I WAS NOT to have any other of the re-flashes that have ended up causing power losses, mileage loss, etc. , that some of you TDR folks have posted about. This phone call was made in my presense. My mechanic knows of the practice at some dealers of doing re-flashes when not necessary, and he fully understood my apprehension.
The diesel guru told my mechanic to replace the sender/sensor and not to do the re-flash BECAUSE THIS RE-FLASH DOWNLOADS ALL OF THE RE-CALIBRATIONS FOR THE OTHER FUEL, transmission, ETC. WHICH ARE IN OTHER TSB'S. (sorry for the all caps... I know it's considered shouting, but I don't know how to bold it instead). In other words, this is a catch-em all re-flash. The guru said that the result was that some trucks experienced none of the dreaded loss of power, etc. , but some did, so it was a crap-shoot, with no way of knowing the outcome. It would fix the oil guage issue, tho.
I'm going to pass on the re-flash. The part is guaranteed for one year, and I'll just keep replacing them if it happens again. I just don't want them messing with my ECM even if they are competent to do so.
I hesitated about posting this, fearing I might be offering inaccurate or just flat wrong info. I decided to post as I trust that what I've been told is from sources I trust with no hidden agendas, and kinda like I "owe" it to my fellow TDR members because I have learned so much from all of you over the past six months.
So, draw your own conclusions about this, and proceed with what you feel comfortable with. Hope none of you have the problem in the first place.
Thanks, Michael Brolin for the heads-up on the TSB.
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