2003 6sp ECM reflash BLUES

[JHMiller]

After 27K and 14 months of "luv this torque truck", Prestige Dodge of Longmont Co reflashed the ECM through a safety recall for "cruise control sticking/accelerating when cancelled". I found after the 3rd time with me it was operator error, (thumb on both cancel and resume/ecc buttons), and poor design, a solid bump separating the buttons so only one was pushed at a time would have eliminated the operator error.

Prior to reflash the cruise was SPOT ON, the truck pulled hard and clean,(no stink), right from the stops and around 2K the turbo, yahoo. Now low end grunt is non existant, a stomp a2K in 3rd or 4th is like nothing is happening, a slow push produces far better acceleration but the turbo feel is around 26oo now and nothing compared to how it used to hammer ya before the reflash.

The cruise now varies to -3 and +4 mph. Start up a small hill, the speed drops, the guy behind you pulls out, about the time he's along side, the truck eccelarates and at the top of the hill it's 4mph over, he pulls back in, the truck tops the hill and backs off to 3mph under, he pulls back out and waves, and so it goes. This truck ain't even fun anymore.

The dealer has had it 3 times for 5 days and "everything is within parameters" and "you can't go back" meaning to the old program, bull, won't and can't are two different things. I've contacted Dodge, the factory tech rep in Denver was suppose to come out but he won't. Something else is going on here and Dodge is working hard at keeping it hid and obviously they are not going to restore the performance parameters to what was demonstrated and sold to me, I feel baited and switched. I'm ******. Surely mine can't be the only truck effected like this. I now drive a Dog

 

[Ftuttle]

JHMiller -



I, too, received the ECM re-flash - and just figured it was me! I haven't had it on any long trips East to test out the hills and cruise control (central Ohio isn't exactly known as a hilly place). But I have also noticed that my truck isn't as torquee (torquey?) at low RPM/gear and the turbo kick is over 2K.



My re-flash happened at 30K (that was almost 6K ago) and they didn't tell me it was "necessary" until AFTER I got the truck back. I had the re-flash for the gauge cluster "check gauges" problem, and that didn't affect anything (but did take care of the problem). What is interesting is if you read up on the re-flash, it was supposed to have taken place a loooong time ago - yet, I've had it in to the dealer 3 times since purchase and it wasn't until the 3rd time that they did the flash.



I agree - something smells fishy here. :{



-frank

 

[JHMiller]

Frank, the reflash came out 3/2004. Sounds like you are experiencing the same symptoms, does it rattle and stink now compared to before the reflash?

I'm considering a couple of dyno runs to see what the torque curve looks like now but Dodge "doesn't have anything like that for my truck" for comparison. Like I believe that crap. How ignorant.

Frank it only takes a moderate hill to see a couple of mph drop in the set speed. Rolling hills drives me crazy now when before this truck didn't vary period, up hill, wind, didn't matter. It was just a pleasure to drive.

It also appears that I've lost 1 to 1. 5 mpg. , about 19 mpg now.

I've decided not to let the dealer have it again as I've read of this dealer glue welding the extra data port dummy cap on solid, the one used by things like Edge as I think unfortunately after market may be the only answer to getting my smile back.

I'll be talking with a Dodge diesel mech who has a little performance business on the side, may get some answers but I know he can't change what Dodge has done for 03. Local Cummins shop says Bully Dog it. I already paid for it once!!

 

[JHardwick]

Just say no to reflashes!!!



I had the erroneous dash panel signals, even had the volt meter go to zero a few times ... ... ... ... . I resisted a reflash!!!!



I can't explain it, but they have all gone away.



I don't know why, but most everybody who has a reflash reports a loss of power, I still have factory programming Oo.

 

[JHMiller]

JHardwick

If you purchased the truck new you may remember a little piece of paper you signed giving away your right to refuse allowing Dodge to reprogram with the latest and greatest.

If I were you I would neva take it to a dealer again, course warranty work bends you over the barrel. I've never heard of a dealer not doing the reflash because the customer didn't want it done, in fact, legally they must comply with safety recall issues or their liability gets crazy.

Enjoy the grunt, if they get their hands on it, it'll be a thing of "sorry, you can't go back"

Guess I've said that before.

 

[JHardwick]

If you purchased the truck new you may remember a little piece of paper you signed giving away your right to refuse allowing Dodge to reprogram with the latest and greatest.

If I were you I would neva take it to a dealer again, course warranty work bends you over the barrel. I've never heard of a dealer not doing the reflash because the customer didn't want it done, in fact, legally they must comply with safety recall issues or their liability gets crazy.

Enjoy the grunt, if they get their hands on it, it'll be a thing of "sorry, you can't go back"

Guess I've said that before.

I did buy it new, and have a kinda small dealer here. I've had it in for u-joints, altenator bracket, defrost blend door, running boards yadda yadda ... ... ... I was promised in person that they would not hook it up to the computer. The gage thing continued after every trip, so I believe they listened to me. The "check gages" stills hits time and again, but not near what it used to and seems to come in flurries. In other words, it may go off 3 times one day and not appear again for 3 months.

 

[JHMiller]

JHardwick

By the way I also had a dash light flickering on occasionally, it set the hi trans temp code so they told me. Could make sense, was just idleing over hill and dale in 4th, flowing little hills, not any real load and the engine temp was ok. It was in March so ambient temp was not high but due to slow fan speed, cooling across the radiator would have been minimal however I question whether there should have been a temp alarm under the circumstances. I'd had it happen before with no check engine light or any changes in performance.

 

[Fireman]

That's odd

I had the cruse control stick comming off the freeway one night back in Jan '03. Iwas pulling my 34' fifth wheel and it was raining I had the re-flash done about a month later and have had no problems since, and the power was never affected. Something has gone horrable wrong with yours



Fireman

 

[JHMiller]

Hey Fireman

My understranding is the reflash installed in my ECM was released 03-2004, the month it was installed in my rig. I'm curious, yours is a 6 speed as this only applies to the manuals? If so, have you been reflashed since that date?

 

[Fireman]

Yep, I got a 6 manual. I got the reflash over 2 yrs ago. The TSB for the early '03s came out in about Jan. '03. No problems since the reflash.



Fireman

 

[JHMiller]

Well Fireman I'm wondering why mine wasn't reflash at the time I took delivery in Feb 2003? I wonder if mine had been reflashed with the update your talking about prior to taking delivery and then reflashed again in March 2004 with more changes to the program? I'm confused, I complained about a flickering dash light, they said it needed reflashed, then told be afterwards the reflash was for a sticking cruise control.

I'm curious, 2nd or 3rd time mine stuck and accelerated 3mph(one punch on the acc button) that I had actually touched it when trying to cancel. Changed my thumb position and never had it happen again. Did you ever have it happen when canceling with the brake, I did not.

 

[martion007]

Flash nesserary

I drove mine untill at 230,000 the cruise would sometimes not turn off and or disengage, I even once had to turn engine off to disengage it while driving down the road. It had a mind of it's own. Then got it reflashed it and no problem at all, same power, I tow alot

 

[Fireman]

JH,



They should have updated their program by that time, evidently they have had more problems since. Other than that I dunno



Fireman

 

[JHMiller]

Dog truck

Well I think I'll give another dealer a chance to look at it, the treatment at Prestige Dodge is giving me a very uneasy feeling. It's like they know there's a problem, and I'm sure they do, the salesman went for a ride and couldn't believe the poor performance. But it's like there is a line between sales and service. The standard answer is "everything is within parameters".

Anyway, if anyone comes up or hears of anything plz post,,,tks,,,,,jm :{

 

[EMD-Run8]

Haven't had it done. Don't need it done and sure don't wan't it done! You're right---these things are torque monsters as is. I'd hate to see that go. All these kinds of threads make we want to get a 12v.

 

[jadoca]

After 27K and 14 months of "luv this torque truck", . Prior to reflash the truck pulled hard and clean,(no stink), right from the stops and around 2K the turbo, yahoo. Now low end grunt is non existant, a stomp a2K in 3rd or 4th is like nothing is happening, a slow push produces far better acceleration but the turbo feel is around 26oo now and nothing compared to how it used to hammer ya before the reflash.

This truck ain't even fun anymore.

Something else is going on here and Dodge is working hard at keeping it hid and obviously they are not going to restore the performance parameters to what was demonstrated and sold to me, I feel baited and switched. I'm ******. Surely mine can't be the only truck effected like this. I now drive a Dog

I have altered the quote a bit to best describe my feelings. I have an 04, 305/555, 6 speed, bought new in Sept. 03. I had no problems until I lost the lift pump. Upon receiving the truck I could tell immediately the truck performed differently, no sizzle any more. It feels like it has literally been detuned. If this was the truck I drove prior to purchase, there would have been no sale. It took four subsequent conversations with the dealer for them to even acknowledge a re flash. There was no sticker posted as I now understand is required by law. The best dealer offered solution to this point is to add performance enhancing products, or buy something else you like. WOW!

In any event I intend to pursue this until I get a satisfactory resolution. Suggestions, advice, and opinions welcome.



Regards,

 

[TCDiesel]

My cruise Has Not work from Day One,Here is the history and situation, When you hit the cancel Button it will take off,the coast button will not work at all the On/Off button you have to hold down and push the Accel button twice to get the cruise engage,than when it does its hunts all the time Up/Down 5-10 Mph. It has been to several dealers with the same DC/BS. Performance Mods, it has been re-flash 5 times on Stock ECM even my 330 ECM (custom Program) same issue. So idiot at the dealership if you replace Brain and it don't communicate with you heart ( your Dead) Thats the Problem with some cruise issue's DC PCM on 03/04 models does not communicate well with the Cummins ECM, DC will not do anything about this. In-fact I am so sick of all the destruction I have seen lately from All DC/Ford/Gm tech I no longer will support any dealership, DC/Ford/Gm has put such restriction on warranty repairs the Dealer NO longer can performed these Adequately. I have seen More foments and frivolous repairs in the past year (From Dealers trying to fraud uneducated owners) ITS bs,All you dealers you should try and repair the legit Repairs FIRST. . This is the general Norm around here. . Rant over but the scare will remain I will keep my 2003 Personal Vehicle and performed repairs and maintenance with aftermarket parts when available. Nothing New for me unless it is at such a deal I can overlook all the BS that Manufacturers are practicing Now.

 

[RDyson]

I recently took mine in to get the valves adjusted. I talked to the service mgr about the reflash for the out of park alarm, and told him I did not want it. I asked if he had to do it, and he said not if I signed saying that I decline it. So he printed a worksheet and wrote on it that owner declined recall/reflash. I signed it and that was it. No honkey when the door is opened out of park.

 

[Prairie Dog]

Yep, I got a 6 manual. I got the reflash over 2 yrs ago. The TSB for the early '03s came out in about Jan. '03. No problems since the reflash.



Fireman

I had mine done about 1 year ago and found no difference what so ever in the power or fuel mileage. It did help with the erroneous eng light flashing and the sticky throttle syndrome. I wonder if they interupted the program cycle or had a bad battery charger hooked up to the truck (it's not supposed to kick out during the download).



Scotty

 

[Regcabguy]

Smarty?

Just a long shot,but maybe Marco and his Smarty could help you? Bob Wagner has 2nd gen. loaner boxes out there. He might have the newer ones on loan too. Worth a call.