2007 Dodge 5.9 CTD wouldn't start!! What do I test?

[HerbW]

Hi.
I drove my truck for a long trip tonight and the starter wouldn't do anything! My wife and I was broke down with groceries thirty miles from home and I'm not sure where the neutral/Park safety switch is exactly. I tried to shift to neutral, start and it was a no go.
Then after crawling around under the truck looking for neutral switch and under the dash and jerking the shift lever back and forth, the truck started.

I finally got home tonight after being broke down! Of course it started EVERY TIME at home!

I'm going on a trip soon, any suggestions? (Buy a new truck isn't an option now!)

This is my fifth major breakdown this year! I bought it in February! It's gotten ridiculous! I don't trust it to go to the local store! I keep telling myself I get the bugs worked out and it will be a great truck! If you have had these problem, tell us about it!

When it wouldn't start, the "P" didn't light up on the dash!
Any advice is appreciated. Herb

 

[n7gxz]

How many miles are on the truck? Was the starter clicking? The common problem are the starter contacts.

Kevin

 

[PWong]

The park/neutral position switch is part of the range sensor.

When it wouldn't start, the "P" didn't light up on the dash!
This is your problem.
ECM failed to see the park/neutral position switch sense signal.

 

[HerbW]

The park/neutral position switch is part of the range sensor.

When it wouldn't start, the "P" didn't light up on the dash!
This is your problem.
ECM failed to see the park/neutral position switch sense signal.

Is the park/neutral switch in the transmission like my 98 Dodge? I want to locate it and know which contacts I need to short together to get going again.

Is there a sense switch under the dash that tells ECM what gear I'm in?
I'll have to do some quick reading to get it right.
Thank you to all for your help. Herb

 

[PWong]

The range sensor is the square black box on the trans housing that's located next to the shifter cable.
Just google "48re range sensor" to see what it looks like.
There is no access to the switch inside the sensor.
The only thing you can do to trick the ECM is by shorting the wiring YL/DB to a good ground.

http://www.rambodybuilder.com/2007/docs/wd/dr/wiringdiagrams/8w31transmissioncontrolsystem.pdf
See page 12 for the circuit.

 

[HerbW]

The range sensor is the square black box on the trans housing that's located next to the shifter cable.
Just google "48re range sensor" to see what it looks like.
There is no access to the switch inside the sensor.
The only thing you can do to trick the ECM is by shorting the wiring YL/DB to a good ground.

http://www.rambodybuilder.com/2007/docs/wd/dr/wiringdiagrams/8w31transmissioncontrolsystem.pdf
See page 12 for the circuit.

Nice! I had tricked my old truck to get it home. My old truck had some scrap wire in it for such fixes. I'm going to find the switch and unplug it and get it figured out for future trouble with my truck or another persons. I'll find out something. It's funny but the range selector never lit up when it didn't start. After shifting around it lit up and started. So the range selector light must be in series with the switch. I also thought I lost maybe a major circuit breaker or fuse. Maybe not. No codes kicked. Glad to be home but now I hope it fails in my pole barn and not on the road.

 

[HerbW]

How many miles are on the truck? Was the starter clicking? The common problem are the starter contacts.

Kevin

Hi Kevin,
I actually have a set of Larry B contacts but they aren't for 2007 trucks. I guess the starters changed. BTW, not clicking or noises at all. Thanks, Herb

 

[HerbW]

Hi PWong,
I located the range sensor and unhooked the plug. it then acted like it did last night. I've read my service manual and your rambodybuilder site and will test with an ohm meter tomorrow. I will probably buy a new one for just in case fix. I will try the ground on the YL/DB wire. Thanks again, Herb

 

[PWong]

http://www.cumminsforum.com/forum/3...77433-gear-indicator-not-showing-correct.html

This link may help.

 

[PWong]

The plug must be plugged in to the sensor. ECM needs to know the drive position of trans to operate.
Try to ground the wire with the connector plugged in.

 

[cerberusiam]

ECM doesn't care what gear the trans is in. However, the FCM won't energize the start circuit unless the TCM says it is in P or N. If one of those light on the dash it will start if the starter is good.

The range sensor is a wear item. Get a new one and toss the old one so you are not tempted to reuse it. Once you have a new range sensor and it is installed correctly check cable adjustment to make sure it will see all the gears correctly. If you cannot adjust cable to see gears correctly check the install procedure, you can install them a little bit off and they will drive you crazy trying to find the issue.