2014 Lube Fittings, Gauges and ITBC

[Dieselnerd]

The owners manual says to grease the tie rod ends and the 4X4 front driveshaft at every oil change. My 2014 has sealed tie rod ends with no grease fittings. Is this a recent change? My front driveshaft does have the little grease "dimple" similar to my 2005 4X4 that requires a tapered fitting for the end of the grease gun.

I can't imagine the front driveshaft will need much grease unless you run in 4WD a lot. With the front disconnect it doesn't turn unless it's in 4WD.

I was surprised to find that the EVIC display has a pretty complete gauge set totally separate from the analog gauges on the dashboard. You can step through and see Battery Voltage, Coolant Temperature, Oil Pressure, Transmission Temperature, Engine Hours, both Idle and Total, Oil Filter Life, Fuel Filter Life, Exhaust Brake Power, Turbo Boost, and Tire Pressure.

Another thing I noticed when I did a test hookup to my fifth wheel. The EVIC display of the brake control output shows the output increasing as you press harder on the brake pedal, just like my BrakeSmart did. Does anyone know if they use a pressure sensor now like the BrakeSmart or Max Brake? If it was a pendulum like the old style controllers it wouldn't increase the output unless you were actually slowing down, not standing still like I was.

I still have a lot to learn about this new truck but it's a lot of fun discovering how to use all of the electronic gizmos they hang on the trucks these days.

 

[jus2shy]

Yeah, the tie rod ends don't have any grease zerks that I've found. The front driveshaft will need grease regardless if you use 4x4 or not. That grease is needed due to the up and down motion of the front axle. Every time the front axle moves up and down, that joint moves even if a little. The EVIC sure is nice. The only thing I don't have that you listed in my 2013 is the tire pressure. Is that something recent for the 2014's? Or only available in certain trims? Mine is a Bighorn.

EDIT: I do have TPMS, however I've never seen a readout for the current TPMS pressures. My vehicle is an SRW as well.

 

[Dieselnerd]

The tire pressure is listed as a standard feature on my window sticker. It might just be standard on the Laramie though.

You should be able to see what's standard on the build your RAM site.

 

[Wertles]

It's not on the drw's. My friends 2500 has it though.

 

[Cissco]

My2011 2500 st has the tire pressure.

 

[Dieselnerd]

It's not on the drw's. My friends 2500 has it though.

My truck is a DRW with the tire pressure monitor.

 

[MelvinPierce]

It's not on the drw's. My friends 2500 has it though.

My '14 3500 DRW HAS the tire pressures. It reads out on the display. However, there is no warning or anything. Just a readout of the pressures at each position. I have a Longhorn. Maybe lower trim levels do not have it?

 

[mpaulson]

My '14 3500 DRW HAS the tire pressures. It reads out on the display. However, there is no warning or anything. Just a readout of the pressures at each position. I have a Longhorn. Maybe lower trim levels do not have it?

That's interesting. My dealer was telling me that the 2500's have a low pressure override switch so the alarm doesn't go off, but the 3500's don't. If the 3500's don't have an alarm at all, then that would explain the lack of the override switch on the dash. This would be a good thing because I've been thinking that I'm going to have to keep the duals pressured up to avoid the alarm and deal with the rough ride all winter long when I don't need 75-80 psi since I don't haul heavy loads in the winter. but if they don't have an alarm, then that's a non issue. my truck will be the same as yours, Longhorn.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

My '13 Big Horn 3500 doesn't have the tire pressure screen but a friends '13 2500 Laramie does.

 

[Gonzo 1066]

My 13 Dually does NOT have TPS on the gague program. I too am VERY happy with the information on the "Information Center" (used to be called gauges) lots of pertinent information.

 

[Doubleclutch]

My '14 has six tire pressures displayed. Love the truck!

 

[Wertles]

That must be new in 14. I was told it was not available on the 3500 DRW but that was before the 24's.

 

[MelvinPierce]

That's interesting. My dealer was telling me that the 2500's have a low pressure override switch so the alarm doesn't go off, but the 3500's don't. If the 3500's don't have an alarm at all, then that would explain the lack of the override switch on the dash. This would be a good thing because I've been thinking that I'm going to have to keep the duals pressured up to avoid the alarm and deal with the rough ride all winter long when I don't need 75-80 psi since I don't haul heavy loads in the winter. but if they don't have an alarm, then that's a non issue. my truck will be the same as yours, Longhorn.

Correct. Just displays. No warning. I had left front screw up. One day it was reading about 10# low. Gauge said it was OK. Stayed that way all day, but it did increase with temp just like the others. The next day it was reading the same as the right front again. Been OK since.

 

[Cummins12V98]

My 11 Longhorn Dually does NOT have a grease fitting on the front drive shaft. At May madness the head mechanic and Stan Gozzi from Chrysler verified it did not have one. Stan was surprised and the mechanic said he has seen many without the fitting.

So my truck is truly grease fitting free!

 

[Dieselnerd]

My 11 Longhorn Dually does NOT have a grease fitting on the front drive shaft. At May madness the head mechanic and Stan Gozzi from Chrysler verified it did not have one. Stan was surprised and the mechanic said he has seen many without the fitting.

So my truck is truly grease fitting free!

Mine actually does have the one on the driveshaft, I've seen it. None on the tie rods but I still have to crawl under there to grease that one little dimple.

 

[sag2]

View attachment BRAKE-SYSTEM[1].pdf

Another thing I noticed when I did a test hookup to my fifth wheel. The EVIC display of the brake control output shows the output increasing as you press harder on the brake pedal, just like my BrakeSmart did. Does anyone know if they use a pressure sensor now like the BrakeSmart or Max Brake? If it was a pendulum like the old style controllers it wouldn't increase the output unless you were actually slowing down, not standing still like I was.

It uses a brake pedal travel sensor. See attached wiring diagram.

 

[Dieselnerd]

View attachment 87196
It uses a brake pedal travel sensor. See attached wiring diagram.

Thanks for the info, that explains what's happening. Maybe not quite as accurate as a pressure sensor but certainly more advanced than a pendulum.

 

[TRAMPLINEMAN]

My '14 does not have the dimple on the front joint. If I stick a needle adapter under the end of the rubber boot and pump grease into it, does it do pretty much the same thing as having the dimple fitting?

 

[jus2shy]

My '14 does not have the dimple on the front joint. If I stick a needle adapter under the end of the rubber boot and pump grease into it, does it do pretty much the same thing as having the dimple fitting?

I guarantee it's there. It's well hidden. It is towards the transfer case. The dimple is in the joint right above the cross member before the transfer case. Use a q-tip and swab away grease. Also, do not puncture the seal. getting grease in the seal is not the same as pumping it through the dimple. When you pump through the dimple, you get the grease in the high pressure areas where it's needed. Where as puncturing the seal and squirting in some grease just get's it in the grease and not between the metal in the case of that joint. It only needs maybe 1 good squirt of grease. You can also rotate your front driveshaft with the wheels on the ground since the 2013+ trucks have that center axle disconnect. The factory actually drew a little line on the u-joint pointing out where the dimple was. I simply ran more marker over it so the mark lasts.

 

[TRAMPLINEMAN]

I guarantee it's there. It's well hidden. It is towards the transfer case. The dimple is in the joint right above the cross member before the transfer case. Use a q-tip and swab away grease. Also, do not puncture the seal. getting grease in the seal is not the same as pumping it through the dimple. When you pump through the dimple, you get the grease in the high pressure areas where it's needed. Where as puncturing the seal and squirting in some grease just get's it in the grease and not between the metal in the case of that joint. It only needs maybe 1 good squirt of grease. You can also rotate your front driveshaft with the wheels on the ground since the 2013+ trucks have that center axle disconnect. The factory actually drew a little line on the u-joint pointing out where the dimple was. I simply ran more marker over it so the mark lasts.

This is pretty close to word for word what both mechanics at two different dealerships told me. They both looked for themselves and they both agreed the truck doesn't have one. Just like my '06, it didn't have one either. So, how do I grease it?