A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To .....

[Schrowang]

The DW and I had been out all morning doing some pre-Thanksgiving shopping. Stopped and started numerous times. After we came out of WallyMart I tried to start the truck and it was dead.



When I turned the key to start it the dash panel lit up like a Christmas tree. Brake lite was on, CEL was on, and down in the leftmost of the three windows above the steering column there was a pix of a trailer. The integrated trailer brake controller also had an amber image of a trailer with an exclamation point along side.



So, truck no start ..... boing boing boing ... . truck no start, etc. , etc, ad nauseum.



SOLUTION: Got out, when to the back of the truck, lifter the covers to both trailer connectors (4-pin and 7-pin) blew into the sockets a couple of times, went back to the drivers position and the truck started. The CEL is still on and I'll connect the scanner to it tomorrow to find out what's going on before I take it to the dealer next week.



I DO NOT LIKE THE IDEA OF NOT BEING ABLE TO START THE TRUCK BECAUSE THE TRAILER BRAKE CONTROLER ISN'T WORKING RIGHT, OR THE ECM BELIEVES THAT A TRAILER IS ONLY PARTIALLY CONNECTED AND SHOULDN'T BE TOWED.



I guess Dodge is turning into its own version of a nanny state.



This is about the 5th time that something (annoying) has happend with this truck and I'm starting to feel like I made a mistake to trade my 04. 5 in for it.

 

[Simplysmn]

Wow very strange I've got 29,000 in 10 month's and Mine has been Great no problem's what so ever .

 

[gtoli]

Sounds like it just needed a little love.



Sorry, couldn't resist.



I have used both plugs on my Goat and haven't had any problems. Even unplugging trailer when truck is running only brings up a caution "Trailer Disconnected" on the EVIC.

 

[cerberusiam]

I DO NOT LIKE THE IDEA OF NOT BEING ABLE TO START THE TRUCK BECAUSE THE TRAILER BRAKE CONTROLER ISN'T WORKING RIGHT, OR THE ECM BELIEVES THAT A TRAILER IS ONLY PARTIALLY CONNECTED AND SHOULDN'T BE TOWED.

Welcome to our CYA society. Considering the spate of lawsuits on vehicles supposedly malfunctioning and the intrusive nature of the NTSB protecting us form oursleves, what do you expect?



I would think a problem that may cause catastrophic failure being brought to ones attention is a good thing.



Be interesting to see if what the real problem is and if it is even related to the brake controller. Sometimes the elctronics do not follow logic in their operation.

 

[mwilson]

Sounds like it just needed a little love.

A few questions for your Ram would be... .

"Will you still love me in the morning???"... .....

"I've never done this before, I hope you don't think I'm trashy"



If indeed Ram has built emotions into the 4th Gens, I hope they at least skipped over the PMS software.....



I'm sorry, I could not resist either.



Mike.

 

[mwilson]

I just can't stop. .



"If I blow in your trailer plug will you follow me anywhere???"



Mike.

 

[rashwor]

Did it have to smoke one afterwards???:-laf:-laf:-laf:-laf:-laf:-laf ROFLMAO Sorry, I couldn't help it :-laf:-laf:-laf

 

[Schrowang]

No smoke. Had into the dealer (Bonneville & Son - Manchester, NH) and the code turned out to be a false positive. When I read it on my scanner it came up with no code at all. Still think it was moisture in the 7-pin box on the trucks rear bumper. We'll see if it happens again.

 

[RustyJC]

Well, that's one to file away in the memory banks. If it won't run, blow in the trailer connector. :-laf



Rusty

 

[mwilson]

Well, that's one to file away in the memory banks. If it won't run, blow in the trailer connector. :-laf



Rusty

I don't I can ever erase that image from my mind... ... ...



I would have to do it after dark so that no one could see me... ... ... .



Mike.

 

[Bill Lins]

Y'all are some sick puppies! :-laf