Another CEL

[rockinjwolf]

Over a month ago, a lot of you had helped me with my CEL post about a NOX sensor going (gone) south and how it is handled at the dealer. Mine handled it fine to the tune of about a grand. It was nice to drive my truck for about two weeks without anything lit up on the dash. Kind of how it is supposed to be I would imagine. Started it up about two weeks ago on a Monday am and "bing" off goes the tone. I know , everyone has heard it!! Another light. I had it read and it was the old P003a. New to me, not new to most everyone else. As I write this, I have not had my Ram for about 4 days, it is over at the dealership and the nice young man who is my service adviser,(not sure if his hands have ever been dirty) called to say it is my turbo actuator. I had no clue what that was-is but I do now. I have been doing some reading and it seems that the "new" vgt turbos are great when they work and not so great when they don't. At this writing, I am not sure what direction this is going besides lots of $$ but I have read about other turbo options. OK, sorry that was a long way to just say.....What have some of you done in this case??

 

[TCDiesel]

The Turbo actuator is electronically operated, and the actuator does fail, most of the time its failure is created by the turbo operation (Sooted up). the operation of the Turbo Vanes should be checked and cleaned, If you have 2007.5-12 the entire turbo will need replacing, the Actuator is NOT serviceable for those years.

 

[Larry Sciblo]

Over a month ago, a lot of you had helped me with my CEL post about a NOX sensor going (gone) south and how it is handled at the dealer. Mine handled it fine to the tune of about a grand. It was nice to drive my truck for about two weeks without anything lit up on the dash. Kind of how it is supposed to be I would imagine. Started it up about two weeks ago on a Monday am and "bing" off goes the tone. I know , everyone has heard it!! Another light. I had it read and it was the old P003a. New to me, not new to most everyone else. As I write this, I have not had my Ram for about 4 days, it is over at the dealership and the nice young man who is my service adviser,(not sure if his hands have ever been dirty) called to say it is my turbo actuator. I had no clue what that was-is but I do now. I have been doing some reading and it seems that the "new" vgt turbos are great when they work and not so great when they don't. At this writing, I am not sure what direction this is going besides lots of $$ but I have read about other turbo options. OK, sorry that was a long way to just say.....What have some of you done in this case??

Sorry to hear about your issues. Could you tell us more about your truck...what year, how many miles, etc.

 

[rockinjwolf]

OK, sorry. I thought that I had my info up for all to see. It will be. My Ram is a 2013. It just turned over 56k miles. I have the f4 door short bed version with the ram boxes which are great BTW. Auto transmission, etc. One thing I read the other day was that my driving style may have contributed to the fowling of the vanes, etc. The writer of the article mentioned that wide open throttle now and then is good to keep things moving in turbo. My words, he said it better. I drive my truck like an old man and just chug around. I have always liked the fact that the Ram got business done at a low rpm, unlike the gas trucks. I do use my exhaust brake occasionally.
I was curious if anyone replaced the factory turbo with one that does not move its vanes. And re: what TC said above about cleaning of vanes. Can/should my dealer be doing that if they just replace the actuator? Still not sure what will be done.

 

[TCDiesel]

They will most likely check the drag on the Turbo arm/gear that moves the Vanes. if it does not move freely its only time before it destroys another actuator.

 

[Ozymandias]

Yes your driving style really dont fits this Truck, push it from time to time, on-ramps are a good place for, steep inclines to, push it to what it is built for.
Also use the EB as often as possible, that helps keep everything in shape.

Not only for the Turbo, the whole exhaust system soots up if you never "blow" through, thats not good for the long run.