Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Another High Idle Question

[TNesbitt]

I know this sunject has been addressed a thousand times and I apologize for bringing it up again. I had the dealer enable the high idle on my 2001 today. I was expecting to have control of the idle from my cruise control buttons but was informed that my truck was too old for that. The high idle feature on my truck will automatically raise the idle when the engine is cold. That is a great benefit but not quite what I was wanting. I want to be able to bring the idle up when the engine temps are above the level for the automatic high idle.



Is the information the dealer gave me correct? Is the cruise control idle only on the newer trucks? And is the automatic high idle the 3 cylinder idle that I have read so much about? Would installing the clutch switch kit allow me to use the cruise buttons to control the idle?



Again, sorry for beating this dead horse again but I want know if I was told correct information. Thanks

 

[BILLVO]

On the second gen it is all ecm controlled nothing you can do. It will be high idle only if engine and ambient air temp are below 32 degrees coolant temp under 140 and park or neutral detected. the 3 cyl cut out will only happen when it gets to around 10 degrees or lower can't remember the exact temp it kicks in at. There are pto kits that will give you control of the high idle. I think BD has something to do it and other companies also. but 200-300 is a lot to just set high idle.



check out this thread if you are ambitious



https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?t=172932

 

[AndyMan]

Yeah, that's my thread. I'm still working on the solution. I THINK I've about got it figured out. I need to order some parts and get down to business with it.



I'm installing my remote starter this weekend, so hopefully after that, I'll get to the high-idle portion of my project.

 

[chazj]

TN: How long did it take for the dealer to enable this feature? I've been told on my 02 Ram that it May or May NOT have this feature & thus the only way of "knowing for sure" is to pay them to plug it in to their computer to check it out.



Not too keen on paying for an hour's labor should, in reality, the job be one done in Minutes. Especially if I find out that I can't enable this high idle feature.

 

[Bob Wagner]

charlie, anyone with a smarty can enable your high idle for FREE



seek out a smarty in your area :-laf

 

[Cummins724]

charlie, anyone with a smarty can enable your high idle for FREE



seek out a smarty in your area :-laf

Bob, can this be done on a 99 or is my truck too old... . It sounds pretty cool.

 

[johncameron]

Bob, can this be done on a 99 or is my truck too old... . It sounds pretty cool.

Yes any 2nd gen smarty will work!

 

[Cummins724]

How do you do it?... . I never saw a post explaining this. I have my own smarty.

 

[johncameron]

Every program including the "stock" program turns on the automatic high idle function. I know for sure SW0-1-3-9 and stock work on my truck!!



Basiclly as soon as you program a truck with a smarty once it will always be enabled unless someone else flashes it.



John

 

[Cummins724]

I've had smarty on every setting possible... . I'll just wait for colder days.

 

[johncameron]

It has to be just below freezing (32F) for it to work.



JC

 

[Cummins724]

It has to be just below freezing (32F) for it to work.



JC

Thanks... I'll run to the store & get some bagged ice & pack the engine compartment full. I just gotta hear it work. :-laf

 

[TNesbitt]

I was only charged for a half hour shop time for them to enable the feature and test to make sure it worked. At -20 outside temp. it didn't take long for the truck to cool off enough to engage the high idle. My dealer told me before I took the truck in that they had never done it on a manual transmission truck but would give it a try. Works great, especially when combined with my exhaust brake.

 

[JCyrbok]

I am be on to something here (probably not though)LOL

My truck has to sit over night/unplugged and be under about 25deg for the high idle to kick in. These engines are really big hunks of metal (heat sink) and will actually stay "warm" for quite a while.



That being said mine was done twice by the dealer ( I never paid a dime for it, just told them I fit the TSB criteria while in for other service and they did it both times free) and didnot work. I kind of gave up on it for a year.



When I put a DTT Noise Filter on my truck to solve a trans hunting problem, it started to work and has worked for past 2 years no prob. If u read the conditions that have to be met for the high idle to kick in, there is like 5 or 6 things that all have to be met. One if which is engine at Idle speed. I think with the "noise" in the trans/APPS circuits the PCM was not seeing the truck as being at Idle, even though it was, which the filter took care of. That is the only explaination I can come up with for mine starting to work after the filter install. Prior to install truck had been down to -15 for 2 days and it did not kick in, so I (atleast) am postive that it has something to do with the noise filter.



It is pretty cool to come out and have your truck purring away at 1200rpm. Plus it actually does warm up faster. A word of warning though. If it is cold enough for the 3 cylider cut out to kick in, carry some toilet paper the first time u walk out to that joy( I almost had an accident)! Sounds like the truck and everything within about a 20yard radius is in Jeapardy of blowing up!



Hope this helps,

J-

 

[johncameron]

I've had smarty on every setting possible... . I'll just wait for colder days.

It's 17F this morning and my truck is hummin at 1200RPM on all 6 as I write this message!



John

 

[Graphic man]

If it is cold enough for the 3 cylider cut out to kick in, carry some toilet paper the first time u walk out to that joy( I almost had an accident)! Sounds like the truck and everything within about a 20yard radius is in Jeapardy of blowing up!



Hope this helps,

J-

J,



i wonder if it has something to do with the APPS voltage ?



and yes i agree with the toilet paper..... i was 4 hrs north of Toronto (Ski-doo'n) and it was -45 our temp and it kick on ... . i ran across the park lot as fast as i could..... I though the bottom end cam out if it :-laf



my buddy said *** is wrong with your truck :-laf





Scott

 

[Cummins724]

It's 17F this morning and my truck is hummin at 1200RPM on all 6 as I write this message!



John

I started mine this morning & nothing, but I forgot that my brother plugged it in for me last night... ... What a waste of 15 bags of ice. :-laf :-laf

 

[isb360]

I don't know if the Smarty question was ever answered. If you program any 2nd gen truck with Smarty at any setting and/or return it to Stock software the high idle featuer will be there.



I had local dealer (a 5-star one... ) try to reflash ECM 3 times and it didn't "take"... until I got Smarty and now it works fine.



I have experienced the high idle a few times (VERY cool!) but have yet to hear it run on 3-cylinders. And the way we are going with 70F+ temps in New England in january, I might be waiting a while... . not to mention I had a foot operation and can't shift right now, so truck is sitting lonely in driveway for another week or two.



Tim

 

[johncameron]

I have experienced the high idle a few times (VERY cool!) but have yet to hear it run on 3-cylinders. Tim

I have a vieo in my sig of mine running on 3 cylinders. There are 2 more on youtube that I put up. My username is ram6speed

 

[TNesbitt]

Just an update. During our recent cold snap of -20 for the high temps during the day, my newly enabled high idle functioned flawlessly. I did not stay outside long enough to see if it went into 3 cylinder or not but I know the RPMs jumped to about 1100. This combined with the exhaust brake turned on gave me a nice warm truck after only 15 minutes of idling. The moral of the story, if you haven't done it yet, have the high idle feature enabled.