BD Cool Down Timer Issues

[KeithSmith]

I posted this in the BD Forum on their website and didn't get any answers.



I recently installed the 1081160 Cool Down Timer on my 2007 5. 9 Automatic. I installed everything exactly as the instructions said (thermocouple is post-turbo) and the timer works great.



The problem is that when the truck takes more than about 1 minute (set at 400 degrees) to cool down DTC's are set. Everytime this happens I get a these codes...



P0646- AC clutch circuit low

P0973- Shift solenoid A circuit Low

P2769- Torque Converter Clutch Circuit Low

P0708- Transmission Range Sensor CIrcuit high

C1008- Brake fluid level circuit high

C2206- Vehicle Configuration mismatch

U0141- Lost communication with FCM

B212D- Ignition Run only input circuit open



Hooked the truck up to a Snap On Solus cleared the codes, started the truck and let the timer work again and the codes came right back. When I disconnect the timer from the system no codes are set.



What do I need to do so that I can use the timer without setting any codes? Is there another module (TCM, BCM, etc) that I need to send power to?



Thanks,

Matt



2007 Dodge Ram 3500 Mega Cab, DRW, 5. 9 L.

 

[brods]

Can't speak for your 07 nor do I know about the BD unit. My 05 truck needs more than one circuit powered to run correctly. I have an older Isspro turbo saver that I have never installed partly because of this.



Look at the wiring diagrams for the ignition switch on the 07 and compare them to how the BD unit hooks up. If the BD unit only keeps one circuit hot and the codes are coming from other circuits, then thats your problem. The solution will depend on your desire to keep the circuits separate, as the Dodge engineers designed them, or if you are comfortable just tying some of them together as some cooldown timer mfgs suggest.



See what BD recommends first.

 

[KeithSmith]

The BD tech guy told me on the phone that the only wire they power is the ECM keep alive. Obviously, this will keep the truck running but the other modules will still set codes. He did not have an answer for me. I am going to call on Monday and see if I can talk to an engineer. I would hope that they designed the product so that it would not set codes.



Any more help would be appreciated.



thanks,

matt

 

[brods]

Imo the proper solution is to use a 12vdc relay wired in parallel with the ignition switch. Then have the cooldown unit control the relay. It would be like having two ignition switches, one controlled by the key and one by the cooldown unit. This way the circuits are properly fused and kept separate as they were designed to be.



I even picked up a SquareD 12 VDC industrial relay to do this, but never got around to finding a suitable timer as a safety to prevent the truck from running on indefinitely.



It appears the BD units have a timer built in so only a relay (with enough sets of contacts for the circuits that need to be powered) would be required for a proper installation.



Like anything else there is more than one way to skin a cat. Good luck and let us know what solution you wind up with.

 

[KeithSmith]

I just talked to a BD tech guy. He said that with these trucks there is no way to get around these codes. He kept pointing out that they were soft codes and the check engine light will eventually turn off. Soft codes or not, I don't want to look at a check engine light. If a company releases a product that sets a check engine light that should be stated in the product information.



Brods: I think I think I will try to power the ignition switch circuit. The timer already as a switched ignition input. I am not sure yet how making the ignition circuit an output will affect the timer.



Thanks for the help, I will keep on trying.



matt

 

[brods]

Matt, I’m not sure I follow what you plan to do. Keep in mind the ignition switch is not like a simple light switch. The ignition switch is like several separate light switches tied together so when you turn the key they all flip at the same time. Each little internal switch has its own power feed wire from the fuse box and sends power out a separate wire to the controllers, etc.



The wiring diagram for your truck will show the ignition switch as a rectangle with the wires coming from the fuse block going into the top and the wires to the various controllers, etc going out to the bottom. The individual switches are shown inside the rectangle as dots and arrows.



My 05 shows six separate switches, also known as contacts, inside the ignition switch. Iirc of those six, only two or three are needed to run the truck without throwing codes. Check the wiring diagram for your truck. It can be confusing and if you don’t understand the diagram then I’d highly recommend you find someone that does before trying to wire it differently than what the BD instructions recommend.

 

[KeithSmith]

Update:



Alright, I've got it working great now. Everything is hooked up per the instructions. All I had to do was add a wire, fuse, and switch so that the system will work properly without setting codes.



The fused wire runs from the trans pump output on the timer (not normally used on my '07) to the ignition switch wire. This allows everything that is normally switched on by the ignition switch (TCM, BCM, Cluster, AirBags etc. ) to stay on while the timer is running. After 2,000 miles and many shut-offs I am still DTC free.



The only problem this created was that pressing the brake pedal will not shut the truck off. This is because the timer sees ignition power at the box and disables this function because it thinks the key is still on. I added a switch in that wire so now if I need to shut the truck off I simply hit the switch and the brake pedal. This works out well also because by hitting the switch it completely takes the timer out of the system in case I don't want it to activate. I think BD should have built an on-off switch into the timer anyway.



So much for two BD tech guys telling me there is no way to hook up the timer without setting codes.



matt