Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Dieing 3cyl high idle

[KKunz]

It got down to about -20 or -30 with the wind chill the other night went to start my truck took me about 5 tries and she finally started idled up to 1200rpm just like normal and after a little bit the 3cyl idle kicked in and rpm drop to maybe 250-300 rpm I tried to over ride it by pushing on the throttle but did nothing the truck finally died after about 20 seconds, I re-started it and every thing worked fine just wandering if any one else has seen this happen.

 

[EGaskamp]

I don't know much about it because I live in Texas, but I saw a video of the 3cyl idle and its pretty crazy!

 

[johncameron]

It got down to about -20 or -30 with the wind chill the other night .

Sensors only see absolute temperatures. Wind chill is only for living creatures, (ie humans) it is how cold it feels but not the absolute temperature.

 

[Graphic man]

-10 C here in Canada and my high idle didn't even come on :{





Scott

 

[johncameron]

It's supposed to be -22C tomorrow morning here



It should be the 3rd time I've had it come on this year

 

[Sick Boy]

how do you make this high idle work?????

 

[Bob Wagner]

high idle been working here in the 20's F



be safe jc

 

[johncameron]

be safe jc

I'm safe but I'm not so sure about my neighbours :-laf

 

[Duluth Diesel]

It got down to about -20 or -30 with the wind chill the other night went to start my truck took me about 5 tries and she finally started idled up to 1200rpm just like normal and after a little bit the 3cyl idle kicked in and rpm drop to maybe 250-300 rpm I tried to over ride it by pushing on the throttle but did nothing the truck finally died after about 20 seconds, I re-started it and every thing worked fine just wandering if any one else has seen this happen.

Hey KKunz, I know what you're talking about. My '02 has done this before. I live in the northern tip of Wisconsin. It only did this to be while I was on conventional oil. -28 to -40, it is a total pain to start if not plugged in. Believe me, switch to a good full synthetic if you haven't already. It will make a huge difference. Conventional oil is SO thick at those temps, your engine can barely turn and can't build oil pressure well.



But yep, hard start, had to put my foot in it to get her going. Lots of whining and noise, not pretty. Finally all 6 come on line and it is actually idling without my foot on the pedal. OK, great. So, it starts to ramp up to 1200 rpm, all is good, but stuff is still rough. As soon as the 3 cylinder program kicks in, the 3 that were hitting all the time cut out, and 1 maybe 2 are hitting every time, and at least 1 of the 3 is missing hard. With that and the thick conventional sludge, it instantly died. So, I started it again and ran her up to 1500 with the pedal for a minute or so. Then when it went on 3 again, it held it fine.



Not a fun process, and it is hard on the engine. Plug it in if you can. When I switched to AMSOIL full synthetic, the difference in cold starting was night and day, and that was BEFORE I sold AMSOIL products. That is partially why I firmly believed in AMSOIL products before I turned it into a business.



Whatever you do, do not use starting fluid or the ether bunny. Bad deal there.



So, bottom line. Normal? Sure, sound like your engine is behaving like it has to. Is it good for it? Nope.



-Chuck

 

[Ramingit]

I don't think my truck ever ran on 3 CYLS. I bet it sounds different.



What conditions will make my truck run on 3 CYLs?

 

[KKunz]

The high idle and 3cyl idle have been working great, but since it got to -20 I’m sure the added stress of the cold and the engine only running on 3cyl is why it died. I usually run the webasto heater before staring when it’s really cold but I forgot to set the timer so cold starts are not really an issue.

 

[dclassens]

Raming it, do some searching and reading into the high idle and 3 cyl idle only in you live where it gets cold(prob won't get that cold in IL). I live in northern michigan and it never happened on my 01 or 02. these boys live where it gets dang cold and these truck are doing exactly what there are built to do, which is warm them selves up by computer reading sensors and making engine warm up.



Dave

 

[Graphic man]

i have had mine come on once... -45C... . and i though the motor jumped out of it ... i almost had puddin pants :-laf

 

[Duluth Diesel]

It makes quite a racket when it drops half the cylinders at 1200 rpm. Warms up though. First time I heard it (and I knew about the feature so I wasn't too concerned) I thought it sounded like a big angry version of my dad's old 3 cylinder Yanmar-powered John Deere.

 

[REDDODGE]

It does get that cold in IL 9 degrees tonight. Mine will do it. Do you have the jake brake on and three cylinder i heard that runs rough.

 

[Ramingit]

I did find allot about how it works by searching. Sounds like at 2 gen trucks will do it but dealer has to enable it or it can be done with a smarty programmer. I found a TSB that explains how it works. http://dodgeram.info/tsb/2001/18-019-01.htm

I hope mine works tomorrow or I'll visit the dealer to get it enabled.

 

[johncameron]

-26C this morning and my truck wasn't plugged in. I fired it up and it went into the 3-cyl high idle right away. The truck almost stalled and went back to the normal 800 idle. About 1 min later it went back to 1200/3cyl and it was A-OK. Maybe there should be a longer delay before it goes to 3-cyl? Maybe 2-3 minutes at 1200 6-cyl?





John

 

[Michael Hughes]

KKunz, I had this happen to me, but I had turned my exhaust brake on to help with warm up, walked away and the engine idled up (no problem), then it went into 3 cyl mode and died. Lesson learned, if you think it might go to 3 cyl mode don't turn your exhaust brake on.

 

[KKunz]

I agree with Johncameron, there seem to be a need for a longer delay when it’s really cold out