ETC flashing red light

[magothy1]

And the orange engine silhouette light in the tach dial, both are on, just kinda out of the blue. I pulled over and checked the manual, it said to cycle the ignition switch and would go off. I did, it did, then 15 minutes later it started flashing again. I had a load of stuff I wanted to get back to home base, all the numbers looked good on the read outs, mpg's were steady, so I drove it. No bad smells, not running rough. Any ideas ?

I'm not real keen on my local dealer after my last bit of service. The rear fuel filter was so tight I almost used up all my cuss words. a strap wrench wouldn't get it. I was a shrimper for 40 years, owned two boats, I've changed no end of fuel and oil filters. Never had to struggle like that, but then I'm an old knuckle dragger.

It's a 2016 Tradesman 3500 dually, 140,000 miles, 68RFE, 3.42 rear

 

[Ozymandias]

Get AlfaOBD so we know what the truck wants to tell you, especially when you don't like to do a trip to the dealer*. It's only 50$ in the appstore and another around 70$ for the Bluetooth dongle.
You can't work on a modern vehicle without the electronic side of it.

Okay, some people believe in the parts gun as a solution....

*you still need the dealer for the needed updates

 

[magothy1]

The light showed up Monday, on a 55 mile drive, around mile 20. After letting it sit an hour or so, I drove to the trash dump, maybe 20 minute round trip, 35 mph, no lights showed up. Yesterday I drove it probably 25 miles, a bit of 55 mph, mostly 30-45, no lights. All the gauge numbers are good, mpg numers are good. I'll drive it the 55 mile trip this afternoon and see what happens.

 

[Jim W]

You need a code reader to really know what is going on. The code reader that Ozzy mention is one of the better ones for our trucks.

I have had a code reader since 2008, for my truck and this has saved me several $$$ since the reader will displaying the proper DTC for repair required. My younger son has borrowed my reader several times also and has used mine on his truck saving the dollars he would have spent taking his truck to a dealer to fix.

 

[magothy1]

Good tip on the code reader, thanks. Knocking on wood here, but I haven't seen the light since that first time, truck is running like a top.

 

[Jim W]

The DTC is still stored in the truck ECM just not being displayed. You can retrieve and clear this coded from the ECM with most good code readers. I don't like stored codes in my trucks ECM and not knowing what the issue might be. Just saying!