Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Factory ECM has fast idle option in cold weather

[Cobra]

DOUBLE 6,



what is this high idler kit from practical solutions??



I don't think I want my truck reflashed. I live in Pa. and it would be nice to have it idle faster in the morning 1st start.

 

[Bob Wagner]

here ya go Cobra

http://www.psdieselproducts.bizland.com/page3.html

 

[MUDDY]

another choice for a fast idler. check pg 146 of the previous, not current, issue of the tdr. 35 bucks and easy to install. i just got mine on last week and it sure works slick.

contact

harold bowers

19528 lloyd lane

caldwell id 83607

208 459-7849



-- email address removed --

 

[Shelby Griggs]

IT WORKS!!!!!!!!!!

Got about 4 inches of snow here today. I started the truck tonight, around 32° maybe a little less. At first nothing, but after 1-2 minutes of idling, it ramped up to 1000 RPM and then to 1200 RPM and stayed there until I got ready to go and tapped the brake. The speed up appeared to be delayed and in two steps.



This an an ETH / DEE, so that rumor can be put to bed. I wasn't plugged in, and the grid heater did cycle, so I don't think the grid heater is defeating the high idle.



Could it be, that we all have just been too impatient? It appears to take a couple of minutes to activate.



Hopefully it will work again.



Shelby

 

[PKozlowski]

Well I think they finally got it fixed.

it works just fine. truck is sitting outside

high idling as I write this !!!!!



The dealer did have to change the battery temp

sensor. it was reading 8+ degrees higher the

the actual temp.

 

[TBrown]

Battery temp sensor??

Do you know where the battery temp sensor is located? I didn't know such a thing existed. It has only been down to 22* here and the high idle didn't work then, and I had to scrape the windows so it should of had time to kick in. What are the steps you must follow. Set parking brake, start and release clutch? Nice to know it does work though. Tony

 

[PKozlowski]

Ya the Battery temp sensor. Located under the batteries.

I didn't look for mine, but that is where the mechanic says

it's at.



all I did to activate it was, before I turned the key on.

i set the parking brake, put in nutral (6spd)

hit the key, waited for light to go out, then started it.

I waited about 1 to 2 mins also. then it stepped right up

at 160 degrees water temp it stopped the high idle(normal)

I can't tell if it is running on 3 cylinders or not.



it was 24 deg outside all night. had the truck parked outside

not plugged in since noon yesterday.

 

[Cobra]

High idle

Well guys I am glad to here it is finally working for some. Do you recommend getting the reflash. I wasn't going to have it done. I live in Pa. and it does get cold. I keep my truck in the garage and anytime the temp goes below 40 I plug it in. It is on a timer which is set for 5 AM.



My concern was that when they reflash the ECM they will fowl up something.

 

[DFormstone]

Still doesn't work

Well the temperature here was -11 C so the fast idle should have worked. I engaged the park brake gear lever in neutral (5 speed) turned the ignition ON waited for the intake heater to warm up then hit the starter. I had some snow to shovel so it had lots of time to kick in. Sad to say no-go. One thing that was mentioned earlier is that the program has to be activated and I don't know if that was done. Anybody know how I can check this or does it have to back to the dealer? One more question, I have a remote start unit can this effect the fast idle program?

 

[David_VT]

Great news for our first winners....

Battery Sensor, you have got to love that one.



OUCH



---

DFormstone,

IMHO, if the remote starter is not having any influence on the go pedal (or TPS), and it does not interfere with any of the safety sensors (parking brake, neutral safety on auto, etc), then there is little reason to suspect it is taking part in your continued frustration with DC.



Now being in Canada it would not surprise me at all if the system was being effected by something as simple as degrees C vs degrees F... (doubtful but who really knows)



--

Battery Sensor, I hope we don't discover that it comes from the same folks who made the left handed smoke shifter. .



---

 

[redeye]

As I’m writing this, outside temp here is thirty-four degrees.



Went to the dealer for the update. They refused saying, it is only recommended in climates such as Alaska, because it not only changes idle speeds but also engine characteristics for running in frigid temps.



Sounds like BS to me... what do you think?

 

[Happy Camper]

I can see it now. Tooling down the road 70mph and all of a sudden the ECM malfunctions and you are running on 3 clys.



Seriously. It sounds like a great idea. I will be interested how it turns out. Also if it is limited to auto transmission.

 

[Cobra]

ECM reflash

Redeye,

I think your dealer is giving you BS but, I would'nt want the reflash if I didn't live in a pretty cold climate. I have made up my mind yet and I live in Pa. I am not sure of central Cal's climate but if it is moderate I would think the reflash would be beneficial.

Just my . 02

 

[Bad340fish]

If you take out your drivers side battery you will see the beloved battery sensor. I guess it helps the charging system to maintain the Optimum voltage to the batteries or something who knows.

Clark

 

[Wheaties]

battery sensor

Yup, the battery sensor monitors temp so that it can vary the charge rate to the batteries.



It's in the shop manual



Matt

 

[PKozlowski]

It actually does work

Since I was one of the people complaining so much

about the TSB, I figure I better be one of the first

to explain things when it does work!



first, it does work.

Last Thursday I left the truck outside and the temp was around

25 deg all night. Fired up the truck a bingo! Up comes

the idle to 1200 rpms ! Cool I figured. It ran great.



Since then I parked it in the garage, outside temp has

been around 8 to 12 deg all day for last few days.

Anyway, it would not work. Probably didn't get the

battery temp low enough. I don't like that, they need

to change that part of the program. Isn't it that if the

battery is 40 or below ? Well my personal oppinion is

it should be about 70 to 100 ! no joke...



Well here is the very interesting if not a little scarey part!



I left the truck outside again last night, around 5 to 8 degrees

all night.



I got in, fired it up and up comes the idle! Cool!

Now here is where it got spooky!



I am sitting there just enjoying this watching the tach

sit there at 1200 rpms for about 2 seconds !

Then all of a sudden this sucker decided to idle on 3

cylinders !!! it had never done that before!

When Cummins said the pitch of the engine will change

they were not kidding! I though it was going to litterally blow up! My wife and son ran out

side to see what had happend!



I will say one more thing, it does "seem" to run different

after this. Not sure how to explain it, it's just different.

Going down the road at 75 mph, it just seemed much

louder and other "things" seemed different.

Just the way the engine ran. . Hard to explain.



So there we have it, it dose seem to work... .

 

[3dracer]

it is supposed to go back to normal, when you achieve a speed of 1 or more though right? I didn't think it still worked when you drove down the road. But I do like the option for my opinion.

 

[Shelby Griggs]

The kick off will be before you even move. Putting my foot on the brake killed it on mine (the one time I have seen it work). I believe releasing the parking brake also kills it.



Shelby

 

[PKozlowski]

Right, it Does kick off if you touch the gas, brake clutch

etc. .



I mean after it kicked off the engine seems different...



At lunch it felt and sounded like it's old self again.



Dodge wants my truck back tonight so they can

and I quote, "experiment" with it !!!



They want to move a sensor to somewhere else.

Not sure which one, Yet... ...



I will let you know.

 

[dresslered]

You mean to tell me that Dodge does not have one of their own trucks to "experiment" with????