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

[GKinney]

another trip

Thanks for the confirmation guys... . I was afraid of that. Well I thought that was the order it was supposed to happen in... guess I will be calling the dealer again tomorrow... . Thought I would be one of the lucky ones that got it the first time. ok thanks again. . I'll keep you posted. The sad part is, the temps are suppossed to be 40*F by the end of the week... . have to wait for cold to test again. P. S. so are both features turned on together then, or are they seperate??

 

[SnoKing]

Step one is too flash the computer unless it is 2002 which some or most had the flash installed at the factory. Would have to been a build date after Sept. 2001. Then the Tech has to use the DRB III and enable the 3 cylinder idle option. Turning on the 3 cylinder idle option turns on both fast idle and 3 cylinder idle. No way to have one without the other. Print out the TSB and take it with you. Ask to watch as the tech looks at the screen with the three cylinder menu item. Make sure that they can go back into it a second time and verify that it is saved as on. The TSB has detailed steps to follow to save the setting. SNOKING



13. 3. 3 CYLINDER IDLE - Follow the instructions



The DRB III will indicate whether the feature is enabled or disabled.

14. Push 1 to Enable, 2 to Disable.



15. You are instructed to cycle the ignition to complete the repair.



16. Press Page Back to Exit.

 

[GKinney]

try again

Thanks SNOKING,,, I thought that they were both enabled together... wanted to make sure though. I had a copy of the tsb with me... . as they had it printed out too when I got there. My guess is that it is not enabled. I will call them in the morning to see when they can look at it. Sux that the weather is going to be warmer this week... . probably be hard to find a night cold enough to test it... oh well. Thanks again.

 

[GKinney]

away we go

Well I am a headin' to the dealer again on Tuesday morning... . 8:00. I hope I can talk to the tech before he fumbles through the procedure again. Not sure if they will let me go back in the garage to watch or not... probably not. I figure I have one maybe two nights this week until Sunday when it will be cold enough to test it, supposed to be about 25-28*F. I guess if it doesn't work this time... I have a diesel shop owner interested in it that just happens to own Dodges latest and greatest scan tools (drbIII), I might give him a call since I already have the flash upgrade done. . he just needs to have a look see to tell what is going on. Be nice to have about $4k to spend on my own drbIII..... but then again I need injectors, sb clutch, turbo, lots of tires... well you know the list... haha. Keep you posted!!

 

[tgee]

Detroit Diesel has had this for years. Its called Half Engine. Makes alot of sense. If I took my 98 1/2 to the Dodge dealer to have software upgraded does anybody know how much it will cost?

 

[Coyote556]

I had it reflashed under warranty, however they never turned it on. I have since moved and went to the dealership in my new town (with a copy of the TSB in hand) and asked them to do it. THey said it had been reflashed, and I explained it was done under warranty, however I still had to pay $49 to get it done. WHat made me even more angry was they charged me . 8 hours to do it and the TSB says it takes lots less. Heck, the truck wasn't in the bay over 10 minutes. Thank you 5*. #@$%!

 

[GKinney]

flash cost

tgee,, when I took mine in last Fri. , they charged me $29 for the reflash... . but it still doesn't work. . . We'll see how much they charge me today... and if they get it enabled or not. Keep you posted.

 

[SnoKing]

Point of Fact about this TSB. It is designed to prevent bent pushrods from prolong idling in cold weather. The warming up faster is only a bi-product. You need to tell them you live in a very cold area and that you are "concerned" about damaging the engine by idling it for extended times in the cold. You have to "meet" the requirements of the TSB to get it done under warranty. I told them that I snowmobile in Eastern Washington a lot in the winter (think Cold), idled the engine in the morning alot and when I returned from a day on the snowmobile and the truck had been setting in the mountains all day. SNOKING

 

[GKinney]

update

I printed out a little instruction sheet like SNOKING stated that said "check to see if 3cyl. high idle is enabled, if not-enable it, save and exit screen, then go back into menu to see if it was saved",,, something to that effect. So when I got there this morning. . I gave this print out to the tech. ,he promptly hooked up the drbIII and found it was NOT enabled... . imagine that!! So he brought the truck back out in about 5 minutes telling me it was enabled now and ready to go. Wish I would have printed out something like that on last Fri. oh well live and learn. They didn't charge me anything this time... so if it works, it only cost me $29... lots cheaper than an after market box. Now I need some cold to check it out. . . Thanks for all your help guys. gary

 

[GKinney]

Final Chapter

Well I woke this morning to a new year and a temp of 26*F... . I figured it was too warm to get any results on the high idle. I went out and started it up..... walked back inside for a moment... then I heard her ramping up. . Oo. Wow... . it kicked on before the preheaters were done cycling. I went out bumped the go pedal... . idled back down. Minute later... she went back up. It is awesome... now I need some real cold weather to see how she sounds on three cyl. Thanks again for all the help!!!! Gary

 

[Coyote556]

did anyone else notice their fuel mileage drop about 2mpg after the reflash? I keep very detailed accounts of every tank of fuel I burn and I have noticed my mileage dropped off.

 

[GKinney]

mpg

Coyote 556,, it's been over a week since my re-flash... haven't really noticed any drop in mpg. I almost always check it when I fill 'er up. The last time I checked the other day it was 19. 6... . about average for the cold months and 850# in the back, sux having a 2 wheeler. Going on a road trip today..... see what it does.

 

[Alphacowboy]

well, of course you are going to loose Fuel Mileage, think about it, you truck is sitting there idling at 1200rpms vrs 800. Its going to suck down the fuel big time. and now that you probably let it idle, after having this mod done, instead of shutting her down, again it will use fuel that you were not before. I remember with my Gasser I had a remote start, just from using it for 10-20 min before I left, I used ALOT of gas just using the remote start, I dont see this being much different. With that said, I think I might have to look into this, as I do like to high-idle my truck, as I let it run alot when I am not in it.

 

[ntillm01]

GKinney: Glad it worked finally. As others have stated, it is worth it to get it working. Sticking valves or not, it just makes sense to have the engine controls fast idle and 3-cylinder load the engine in cold weather. I have had both of these features work in 12 F weather now. Seems like after it has kicked in once, it is less finicky about doing it again.

When mine goes into fast idle, it starts to ramp up within 15 seconds of starting. Watching it, it idles at 1200 RPM with one of the grid heaters on steady (based on my volt meter) and stays there. One time, I let it warm up for 20 minutes. The temp gauge went to the second mark on the guage, then it automaticaly idled down. When it's cold enough for the 3-cylinder idle, it kicks in as soon as it reaches 1200 RPM in my experience. The first time, I was a little startled, but it wasn't as bad as some have stated. It sounds mostly like it's pulling a trailer up a grade. It seems to alternate which three are disabled too, cause you can hear the engine run normal for a brief second, then load up again on 3-cylinders.

 

[GKinney]

warm weather

ntillm01: I noticed that you live not too far from me. You know it is very nice we have this warm 53* temps outside... . but I am dieing to hear the 3cyl. idle work. But at least I know the flash is working now... that was my biggest concern. And I am afraid we will get some cold stuff before Spring. Thanks for the reply. Have a good weekend!!! Gary

 

[Coyote556]

alphacowboy,



i guess i did not clarify enough. i had mine reflashed last year, but the dealer never turned the feature on, therefore, i have had the updated software in my computer for about one year, however the cold idle feature has only worked for about 2 weeks. i noticed the fuel mileage drop off right when i had the reflash done a year ago.

 

[ntillm01]

GKinney: Yes, the "Spring" weather we're having is nice, but February is still coming



I don't know if I've lost any MPG because of the reflash. I had itdone just as Fall was setting in and the MPG always goes down for me in the winter for various reasons. I have read others that definitely notice a drop in MPG, maybe it affect the 5 and 6-speeds more than the automatics? I do know that the most recent flash included a fix for a complaint of low power when towing, especially in overdrive. To me, that means more fuel used than before to get that power boost. That may explain it.

 

[GKinney]

Finally

Well I finally got to hear the beast running on 3 this morning. Wow what a sweet sound it makes. Yes I can see your comments about it sounding like she is chucking a rod... ... I loved the bark from the BD 4" exhaust. Hope the neighbors didn't mind,, but then again... who cares. haha.

 

[Coyote556]

pretty neat how the smoke disappears when the 3 cyl feature kicks in. I noticed that this morning when it was about 6 degrees.

 

[ntillm01]

Well I finally got to hear the beast running on 3 this morning. Wow what a sweet sound it makes. Yes I can see your comments about it sounding like she is chucking a rod... ... I loved the bark from the BD 4" exhaust. Hope the neighbors didn't mind,, but then again... who cares. haha.

Isn't it though? The neighbors should have their windows closed in the first place... after all, it's 6 degrees out!

Glad it works for you guys. I know I like it! Gotta get the cat out of the power steering pump though... next project.