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

[DPelletier]

I feel bad for you guys that are having to pay. I have had three reflashes done, all for free( 18-019-01, 21-004-01 automatic OD cold temp lockout, and 18-024-00 low power in OD). I simply faxed the entire TSB to my dealer prior to booking a scheduled service and no arguments. I suppose they would be happier when you bring your truck back for warranty repair of bent push-rods! It doesn't cost them anything (reimbursed from DC) and I would think that DC would view it as a cheap preventative measure.

It should get cold enough here real soon, and I will let everyone know if it works.



Dave

 

[Texas Diesel]

TSB 18-019-01, 1998. 5 to 2002 BR/BE, "REIMBURSABLE WITHIN THE PROVISIONS OF THE WARRANTY" Labor Operation Number: 08-19-47-90, Module, Powertrain - Reprogram. 0. 5 Hrs. NOTE THIS: >>>>>

"Failure code = FM [ Flash Module ]"



This IS covered by the warranty.



The word "Enable" appears twice in the TSB seemingly to indicate that the reflash must be ENABLED.

 

[David_VT]

heard back from cummins... wrong answer..

Cummins (Powermaster@cummins.com) replied to my query about the high idle upgrade...



Unfortunatly they sent me a form message on the idle speed of all the dodge cummins engines. Just the normal idle stuff and how to adjust for the various models that can be adjusted.



I sent a new message, far more detailed. .



who knows...





Why not send your own question on this. The more who ask, the more likely we will get a good answer... .



Thx

 

[Pit Bull]

I'm a newbe so please excuse the dumb questions. I thought that you were suppose to not let your engine idle very long and just start the truck, put it in neutral to get the transmission fluid moving and wait a couple of minutes and then drive it, keeping the RPM's under 2000? If I do this will I be hurting anything? If I get this tsb done, how long should you let the engine idle without hurting the engine? Sorry about my lack of knowledge.

Denny

 

[David_VT]

no dumb questions here

The higher idle that some of us are after is to address the unfavorable effects of extended idling with our trucks due to the issues noted in the TSB (top of this thread).



Speaking for myself, there are times when I would like to let my truck idle and not have to worry about causing problems to my favorite engine!



Examples in no order:



An owner who wants to start their truck and leave it to warm up on an ice cold morning. Currently if you forget you left it running and get side tracked for a couple hours, you might not find the truck running as well as it was the day before.



Vol. firefighter or first responder who needs the truck to run so as to power emergency lights at an accident or site on a snowy winter day.



TDR member who wants to hear their favorite sound while cross country skiing...



Home owner wishing to use their 35K truck to run a 1000watt inverter when the house power goes out. (a cheap gas generator could probably do this for a couple hundred bucks but what is the fun of that) Really I do this (sort of) to charge my batteries in the truck every few hours. This small inverter does not need to have the truck running for it to operate, just to refresh the charge from time to time.



etc etc... .

 

[Fireman Dave]

Dennis,



I know what you're saying. When I first saw this thread, I thought it sounded good, and I thought I might have it done. But after thinking it over, I've decided I'm not going to have it done. I don't excessively idle my truck, so I don't see any reason to have them going in there playing around with things. For an example, just look at MN Cummins Lvr. He just had his in for this, but they did the wrong reflash! They reflashed him for an automatic trans. TSB! Not too beneficial for him and his FIVE SPEED! I also must admit that the whole concept of shutting down 1/2 of the engine doesn't sound good to me. Also, I've been following this thread all along, and nobody whose had it done has had it work properly yet. Part of that may be the usual dealer incompetence, but I also wonder if this thing really does work. For me, I don't see a benefit, but it may be a good thing for others. Just my 2 cents.



Dave

 

[MidwestMotorman]

owners manual

Does anyone know why and/or what the cold starting steps do in the owner's manual when it refers to raising the idle briefly above 1100 rpm right after starting in cold weather? I can not remember what temp was stated, but I believe it is somewhere in the 20 to 35 degree range. Does this enable some special fueling curve or cause a longer heater cycle?



I know that we all read the owner's manual and follow it religiously.

 

[JPolk]

I had mine reflashed two weeks ago at the delealership (for no charge); However, I'm still waiting for the high idle to activate. We have had several cold mornings here with temps. in the high teens. Hope I don't have to wait for it to get any colder for it to work! Will wait and see???





Jason

 

[Pit Bull]

I think I am going to pass on this reflash, based on the climate where I live and the fact that I plug the truck in and don't let it idle. even though it is free there is also the chance that something could get screwed up. If I thought I needed it I might take the chance. But based on what I have read by several members I'm going to pass. Thanks for the information, it is alway great to get all of the facts and then make an informed decision. This site is great.

Denny

 

[Speedo]

I had mine reflashed on the 25th and the next morning @+3F. nothing happened. I will talk to the dealer tomorrow and inquire about the enable in addition to the reflash. Mine was the first one

that they had done, it was covered under warranty without any hesitation.

 

[Racechaser]

22 degrees this morning....

I've been waiting three weeks to try this high idle deal, went out this a. m. , 22 degrees, fired her up, 800 rpm. I can't say I was surprised. Has anyone had this work yet?

 

[Shelby Griggs]

Had mine done today, no charge. I asked and they noted that it was enabled on the work order. We will see. Not going to be cold enough tonight.



Shelby

 

[PKozlowski]

Cold wx warm up

I had mine done. Worked great, One time.

It has been more then cold enough for it to work.



Took it back to dealer, there was a code in the computer

that the rear wheel speed sensor was bad or giving wrong

indication. They checked the sensor, it is ok.

Still doesn't work.

After 4 days in the shop, no one knows what is wrong.

The mechanic talked to Dodge, who inturned lead him

to the dodge engineers who inturn lead him to Cummins

engineers who could not figure it out !!!!!!



I called my local Cummins shop and they said they don't work

on the small truck just the big ones. Called all the Cummins

shops I could find and none will touch it.



Well I will bring the truck back to Dodge at lunch and if it

put the rear wheel speed sensor code back in the computer

If it is there, I will start the lemon law process. 3rd time is a charm... ...



I can't complain about the mechanic at the Dodge deal,

This guy has bent over backwards to try and figure this out!

More then willing to explain things to me.

 

[pete b]

I had mine done the other day, but it has yet to be cold enough to give it a try. I did not have to pay... I told them it had a rough idle when cold and that was enough. The dealer was as helpful as they could be.

 

[PKozlowski]

Cold wx warm up

Took the truck to the dealer at lunch because the

mechanic wanted to see it today and see if it produced

any more codes.



Nope! YIPEE!!!



So the next cold morning this thing "should" work.



I live in Wyoming so it should take very long to find out.

 

[Texas Diesel]

Just spent 30 mins with the dealership mechanic and it seems the cold idle engine warming TSB is not for HO engines. We looked and looked and it was only available for ETC's

 

[PKozlowski]

Cold Wx warm up

After 4 days in the shop to figure out this

so called cold weather warm up.

it is 29 degrees this morning!

Cummins and Dodge said it turns on at 40 deg.



I fired her up and guess what !

Nothing happend.



I wrote Cummins an email about the cold wx

warm up and they told me they don't even

know what I'm talking about.



Told me to take it to the local truck big truck

shop to help me with a problem they don't even

know anything about.



Called local truck shop, they won't touch it.



I never ever though I'd say this but what was

that other truck manufacurer ?? begins with

an F ... ... . One thing I can admit to is they

knew what was going on. Dodge and Cummins don't.

I never ever thought I would say that!!!!

:-(



No flames please, this is just my own

personal opinion and I'm a little ticked at

Dodge/Cummins.

 

[Racechaser]

Wow! You almost said the 'F' word! I agree though, you would think that when a TSB comes out, DC would know more about it. It's almost as if you have to track down whoever typed the bulletin to get any info.

 

[MidwestMotorman]

look up

PKozlowski



Read the post above yours. You have an HO, and it will not work if that is correct.

 

[David_VT]

Well,

I jumped on this thread fairly early and was happy to get the software installed for free (sort of).

I share everyone's frustration at the lack of functionality but continue to 'hold my breath' that someone will get lucky and figure it out!!!



Just bought a 14yr old chevy diesel plow truck (yes, on it's second 6. 2). The price was right and the plow will fit my suburban if the p/u can't be saved. So, my thermal concerns are now being distracted by the new project.....



BTW, the f*** has some high idle feature and this is probably what is driving DC to roll out this software. Too bad they did not test it better... .