Getting Frustrated!!

[TDickerson]

Well, I am at the point that my 14 is not giving me the reliability or dependability that I expected. Seems that just about every time I go on a long trip I have to call my dealer to set up an appointment because a check engine light or some other service message has come on. Recently, on my trip from FL to Ms the 4X4 service system came on in AL. Was worried again after the failure of my actuator back in Jun. Again, had to have it replaced for the second time in less than a year. Dealer told me that I have the longest service repair history for a new RAM. Nice to hear that one. Anyway, I have had no problems with the engine or transmission in this truck. It just ruins my trips with constant issues related to sensors, actuators, etc. Don't get me wrong, I really like the pulling power of this truck. I just want to take a nice relaxing long trip somewhere without making a dealer appointment. What truck would it take to get that?

 

[AnOldBiker]

If these are the same problems that are constantly come up and documented at the dealer, you might look into the lemon law to see if you can make them buy it back for a new one.

My brother had several issues like this on a car and with that documentation, and the lemon law, they ended up buying it back for the same cost of when it was new, which he used as a down for another new one. Just something to consider if it's that constant and that bad.

 

[SnoKing]

Yep, get them to take it back. 2016's have new nice features like front park sense. 2015 gained power fold mirrors. New ones have front CADs. Dealer already acknowledge you problems. Snoking

 

[Reno Dave]

Thanks for posting your frustrations....I thought that I was the only one who experienced this with my 2014 2500 4X4 Tradesman. From the first day I bought the truck I experienced "Check engine Lights' for one thing or another. This went on for many many months. It seemed that I was having to make dealership appointments nearly every two weeks for a "check engine light". I too was at the end of my rope.

The last visit to the dealership I told the service adviser that these problems that keep popping up are unacceptable for a new truck and if they could not find and repair the problems once and for all that I was going to seek the Lemon Law proceedings.. This was all with less than 13000 miles on the truck.

When I went in to pick the truck up several days later, the service advisor said he had to contact Dodge HQ's to get approvals for the needed repairs and replacement parts that were still under warranty. I just wonder why the dealership did not do this in the first place 8 months earlier? Since that last visit in August I have not any more check engine light activations and have not had to schedule any appointments at the dealership. The truck is working fine but I have my fingers crossed.

To sum it all up....I was very upset to say the least for a long time and thought that these 4th generation trucks were pieces of garbage compared to the 99' that I had for 15 years. I hope that the problems your truck has get resolved quickly.

Reno Dave

 

[sag2]

When I went in to pick the truck up several days later, the service advisor said he had to contact Dodge HQ's to get approvals for the needed repairs and replacement parts that were still under warranty. I just wonder why the dealership did not do this in the first place 8 months earlier?


Reno Dave

The reason your dealer didn't do it in the first 8 months is because they did not think it was important enough. There are only a couple of things a dealer needs to get approval for, and repairing/replacing emissions, electrical, wiring parts is not one of them. Your dealer is not telling you the whole story, and unfortunately for FCA it almost cost them a repurchase and a very unhappy customer.

 

[sag2]

Well, I am at the point that my 14 is not giving me the reliability or dependability that I expected. Seems that just about every time I go on a long trip I have to call my dealer to set up an appointment because a check engine light or some other service message has come on. Recently, on my trip from FL to Ms the 4X4 service system came on in AL. Was worried again after the failure of my actuator back in Jun. Again, had to have it replaced for the second time in less than a year. Dealer told me that I have the longest service repair history for a new RAM. Nice to hear that one. Anyway, I have had no problems with the engine or transmission in this truck. It just ruins my trips with constant issues related to sensors, actuators, etc. Don't get me wrong, I really like the pulling power of this truck. I just want to take a nice relaxing long trip somewhere without making a dealer appointment. What truck would it take to get that?

The chances of two actuators going bad are pretty slim. it is more likely you had a wiring connector issue and when they remove and replace the part it makes the connection again. If you want to avoid the frustration of not knowing what is happening when you get a CEL, you might consider picking up an inexpensive scan tool so you can see for yourself what the truck is trying to tell you. My neighbor picked up a $100 Harbor Freight scanner and I am very impressed with it. It even shows rail pressure, something that is invaluable when diagnosing a fuel problem. All kinds of other engine data is displayed as well to tell you the current health of your truck. A very wise investment in my eyes.

 

[TDickerson]

The chances of two actuators going bad are pretty slim. it is more likely you had a wiring connector issue and when they remove and replace the part it makes the connection again. If you want to avoid the frustration of not knowing what is happening when you get a CEL, you might consider picking up an inexpensive scan tool so you can see for yourself what the truck is trying to tell you. My neighbor picked up a $100 Harbor Freight scanner and I am very impressed with it. It even shows rail pressure, something that is invaluable when diagnosing a fuel problem. All kinds of other engine data is displayed as well to tell you the current health of your truck. A very wise investment in my eyes.

I will admit that after spending the night in AL and starting out for MS, the 4X4 service light did not come back on for the rest of the trip to MS and back to FL. When the service light came on I did notice a slightly different sound in the front. Not sure what that was about, but the sound was similar to when I originally had my actuator go bad in Jun when arriving in VA. As far as getting a scanner, I'm not sure I am inclined enough to know what it is telling me, and will have to get it into a dealer anyway. Just will make me worry about it more. Heck, at my age now, I don't need anything more to worry about. This truck is not helping me any either. :-laf

 

[Newsa]

The chances of two actuators going bad are pretty slim. it is more likely you had a wiring connector issue and when they remove and replace the part it makes the connection again. If you want to avoid the frustration of not knowing what is happening when you get a CEL, you might consider picking up an inexpensive scan tool so you can see for yourself what the truck is trying to tell you. My neighbor picked up a $100 Harbor Freight scanner and I am very impressed with it. It even shows rail pressure, something that is invaluable when diagnosing a fuel problem. All kinds of other engine data is displayed as well to tell you the current health of your truck. A very wise investment in my eyes.

I have the Harbor Freight Tools scanner. It's a Cen-Tech brand made in China. Way better than the Actron I had years ago.

Sag2, what's the difference between FRP-A & FRP-A CMD?

The instructions say to hook up to the vehicle with engine off, but key in Run position.
So I haven't looked at the "Live Data" with the engine running yet..... because I was following the instructions.
And the instructions don't say to crank the engine on. I think the instructions were written by a chinaman too.

 

[photowrite]

When I went in to pick the truck up several days later, the service advisor said he had to contact Dodge HQ's to get approvals for the needed repairs and replacement parts that were still under warranty. I just wonder why the dealership did not do this in the first place 8 months earlier? Since that last visit in August I have not any more check engine light activations and have not had to schedule any appointments at the dealership. The truck is working fine but I have my fingers crossed.

Sounds like a lazy dealer...Reno Dodge?

I know that 'updates' can fix problems, but they can also create them. This is one reason I don't want to take my 2014 2500 back to a dealer for anything. My truck runs and works perfectly and how I like it, but if it leaves my control there is a chance it will not return the same/how I want. Luckily and happily, my '14 has been trouble free thus far and I'd like to keep it that way for years.

 

[sag2]

Sag2, what's the difference between FRP-A & FRP-A CMD?

Rail pressure actual and rail pressure commanded. And I believe without looking it up the HF scanner is a re-branded Autel.