It just quit

[rfitzgarrald]

My truck just quit running. ETC light came on, then the “check gauges” light, check engine light, rpm went to zero. Put into neutral to coast to the side of the road & stood on the brakes (coming down the hill) & no power steering. Tried to start & nothing, nada! Acting like dead batteries. Lights work, but nothing else. Any suggestions?
Thanks in advance. Will post results.

 

[STeichert]

My 07.5 did this once and it was a bad alternator. The voltage meter was dropping and when the batteries died so did the engine. Will yours start with jumper cables? Mine did but would die when they were removed.

 

[rfitzgarrald]

My 07.5 did this once and it was a bad alternator. The voltage meter was dropping and when the batteries died so did the engine. Will yours start with jumper cables? Mine did but would die when they were removed.

The tow truck operator hooked up jumper cables but to no avail. My Scan Gauge didn’t show a trouble code either.
Thanks for the reply

 

[CVR222NV]

My truck just quit running. ETC light came on, then the “check gauges” light, check engine light, rpm went to zero. Put into neutral to coast to the side of the road & stood on the brakes (coming down the hill) & no power steering. Tried to start & nothing, nada! Acting like dead batteries. Lights work, but nothing else. Any suggestions?
Thanks in advance. Will post results.

I had my alternator stop charging and the engine eventually died. However, I saw on my volt gauge the volts dropping and it continued to drop and finally cut out at around 6V. Were you watching the volt gauge when the engine died? When my voltage got close to 6V the engine went into a limp mode just before it died. When my buddy showed up (I had already checked to make sure I still had a functioning belt) we finally noticed that the plug on the side of the alternator had become unplugged. Plugged it back in and jumped the truck and it fired right up and started charging again.

 

[STeichert]

What is the ETC light you said came on? Do you get any key on power, or is everything just dead? Seems electrical to me, but just guessing.

 

[rfitzgarrald]

What is the ETC light you said came on? Do you get any key on power, or is everything just dead? Seems electrical to me, but just guessing.

ETC (electronic throttle control). Batteries are fully charged, lights & windows work. It’s acts similar to trying to start in gear, no clicking just dead silent. Mechanic says no communication between modules ‍
I can’t pull up any codes with my scan gauge II. So evidently, it’s further in than what I can access through the OBDII port.

 

[rfitzgarrald]

My truck just quit running. ETC light came on, then the “check gauges” light, check engine light, rpm went to zero. Put into neutral to coast to the side of the road & stood on the brakes (coming down the hill) & no power steering. Tried to start & nothing, nada! Acting like dead batteries. Lights work, but nothing else. Any suggestions?
Thanks in advance. Will post results.

Sorry for such a late update. The verdict came in a couple of wks ago. Turned out to be the ECM went south. Searched the ‘net & found a business in NY. Lifetime warranty, no core charge, plug & play. Both the mechanic and I were crossing our fingers. Did exactly what they claimed, plug & play. Truck started up at the turn of the key. WooHoo! Here’s the but, plastic radiator tank cracked. New 3core all aluminum radiator installed. Test drive…no engine brake & overhead display says “perform service”. Damn!, 2 new problems.
How do you reset the perform service msg & could it be the turbo actuator that’s bad or could it be in the programming of the ECM?
Thanks for the help.

 

[Topzide]

Could be the actuator since it's built with 4K hour components! Mine went out between 4K and 5K. Replace with the City Diesel unit that Genos sells. It was plug and play! City's unit is built with 20K components which is a big plus and seems to be smoother than the factory unit. Of course check the ECM connector for issues (pin push out, corrosion and the such). Worst part if it turns out to be the actuator is that you'll have to drain coolant again! The preform service message could be for the CCV filter. It's tripped every 67.5K. I would replace the filter every other time only and then the in between times, do both filter and clean the EGR valve. I got my truck at around the 130K mark and did both not knowing if it had been done prior. After seeing how much carbon their was in the EGR system, made the choice on that schedule. Hope this helps in getting an answer.

 

[rfitzgarrald]

Could be the actuator since it's built with 4K hour components! Mine went out between 4K and 5K. Replace with the City Diesel unit that Genos sells. It was plug and play! City's unit is built with 20K components which is a big plus and seems to be smoother than the factory unit. Of course check the ECM connector for issues (pin push out, corrosion and the such). Worst part if it turns out to be the actuator is that you'll have to drain coolant again! The preform service message could be for the CCV filter. It's tripped every 67.5K. I would replace the filter every other time only and then the in between times, do both filter and clean the EGR valve. I got my truck at around the 130K mark and did both not knowing if it had been done prior. After seeing how much carbon their was in the EGR system, made the choice on that schedule. Hope this helps in getting an answer.

I’ll check the ECM connection. Thanks. Is there a fuse in the fuse block for the actuator ? If so, do you know the location in the fuse block?

 

[Topzide]

Not sure on your MY. Quick Google search says it might be #37, but don't hold that against me. If you're loosing boost and EB at times, that's the actuator starting to fail on you. If yours is still stock unit, I'd get one on order so that it doesn't leave you stranded! I limped along for 3 - 4 months and didn't tow heavy during that time just to be safe. Get it figured out before the cold sneaks up on us!

 

[rfitzgarrald]

Not sure on your MY. Quick Google search says it might be #37, but don't hold that against me. If you're loosing boost and EB at times, that's the actuator starting to fail on you. If yours is still stock unit, I'd get one on order so that it doesn't leave you stranded! I limped along for 3 - 4 months and didn't tow heavy during that time just to be safe. Get it figured out before the cold sneaks up on us!

I googled also. Came up with 2 possible locations, 32 & 37. Checked both fuses checked good.
All I know is, it was working before the ECM was swapped out.
Thanks for all the help & ideas. Another set of eyes is always welcome.

 

[Chris Harrison]

overhead display says “perform service”.

Not sure if you got this part worked out or not. This is how I cleared mine last time.
1: Turn the ignition to the "Run" position
2: Slowly press the accelerator pedal and release completely 3 times
3: Turn the key to the off position
When you restart the vehicle, it should be gone.

 

[rfitzgarrald]

Thanks for all of your replies & suggestions. I got my truck back on the road again. Turns out the ECM did go south. Got one from Flagship1.com in NY. Lifetime warranty, still had to take it to Dodge to have it re-flashed because the exhaust brake wasn’t working. All is good now.