Low Beam Headlights/Plow lights out??

[Red Rocket]

Here is my latest situation, which all 06 and newer owners need to know about.



I had an intermittent problem with my low beam headlights quitting during driving, and not coming on when I turn them on. I would solve this by turning off the ignition and then cycling it back on, then they would work. Well here is the explanation about what was happening.



1. The plow lights are connected differently than the truck lights

2. These lights are now computer controlled

3. The computer sees the change in current

4. It trips faults everytime this happens

5. The computer retries the accessory every time you cycle the key

6. UNTIL IT TRIES 250 TIMES

7. Then the accessory is disabled, in the case of headlights, not good.



Note that this scenario is the same for trailers, etc. All of the lights 06 and up are controlled by computer.



They flashed my computer, supposedly increasing the current acceptable from 15 to 20 amps, they weren't sure about that, but I'll keep you up to date on the status of my low beams.



Note also that the fog lights are run the same way which looking back is the reason my HID fog lights / driving lights are not accepted. I had to run a relay system for those to work.



Sorry for making this long, but I think there must be lots of issues with this fairly new system.



Nick

 

[DonFitzwater]

That's a good, long descriptive post. I had issues with headlights cutting out while driving when selecting low to high beam and high to low again. I also had my turn signals stop working all together. Of coarse the dealer just told me that I had a faulty plow light harness and/or short to ground on my trailer(s). After several TIPM resets by the dealer, a new plow harness and not using my trailer I was still having the issue. I found through TDR a flash to increase the amperage allowance for the circuits in question and the dealer was very surprised when I asked for it. The dealer did the flash but insisted that the flash was only going to increase amperage allowed to the trailer light circuit. My truck has been working great now for over a month since the flash with no light issues what so ever. I've hooked up the plow and the trailer just to see what would happen (something I wouldn't have done in the past no matter what) and everything worked very well.

 

[hatchy]

Red, when you say after 250 times, it disables it, you mean forever or until you cycle the key again?

 

[DonFitzwater]

Red, when you say after 250 times, it disables it, you mean forever or until you cycle the key again?

When the TIPM is reset by the dealer.

 

[Bloomy]

Gonna bring this one back for a little bit. Beginning of January I had the problem with no front turn signals. Got that fixed with the TSB on the TIPM. So tonight the low beams on the plow didn't work. Checked the truck low beams and yep they are dead too. As of now it has tripped both snows that I have used the plow.



I read all the threads that mentioned the TIPM. Some questions:



How many times can it actually be reset. I read three and five. I am nearly out of warranty after a year exactly. Would rather not have to pay for this continually.



Are there any other options. I have read of fuses being placed inline for the trailers. What about for a plow? I tow lots of trailers as well.



I'm thinking I need to talk to Boss and see if they can come up with something for the future since this will probably continue to be a problem until Dodge changes.



Kind of at a loss right now. I have always done my own repairs. From engine tear downs to changing fuses. I don't like not being able to fix this. Thanks for all the info. I have learned a good bit about the ol TIPM.



Thomas

 

[Red Rocket]

Plow and lights

I have a boss 9'2" on my truck, and in my case the TIPM had tripped 250 times. In that period of time, my lights actually quit working about 5 times. They always came back on after cycling the ignition, until it hit the 250 mark. This was over a year after the plow was installed. The TSB alters the programming to allow 20 amps versus stock 15. If you're teetering on that, which it looks like, this should take care of the problem. I haven't had it checked yet, but they haven't quit again... yet.



I was told there may be some need for resistors in the connections to the plow. I'm not sure how that would be accomplished. I could also assume that a relay system could be added to remove the load altogether.



Let me know more about your situation and maybe I can help.



Oh, and to answer your question, in all their intelligence, DC decided that instead of the unit frying itself from returning power to the lights, the TIPM will be DISABLED after 5 resets, so the sixth time or 1500 trouble cut-offs, the TIPM will need to be REPLACED. Seems to make sense to me... ... .

 

[DonFitzwater]

Red Rocket, I think he has already had the TSB performed on his truck. If you have, the next logical thing to check would be the light relay sockets. Mine were actually full of green corrosion from salty road grime and I ended up getting blizzard to replace it for free. The sockets are crappy at best and really need to be cleaned and filled with dielectric grease very often. You may actually need to test to see how many amps your setup is drawing.