Low on power no codes??? Short oil changes

[Wygate]

Got cel, O2 was bad, (one) new O2 then new harness per TSB. Few weeks now down on power. Only thing I can get to show is a flashing "check eng" icon, it will dim then up then out on out on. A few times I got one more off on before stays lit until started. This only happens when she is cold and after grid heater light goes out.
My tech said its normal? Never seen it before and why is it not the same every time. Won't do it when its warmish (I.e. driven in last hour or so) Only tangible proof I can show is shift points on my commute, i.e. never shifted on this hill even towing, now can't get up with out a downshift empty... If you get after her she will fall flat after a shift.

Have not been on in a long time but continue to have short oil change intervals, 3k ish. Got one out to 5500 and a 4k ish last week.
Before we start w/ the driving habits, I drove 8036 miles in one month towing a 35' 9k+ camper and full bed and cab from OR coast to Northern MI. Then back to OR empty, then OR to MI again w/ a 14k enclosed. Had to change oil both tripds heading east. Don't think I could have worked her much more than that, short of being a full time driver.

I really do love the truck but its killing me, to date I have had new steering wheel (leather separated from wheel), new drivers door panel (delaminate), back up sensor, 4 new radio/nav head units, 4 times in for washer sensor showing empty after being filled ( they don't want me to use orange rain-x any more is that fix!!!) Fuel filter plugged after about 8k during a road trip, limped to dealer to find out what cel was (10-12s don't have % of oil or filter life). No tech on staff so changed it myself in parking lot( holly crap was it tight!!). Picky about fuel as it cost me $14k and a month once already.

Just want to be able to drive it and do routine maintenance by the odometer or calander like you should

 

[Wygate]

Here is my vin if anyone wants to verify any info
XCG345826

To date no flash stickers under hood. Seems like there was a few TSBs that potentially should have happened, tech said none required, guess it didn't meet criteria.
I bought her new Jan 2012

 

[Hoefler]

It sounds like the CEL light is flashing before you start it, if this is correct, my bet is you have a bad battery if not both. The CEL comes on when the grid heater is operating, creating a low voltage situation, the computer senses this and gives you the CEL. If you still have the OE batteries, have them tested and replaced. On both my 08 and the 10 I had, I had to replace both batteries before they were 2 years old.

 

[Wygate]

It sounds like the CEL light is flashing before you start it, if this is correct, my bet is you have a bad battery if not both. The CEL comes on when the grid heater is operating, creating a low voltage situation, the computer senses this and gives you the CEL. If you still have the OE batteries, have them tested and replaced. On both my 08 and the 10 I had, I had to replace both batteries before they were 2 years old.

Hoefler,
Wouldn't low voltage throw a code?
I'll have them check, they are bound by the Star folks on what and when.

RAM is trying I must say, so far I got an oil change package up to 26 times and the full extended warranty out to a total of 8 years, all at no cost to me. Not to mention a months payment made!

 

[sag2]

Sometimes low voltage codes are set in other modules that you may not be able to read with a generic scan tool.

And contrary to what your dealer might tell you, Star does not authorize ANY repairs. The dealer has the sole responsibility to diagnose and repair any and all concerns. If they need help they are free to contact Star, but there is no requirement that they do. The only repairs requiring prior approval are engine replacement and some transmission replacements. Any dealer that gives you the line they are waiting for Star to tell them what to do is not a dealer I would want working on my vehicle.

Vehicles involved in the ECS (enhanced customer support) program also require the dealer to contact the ECS hotline AFTER diagnosis but BEFORE repairs are started. This is another misunderstood program where the dealer will not do anything until ECS asks them to.

 

[Wygate]

Sometimes low voltage codes are set in other modules that you may not be able to read with a generic scan tool.

And contrary to what your dealer might tell you, Star does not authorize ANY repairs. The dealer has the sole responsibility to diagnose and repair any and all concerns. If they need help they are free to contact Star, but there is no requirement that they do. The only repairs requiring prior approval are engine replacement and some transmission replacements. Any dealer that gives you the line they are waiting for Star to tell them what to do is not a dealer I would want working on my vehicle.

Vehicles involved in the ECS (enhanced customer support) program also require the dealer to contact the ECS hotline AFTER diagnosis but BEFORE repairs are started. This is another misunderstood program where the dealer will not do anything until ECS asks them to.

Sag,
I was hoping you would read and post on this. They keep telling me "it won't break down and strand you", been there...
Tuesday I had oil changed, gave them sample jar for oil and reminded them to verfiy oil level as it is usually over full. They did none of it and no real reason given.
They want it Monday to install data recorder to get freeze frame data. Tech did a head to head w/ a comparable new rig and said " it was a second faster". Assuming all thing were equal could be a hundred HP off or 10... Don't know how fast/ far he went.

Not many 5.9s or 6.7s in this part of the country and dealerships are few with little experience working on them. I asked customer care to have regional rep brought in, they pushed it back on dealer who has not brought him in.
Any thoughts, worth my time to try a dealer 45-60 min away that may see 4 or 5 new 6.7 CRDs leave the lot a year?

I work on equipment, medium duty trucks and custom rock toys, so I'm not a complete tard.

Thanks
Wygate

 

[Wygate]

One thing I've forgot to post is she will stumble for about one maybe 2 revolutions on a cold start no block heater. You can see tac sweep and feel she is not balanced.
Doesn't have to be "cold i.e. 20deg" just no internal heat, it dose it in 40s.
It is very short lived probably not even seen by computer as it would still be in "start mode"?? Just me being hyper sensitive?? My 20+ year old 5.9 starts smoother dead cold.

They said they have checked f/o pressure and all seems well

 

[Bob4x4]

there is an update that shold have been doneImprovements other than DTC robustness or enhancements:
• Improve cruise control functionality
• Display correct EGR position on WiTech
• Corrected CAC Outlet temperature voltage reading
• Display Correct alternator voltage in WiTech
• Correct for OBD II Readiness for frequent regeneration monitor
• Correct water in fuel (WIF) parameter to wiTECH
• ScanTool may report a code as stored, even though the fault has been cleared by
completing a significant number of drive cycles without a repeat occurrence
• Active codes not always displayed correctly
• Engine derate with IOD removed. This will help prevent turbo damage due to oil
thickening in cold climate start up on new vehicles in transit
• Scan tool readiness reporting issues
• Other driveability enhancements
• EGR Valve cleaning and monitoring enhancements to help reduce occurrences of
P049D
• Erroneous, brief brake lamp flash at key on
• Improve EVIC message regarding idle shut down
• Ability to read EGR valve gap on wiTECH (version 12.02)

 

[Missouri Mule]

How many miles? Enough to have The egr cleaning. Also does the turbo need cleaning.

 

[Hoefler]

Hoefler,
Wouldn't low voltage throw a code?
I'll have them check, they are bound by the Star folks on what and when.

RAM is trying I must say, so far I got an oil change package up to 26 times and the full extended warranty out to a total of 8 years, all at no cost to me. Not to mention a months payment made!

When my batteries went, there was no codes or CEL. The only thing that I noticed happening, was the radio would need to have the presets reset.

I drive an hour and a half to my dealer, I have 2 with in 30 minutes and 3 with in an hour, but I would not go to them for the same reasons, and others, you have listed.

 

[Wygate]

She is sitting at 33276.

As far as different dealers go, if I knew they had good service dept I would do it. That said our trucks are few and far between in the entire state compared to the West. Don't want to keep trying to get it fixed by guess work.

How have you guy's found good service provider's?

 

[Hoefler]

She is sitting at 33276.

As far as different dealers go, if I knew they had good service dept I would do it. That said our trucks are few and far between in the entire state compared to the West. Don't want to keep trying to get it fixed by guess work.

How have you guy's found good service provider's?

After my dealer in Springfield Mo. sold to Corwin Automotive Group, the service department went in the crapper. The new owner fired, let go, or forced to quit just about everyone in every department, including the service manager of 15+ years, the reason I started going to them. Prices went up, service went down, the stupidity level went rampant. I spent over 3 months of weekends driving to various dealers with in 2 hours of me.

A good friend of mine is a salesman at one of the closest dealers to me, but the management was terrible, they were more interested in their 9 month remodel than giving me a quote for a new truck, let alone, found out later, their service department did not have a certified diesel tech either.

When I first visited a new dealer, I looked up the service manager, had usually a long visit with them to find out the level of education, experience, and certification of their diesel techs and the general attitude of the service department. If I was comfortable with the service department, I went and found a salesman. So far, my new dealership has done nothing but impress me, and I thought I had an exceptional dealer before, this one is a couple steps higher.

 

[Wygate]

Holly crap Hoefler that was a ton of work, sounds like you did that to buy from and then use.

My tech has the most CERT's and is young, assuming young and computer are a good thing. Not like old and stuck in old days like me.
Guess I have some work to do.
Thanks for the help

 

[Wygate]

Well they called her in for a flash, power is better, only a few days on it now.
Fingers crossed

 

[Bob4x4]

Well they called her in for a flash, power is better, only a few days on it now.
Fingers crossed

Hope your update takes care of it.