Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Need Advise on reflashes

[dsather]

I'll be buying a 99 Dodge Quad cab LB 4x4 from a good friend of mine in Arizona. I will bring it into California. Before I actually bring it home I want/need to get 3 reflashes done;



18-02-99 Erratic Torque converter - The build date for this truck is actually a couple of months past when the TSB says they should be affected. Non the less, the converter has demonstrated a cycling of lock and unlock while driving at about 40-45 mph on several occasions.



18-08-99 Cruise Control - I plan some 275 RV and an Edge Comp box for it and want to have the very best chance of a fully working cruise control that I can. I am aware of some problems with the cruise after bombs.



18-11-99 Power - This one I really don't need but why not. I figure that I will pay for these out of my pocket so they wouldn't hesitate to do them.



I have 2 questions. First, does anyone have any experience with these flashes. Yes I can search but would love to here more recent comments. Second, I want to have this done in Arizona as I am afraid that Dodge will mess with California smog software and muck this otherwise good running truck up. Any good Dealers in Scottsdale area? Or maybe it doesn't have to be a dealer!



Responses please as I'm up in the air on this.



Thanks

Dennis

 

[FAllen]

Dennis



I recently had TSB 18-11-99 done on my 99 and highly recommend it.



Faster throttle response and more power.



If you will be towing with it don't forget to get the manifold bolt retention straps installed 09-002-01.



Fred

 

[big barney]

I had the 18-11-99 done to my truck. It was the worse mistake I've made with my truck. Lost 2 mpg and it also lost power. If your truck runs good now don't have this reflash done.



Goodluck



Curt

 

[zimman20]

What Curt said. Keep in mind if they reflash your ECM you'll be back at ground zero as far as how the truck runs and what kind of mileage you get. May be running good now, but after the flash... .



I just had two reflashes done (without my knowledge or auth) when the truck was in for an LP. Runs like doo-doo now compared with how it was running before.



I remember a discussion on these boards previously where members were disabling the serial link that DC plugs into to keep them from doing unauthorized flashes. Something to the effect of

severing the factory harness and making up your own pigtail so they'd need your half in order to flash the ECM and thus it would have to be with your approval. Hmmmm... ..... Might give you/me warranty trouble, if that's still a concern in your life (it is in mine).



Be warned, be careful what you wish for!





zman

 

[Shovelhead]

Maybe we need to print up our own VOID IF REMOVED sticker for the OBD diagnostic/reflash port.

 

[curatchko]

Wow... . talk about timing.



My first day here as a new member, and this subject comes up!!





I am scheduled to have 18-11-99 done to my truck Monday... 75 bucks.



I don't have injectors installed yet, but my truck is a PIG. I pull a 10,000 racecar trailer and I can't go on an overpass without losing speed... . 70mph is about tops... . down hill I can push her to 75. I've had it to Cummins, and Dodge and the engine is in perfect health.



The truck has 40,000 miles on her and I'm a little disappointed going from a vortec 454 suburban with a 410 gear, which was much more powerful.



Interesting enough, my fuel gauge went bad this week so I dropped the tank, and replaced the sender and I found 'KINKED' fuel lines... . they're hard plastic, and they were kinked... Now I'm not sure if that's been my problem or what...



Still planning on Monday... so if someone could talk me out of it, I'd appreciate it.



Chris

 

[zimman20]

Are you SURE it was the FP gauge and not the LP? Did the gauge work correctly after you fixed the fuel lines (kinked) or whatever else?



Perhaps you have an LP problem... ...



Check your airbox, if you have one with the BHAF, many members finding rat's nests in their airboxes blocking airflow causing the kinds of problems you're talking about.....



Check/verify all hoses (especially the one coming off of the turbo to the airbox) to make sure all are tight.....



I don't know if a reflash is what you need, your truck should do better than 75 mph, sounds like something is seriously wrong. These rigs LIVE to pull the kinds of loads you're talking about and you shouldn't have a problem with it. Don't be surprised if the dealer and the Cummins shop missed the airbox thing, another member posted Dodge missing their airbox being completely plugged with a nest and replacing the LP on his dime, only for the Cummins tech to find the nest.



Something's wrong for sure, you don't have the 100k warranty on the engine on your '99? Who recommended the TSB, the dealer? I would check to see if your truck should be covered under warranty or not, if so that warranty should be transferrable if you bought it used. Others will chime in w/ their

input, I'm sure.



Gauges to at least measure boost, if you had one, would be helpful to see what kind of boost you are (or aren't) building while under load.



You can look at the list of TSB's for your rig at (thanks to Fritz)



http://www.dodgeram.org



to see what the TSB's are, if you didn't know already.



Welcome aboard... ... ...





zman

 

[curatchko]

zman,



I've been through it all man! I've had the truck 2 months and these 2 months have been nothing but a big thrash. The engine is mechanically sound, better yet mint. The truck is in 'brand new' condition. Everything has been tested... by Cummins, and it's been on the dyno. Absolutely nothing 'appears' to be wrong. Has 12 psi fuel on load... the whole bit. Every avenue has been checked.



The fuel gauge now works since I changed the sending unit... I ohm checked the old one and it was indeed dead. But those kinked fuel lines have me perplexed...



I'm out of ideas honestly.







Wierd, my signature isn't working. Anyhow I do have gauges... boost, EGT and Trans.

 

[zimman20]

I'm sure the kinked fuel lines could have caused the problems you're experiencing, I would think that problem would easily lend itself to the types of problems you're experiencing; runs fine when not under load or while getting under power, but as soon as full fuel pressure was required it couldn't deliver the full amount due to kinked lines. Someone is missing something.



Further, on the subject of boost, there are lots of things to tighten on this beast, bolts everywhere to be torqued to spec, IAT sensor, hang in there. Someone else will chime in here with some things I'm missing, I'm sure.



On inspection of the TSB you mentioned it does look like it states 'low power while pulling' , could be, one never knows. I kinda hate for them to play hunt and peck and replace parts while they try to figure out your problem, that's not troubleshooting that's 'parts-changing'. Again, hang in there because when you get this licked that truck is gonna pull that 10k like nobody's business !!



P. S. If you bought it used, why did the seller sell it? Did he mention this problem to you, by any chance? HMMMM... ...





zman

 

[dsather]

Puzzling at best

This whole thing is wierd. Fred has great luck with the flash and Curt opposite. These things should be a little more consistant.

Did anyone notice if the 18-11-02 power flash changed the noise level in their truck?? I saw some posts from the past that indicated that it reduced noise levels some. This would probably be the reason for me to do it as I will bomb the truck any way. So power is not the real reason. But not at the expense of reduced mileage.

Chris, you're my guinea pig. I'm not talking you out of it!



Dennis

 

[curatchko]

bump!

 

[TowPro]

$75. 00 bucks? Thats a rip off, this job only pays the tech 1/2 an hour. That makes the dealers rate $150. 00 per hour!. IF the factory rate is $50. 00, it should only cost you $25. 00. Question them on "why does your big sign say labor rate is $??. ?? per hour, this is a 1/2 hour job and you want me to pay $75. 00?"



In fact, here is the information right off Daves site

Labor Operation No: 08-19-43-90 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ..... 0. 5 Hrs.

Here is the URL



Nothing I hate more then a dealer charging there own prices for labor just because your paying cash. I thought they were required to stick to the factory time's!

Originally posted by curatchko

Wow... . talk about timing.



My first day here as a new member, and this subject comes up!!





I am scheduled to have 18-11-99 done to my truck Monday... 75 bucks.



Chris

 

[TowPro]

After reading other posts on this thread, I would check your lift pump pressure, A dead lift pump can also cause this as your SUCKING fuel from the tank.



Plus I thought the reflash was covered under the HD emissions warrantee, which was 5 years, 80,000 miles in 1998, 99 may be different.



I know the lift pump is covered under teh HD emissions warrantee.

 

[curatchko]

Actually they told me 75. 00 an hour was their labor rate. I was assuming it was an hour job... . thanks for the tip!



As for lift pump, I had it checked on the dyno, and pressure was fine. Volume on the otherhand, might not have been fine with the kinked lines. We'll see tonight when I pull my trailer.