Newby Receives Recall Notice - What To Do

[RUSSELL5000]

I got home from work last night and my wife gave me a letter - told me we got a letter about a problem with my "mistress." :-laf

I was expecting a recall letter on the tie-rod thing, as I had seen that here on the TDR and in the news. However, the recall notice said that I needed to have the power control module updated because a possible miscalibration would allow excess NOx prior to end of expected useful life.

I am new to the diesel truck thing, and while I have been an avid student of the service manual as well as the TDR I realize I have a long way to go. At any rate, my experience with the truck so far has been excellent - I understand the 2013 and 2014 with the revised DEF/SCR emissions system are returning better mileage, but as far as my experience goes with my truck it has exceeded all of my expectations. So, I am not excited about messing with it - it sure ain't broke, so why do I need to fool around with fixing it?

Am I being a sissy worry wart about nothing? Have others encountered problems when having the PCM software updated?

As always, the help is appreciated.

 

[SSteilow]

If your are going to take your Ram in for Oil change or anythings else. The dealer will/should update the PCM software at the same time.
This way you won't have to make a speical trip. Just one solution for you.
Glad your Ram is performing well and your happy with it.
Best of continued luck,
Scott

 

[TimothyLong]

Even though you're not experiencing a problem now, the recall is to help you avoid a possible problem down the road. I've had several reflashes done on my old 2003 2500 and I've already had 2 TSB reflashes done to my 2013. It's all good, so no real need to worry. When you have it done is up to you. I can tell one reason to have it done, if you don't you'll keep getting that recall notice in the mail every so often until you do have it done. I got one once for my old 2003 that pertained to replacement front end parts being substandard. I had all factory front end parts, never had any replaced, so I just ignored it. I kept getting them in the mail every so often until I finally went and had it done, which amounted to nothing more than the service tech looking at the front end and checking off that everything was good. I had taken my truck in for something else anyway and I didn't even have to ask to have it done.

Glad you're enjoying your 2012! Hope it keeps you happy for a long time!

 

[Jim W]

I got home from work last night and my wife gave me a letter - told me we got a letter about a problem with my "mistress." :-laf

I was expecting a recall letter on the tie-rod thing, as I had seen that here on the TDR and in the news. However, the recall notice said that I needed to have the power control module updated because a possible miscalibration would allow excess NOx prior to end of expected useful life.

I am new to the diesel truck thing, and while I have been an avid student of the service manual as well as the TDR I realize I have a long way to go. At any rate, my experience with the truck so far has been excellent - I understand the 2013 and 2014 with the revised DEF/SCR emissions system are returning better mileage, but as far as my experience goes with my truck it has exceeded all of my expectations. So, I am not excited about messing with it - it sure ain't broke, so why do I need to fool around with fixing it?

Am I being a sissy worry wart about nothing? Have others encountered problems when having the PCM software updated?

As always, the help is appreciated.

As long as your engine is stock than you will have no issues what's so ever.

Jim W.

 

[AnOldBiker]

If there is a recall and they send you notices to correct the issue, then it is a good preventative maintenance. The cost is right since they pay for it. The safety of the vehicle is what is known as generally covered.

Now let's say you don't turn it in and something happens to it because you have not responded and at least given them a chance tp see if the part needs replacing or not. Then if something happens due to the part failure, or more but still because of the part failure. Then they can push the legal issue that they have notified you X amount of times and you never responded or contacted them. They can have a legal ground to deny you compensation.

Recalls cost nothing, they can be a nuisance at times, even a slight inconvenience, but nothing a normal person can't work with.
It also verifies the owner is in compliance with mandated safety regulations and such.
What is the problem ?

If something is wrong with the wife, you have her checked out.
So there shouldn't be an issue if the mistress might not be well, have her checked out.
For both their safety, keep both purring like kittens.

 

[RUSSELL5000]

Ok, thanks for the feedback. I was just afraid they would mess something up, but it sounds like this is a good way to ensure nothing does get messed up.

AnOldBiker - I'll sure work on keeping both purring, but I think the pickup is a lot easier to figure out!

 

[jlb27537]

If something is wrong with the wife, you have her checked out.
So there shouldn't be an issue if the mistress might not be well, have her checked out.
For both their safety, keep both purring like kittens.

I've had the same wife for 46 years....Lot's of experience talking there......

Jim

 

[JRone]

I had my engine light come on the same day I got my N40 recall letter in the mail so I took it into the dealer to get it checked out. They done the PCM flash & turned the light off, next day light came back on so I took it back in. They replaced the NOx sensor & told me they had replaced at least 2 dozen of those & all but 1 had come back & had to replace the transmission wiring harness. So I left & sure enough the next day the engine light came back on. So now I will be taking it back in this week to see where we go from here. This is getting REALLY old!!! I've owned this truck for around 1.5 years & is a 2012 Ram 2500 6.7 with automatic & just over 34K miles on it.

 

[Liecha]

I was told by my dealer that everybody (dealers) are getting only one fix per week and to wait until I get another recall notice in the mail. They do not even have a date or idea of a date when I might be able to get the part fixed. They just roll their eyes when you start asking about the recall. Way to go Ram (Dodge (Chrysler))!

I emailed Ram letting them know about the situation and asking them if there really is a need for a fix. I would think that if there is really a dire situation and we are in any real danger, they would let us know and have the parts out in a more timely fashion.

The only real way to get any swifter action (if we want it) would be to put pressure on Ram and keep asking them about the recall and contact the Feds about their inaction.

Personally, I do not think it is that big of a deal and expect they will be still be doing the fixes five years from now at this rate.

 

[BILLUA]

Others have reported lower mileage and differing shift points for their transmission. Also some think their exhaust brake may be less effective after this N40 flash.

YMMV.

 

[JRone]

UPDATE: I took my truck back in they replaced the transmission wiring harness & engine light came back on the next day. They got Chrysler engineers in on it & they had to go back to the original code problem that they had eliminated which was to replace the oxygen sensors. Seems that they were spending too much money replacing oxygen sensors & wasn't fixing the problem so they took that step out. But evidently that's what my truck needed because they put new sensors on it & the light has not come back on.

BILLUA: To your question of the shift points & exhaust brake, I can't tell any difference in my truck on either.

 

[RUSSELL5000]

A follow up to my original question:

I talked to the service manager at the dealer today. He told me that:

(1) This N40 emissions recall MAY change driving characteristics and transmission shift behavior. That is all he would say - he would not that it would change, he would not say that it would not.

(2) They have not seen enough trucks at their dealership to say whether others have experienced problems after this recall.

(3) There is no requirement to bring the truck in and have the recall work performed. My warranty will NOT be impaired by failing to bring the truck in.

(4) If I have the truck in for any work, then the dealership is REQUIRED to do the recall work.

I am in Pennsylvania, and there is no annual emissions test in Pennsylvania (at least not today). The truck seems to be working just fine and I am somewhat concerned about changing things to do with the emissions system. BILLUA notes that some have reported decreased fuel economy and different transmission shifting behavior, as well as decreased exhaust brake effectiveness.


Has anyone with a 2012 model truck who has had the N40 emissions recall work performed noticed adverse changes following the recall work?


Thanks!!!!!!

 

[Jim W]

I do not have a 2012 but my 08 was scheduled for two ECM updates which I have declined. I have a programmer (Smarty S67) on the truck and a cover over the OBD II port which the dealer cannot access. I have been running this way since 09 with no issues and intend to stay this way until I sell the truck or it is scrapped do to obsolesce. So if you do not want the up-date then skip the update. As long as the truck is operating correctly in your opinion you should be good.

Jim W.

 

[RUSSELL5000]

I decided to skip the N40 recall for now; I can's see anything wrong at all in how the truck is working, so see no need to mess with the ECM. It will always be there later.

Thanks.

 

[jmponiman]

I took mine in (2012 Laramie ) for an oil change and they did the N-40 flash soooo! now my truck runs like **** if you jump on the throttle at low speeds it bogs down, seems to lose power when passing at high speeds 65 mph and up and of course the check engine light is on they had it all day friday and now they are closed for the weekend, and to top it off I am supposed to be leaving on a business trip early Monday morning, I also have a jeep grand Cherokee with a safety recall and a street glide with a safety recall, doesn't anyone make a quality product anymore, if I was you I would not have it done until they figure it out