Odd thing happened

[TAslin]

I was driving to Moab UT last wednesday. I stopped for the night in Golden,CO for some much needed sleep. The following morning, when I went to start the truck (06 MegaCab), I had power, but turn the key and nothing. Nada. Lights didn't dim, gauges all worked, just nothing. A call to roadside got me a flatbed towtruck to load up my truck and haul it to Christopher Dodge, about 5 blocks from the hotel. The guys there were quick to get on it, since I was on vacation. One of the diesel tech came out and did a quick looksee to see if it was something simple. I took it as a bad sign when the lot truck came around and they towed my truck inside. The tech made some mention about having to call DC engineers because my truck had a unique problem and they wanted to look at it. I envisioned my long weekend of four wheeling disappearing. I got a ride beck to the hotel. They called three hours later and said it was ready to go. Service advsior told me that the computer had locked up, and DC wasn't so sure that my Alpine radio was the cause. Evidently, the stock radio is one of many computers in the truck, and there was in fact a soft code set that said the radio was non functioning. He said if it happened again to pull the battery cables for a few minutes and it should start right up. DC is supposedly working on this fix. Anyone know more about this?



Travis

 

[Diesel Nut]

Well, sounds a little shakey to me. But, maybe. Who else thinks there are too many computers in our trucks? All I know is I am glad I haven't replaced mine yet.

 

[jelag]

Just a quick comment... . there is a move by the feds, to have all computers on class 8 trucks (semi's) talk to one master computer and that one tester can connect to and test the engine (emissions) , transmission (auto or auto stick), and all ABS systems on the truck, including all the trailers... .



What this means is that SAE (society of automotive engineers) needs to set standards so that no matter what brand of truck, engine, transmission, or trailer will talk the same language and can be tested..... they have set a goal... of 2010 as I remember...



They want the guys at the scales to be able to test all systems in 2 or 3 minutes... and either red tag the truck (it can't move until repaired) or let it go...



In addition, there's a move to reduce the stopping distance from a 60 mph panic stop by about 75 ft... . to protect the motorist who has pulled into the safety margin the truck driver has in front of him... ... .



So its going to get worse... . or better as the technoloy improves... anyway my 2 cents worth. . or is this a nickel's worth...

 

[CDonaldson]

My first question would be - do you have a factory alarm system? I had a similar experience, albeit not on a Dodge, and it was my alarm system causing the ignition fault. You should just be able to pull the fuse on the ECM to accomplish a computer reset without pulling the battery cable. If some other system is partially involved in the problem via a computer tie-in, then you would need to pull the battery cable or that systems fuse to get a reset also. My second question would head in the direction of why the radio tie-in to an ignition system? Maybe there is something involved with the Navigation package and ignition, or maybe some kind of jumper has to be in place when you do not have navigation. I certainly would be seeking a FULL explination or understanding about the radio relationship.



I asked on of the techs at my dealership about installing a battery cut-off switch and I though he was going to have an out-of-body experience. Ultimately he muttered some stuff about voiding my warranty, causing some kind of problem with the computer, and a bunch of other little stuff too. I gave all that some thought regarding a cut off switch, just about everything you do requires disconnection of the battery from a 'safety' aspect when working on your truck. The switch would accomplish the disconnection easily, and get everything reset as it seems there are more things that require resetting besides just the computer. The reset thing seems to be a standard default to diagnosis and code issues.



So how does it differ whether you physically pull off the battery terminal or flip a switch to achieve disconnection? I asked him that question and he just waked away from me shaking his head. Suppose the head shaking was needed to engage some other part of his brain to give me an answer? Didn't happen - game over.



CD

 

[nickleinonen]

Just a quick comment... . there is a move by the feds, to have all computers on class 8 trucks (semi's) talk to one master computer and that one tester can connect to and test the engine (emissions) , transmission (auto or auto stick), and all ABS systems on the truck, including all the trailers... .

many otr trucks [newer ones] already have all the systems hooked up together with the CANbus setup. i believe the current J1939 standard allows one scan tool [like a prolink] hooked to any avalable j1939 connector to communicate with all the ecm/pcm/ecu's on the vehicle as long as they are hooked up to each other. the trailer part i have not heard of before though, but that would mean either changing the standard 7pin jumper or adding another 3 pin jumper to handle the canbus for the trailer

 

[opjohnny]

member Polarbull in another post is describing the same thing on his 06. they replaced the ig switch.

 

[polarbull]

Your problem does sound very similar to mine... The first tech said computer threw a low voltage code, they cleared code & then they said it started no problem but they werent sure why. I asked that they dig a little deeper as I was in the middle of a cross-country trip & I didnt want to worry bout not trusting truck to start. They called back 2 hours later & said they found loose connection at ignition switch... sent me on my way... lasted bout 5 days before it happened again... . next tech said it was bad ignition switch... . happened again 3 days later... now they are sayin it is bad starter... gettin real old... if it keeps up gonna see bout lemon law at home.

 

[Jaysyl]

Welcome to TDR, I hope you had a good time at Moab.

 

[steved]

As for the computer issues... DC claimed that because I had hooked my CB into the cigarette light circuit that it was backfeeding power from internal capacitors and fried my dash cluster computer (body control)...



DC WILL look for ANY reason not to perform warranty work on your truck... in my case, there isn't any back feed from the cb... we tested it... they also replaced a harness without my approval, didn't even replace the cluster itself (the fried one), and charged me $890...



Bottom line is don't mess with any electrical system on your truck...



steved

 

[Nightram]

I had installed an I-pod interface to the CD changer port in the back of my radio, and per the company that made the interface, it was the cause of my irractic gauges and phantom warning light issue. I removed it, and haven't had the same problem since. The CANbus network is very sensitive to changes in it's communications network, and any undetectable interface can interupt the system and cause these issue. Easiest way to do things is run good clean power for any accessories directly from battery, never tie into any circuits! Just my $. 02.

 

[steved]

I had installed an I-pod interface to the CD changer port in the back of my radio, and per the company that made the interface, it was the cause of my irractic gauges and phantom warning light issue. I removed it, and haven't had the same problem since. The CANbus network is very sensitive to changes in it's communications network, and any undetectable interface can interupt the system and cause these issue. Easiest way to do things is run good clean power for any accessories directly from battery, never tie into any circuits! Just my $. 02.

Exactly what I am doing... a single relay off the ignition hot circuit to power other relays... no chance of backfeed.



steved