Out-of-Park Alarm Recall repair wrecked instrument cluster

[JWChessell]

I received a recall notice for the "Out of Park" problem with the 48RE transmission, and took my 2003 3500 to the dealer this morning for the repair. The repair consists of reprograming the computer to sound the horn and flash the lights if the transmission is still in reverse (rather than park) and the left door is opened -- it may also include releasing pressure on the brake pedal, in addition to opening the door.



In any event, in the course of performing the reprograming, the technician caused the instrument cluster to stop communicating with the computer, and the instrument cluster went completely dead. They were unable to revive it and have ordered a new instrument cluster (speedometer, tach, oil press, ammeter, temp, fuel level) which they will install tomorrow, and hopefully successfully conclude the "out of park" recall repair, the functioning of all the instruments and gauges, and the reassembly of my dashboard.



Has this happened to anyone else? If so, what other problems may occur? Is there some "trick" of which the dealer should be aware to avoid killing the instrument cluster during the course of the recall repair?



Meanwhile, the dashboard is apart and my truck is locked up at the dealer until at least tomorrow afternoon. They did immediately volunteer to pay for a rental car however, which I drove home and have available until they finish with my truck, so I'm still mobile.

 

[sag2]

There have been a few clusters smoked doing the recall. Some might be because the dealer did not perform the recall correctly (battery charger not on battery, did not disconnect the radio on some radios) but others just lock up. Imagine how many times your PC or Laptop locks up for no apparent reason and you can understand how the vehicle modules crash when you are essentially formatting the memory and installing new software.

 

[JWChessell]

Are there any problems after the new cluster is installed? Does everything look the same as before, mileage still the same, etc? Is there anything or any problem(s) I should be on the lookout for?

 

[Big MAK]

Did they check the instument cluster fuse? Seriously. It's in the fuse box in the engine compartment.

 

[JWChessell]

That's a good question about the fuse; I don't know. I picked up the truck this morning and the new gauge cluster had been installed and was working. Drove the truck around the block and the Sirius sat radio was NOT working; went back to dealer. Turned out to be a wire that had been tweaked while they were fiddling with the instrument cluster. Reconnected wire and sat radio reappeared on radio display. Drove truck home -- about 15 miles -- so far, no problems. Will post again in a couple of days; sooner if there are problems.

 

[e-man-da-warranty-man]

This flash seems to be very picky. Most vehicles breeze right through without a hitch. Best results come from following each step closely and slowly. Battery charger attached, flash in "stand alone mode" with the drb. Remove the supercard... Its even been suggested to remove fuse 35 for the abs on all vehicles. Like was said previously sometimes modules just dont want to cooperate. Either way its a recall and gotta be done and done right or big bro will haunt the dealership.

 

[BBlyman]

sounds like its not worth getting the recall if its causing this much of a problem. I got the recall about a month ago and still have not gotten it done.



Bob

 

[CPG]

On calling the service manager at our Dodge dealer, we were told the recall on the shift selector park position is not compulsory, just a safety factor. I do not want to add any problems as I have had no problems, and tend to let things alone as is. Other than lights and bells, D/C should fix the mechanics of the problem right. Its important to apply the brake before attempting to change the gear position & set the handbrake afterwards as security.



Chuck

 

[JWChessell]

If you haven't already, take a look at this parallel thread now running in this same forum: "06- horn going off when backing with door open"



It's a discussion among '06 owners about possible ways to disable this alarm, which is stock on the '06 trucks.

 

[troll3193]

My Father-in-law just sent me this e-mail this week. . Now I am convinced I am not having it done.



" The dealer here in the valley has had our truck since last Wed, when we took it in for oil change, fuel, air filter change. We waited for it, I told them "do not" do the recall for the shifter to park issue we had received that next time I came in they could do it. Service manager told me he would not do it and besides it would take an hour and we nor he had that much time.



1 hour thirty minutes later we still do not have our truck, so I went to look for it at the same time manager comes to get me, takes me out into the shop the truck is lite up like a christmas tree all the lights on, no brake lights or turn signals working and it is running with all the doors open. He says was trying to do me a favor and put in the recall to the computer because the service guys says he can do it in 15 minutes verus the 1 hour. Service guy comes over and tells me that while putting in the change the computer he was using had a surge and blew out the computer in the truck and all the whole instramentation of the truck, so nothing works, no gages lights or anything else and the reason it is all lite up is a saftey thing so if the compute goes out on the road you will have lights for saftey. Problem is he cannot turn them off, door locks windows nothing works and he cannot shut the motor off.



Has to take the whole dash apart to get to a relay to shut truck and lights off.



Now they tell me that the new dash and all other parts needed will not be delivered until Tues of this week, that is today, guess what they sent the wrong part, so not the new part arrives late today and they hope to have everything done by noon tomorrow. "



They ended up having the truck for a week for them to straighten it out.



Bryan

 

[JWChessell]

It has now been 5 days since I had the recall repair done, and so far, no problems. The truck drives and performs normally and there have been no other "issues. " The recall repair is apparently exactly the same as the '06 factory programming: The horn will not sound if the driver's door is closed, or if your foot is on the brake, or if the seatbelt is fastened. So, for backing and hooking up a trailer, I'll follow the suggestion to fasten the seatbelt.

 

[magothy1]

Do we dare to ask where Mr. troll 3193 had has service "done" ?





2003 3500 flame red

 

[JeepRig]

Mine still goes off, even with the seat belt fastened. Also, after the reflash, my truck ran like crap. I went from a terrible 14 mpg city to an even worse 10mpg city.

They have it now. I told them to reflash for the b ad fuel mileage.

We'll see what happens.

 

[Bob4x4]

Mine still goes off, even with the seat belt fastened. Also, after the reflash, my truck ran like crap. I went from a terrible 14 mpg city to an even worse 10mpg city.

They have it now. I told them to reflash for the b ad fuel mileage.

We'll see what happens.

The recall only flashes the fcm and the mic,why would you think that would affect your mileage?



Bob

 

[DZink24]

Apparently, DC has never heard of the phrase "if it aint broke, dont fix it" I will sign anything to keep this from getting done, as I do considerable trailering/boating/fishing, and when I check my transmission fluid in N w/ brake on. Last thing I need is for the alarm to go crazy at 4 a. m. at the dock. The walleyes don't like that :-laf

 

[DJamrose]

i took my truck in for service work and specifically asked not to have this stupid recall done when i picked up my truck guess what there it was the stupid recall i griped and hollered to the service advisor and explained to him i can't have this? i back my 27ft enclosed car trailer up all the time at night sometimes 11:00 12:30 at night i don't need the horn going off upsetting the neighbors he said we will see what we can do they ended up putting in a new computer but with the old factory build date so it never had the recall on it all my codes thrown were gone completly erased

 

[DPKetchum]

Actually the Dealer ie REQUIRED to perform ALL SAFTEY recalls on ANY vehicle entering service. I added and did TONS of recalls and NEVER asked a customer. Didn't have to. 99% thanked us for doing them. Had a FEW that required a flash/reprogram lock up clusters or ecms. a glitch. But only a FEW out of hundereds. Had one or two that D. C. had us stop doing and wait until NEW programs written etc. Its electronics. SHxx happens.

 

[Bob4x4]

Apparently, DC has never heard of the phrase "if it aint broke, dont fix it" I will sign anything to keep this from getting done, as I do considerable trailering/boating/fishing, and when I check my transmission fluid in N w/ brake on. Last thing I need is for the alarm to go crazy at 4 a. m. at the dock. The walleyes don't like that :-laf

The recall was brought to be because of consumer complaints not D/Cs desire to spend money :-laf The alarm does not go off in nuetral and the truck MUST be moving backwards with the driver door open to sound.



Bob

 

[Carlsummers]

As stated before, this "recall" does NOT fix the problem - it only throws another "idiot" bell and whistle" show at it. If DC would fix the problem, I would have it done, but until such time, then leave my truck alone.

 

[JWChessell]

I started this thread on May 1st, and other than the original problem of having to replace the instrument cluster during the course of doing the recall, I have not had any problems. I tow a trailer occasionally; turned out that I usually close the door when backing up to the trailer, so in my normal course of use the horn doesn't sound. I tried fastening the seat belt and leaving the door open when backing, and that worked OK also -- the horn didn't sound. The only extra thing I've had to do recently was warn a parking valet at a big hotel what would happen if he backed up with the door open. So far, that's it.