Red Lightning bolt

[garyp285]

2018 2500 Cummins, I went to pull out of a parking lot and the throttle went dead but engine did not and the red bolt flashed for about ten seconds and all went back to normal but scared the crap out of me.
I'm supposed to leave on a rv trip Thursday but now I don't know if I should .

Thanks for any advice
Gary

 

[petersonj]

Just did a quick check on the internet for the lightning bolt symbol. Maybe this could be of help.

- John

The lightning bolt on the dash means that there is a problem with the electronic throttle control system in your vehicle. Get a code reader and scan the engine for any logged codes. The light may be on for a glitch and the electronic throttle control system needs to be reset.J

 

[garyp285]

Thanks, I've watched many YouTubes and it seems to be any number of things. I still have warranty and will try the dealer but they are always a few weeks out.

 

[Ramcharger 78]

My truck did the same thing as well as the 09. Soon after the battery usually died

 

[garyp285]

I checked the two batteries voltage at 12.53 off and 13.71 running, thought it was supposed to be 14V running.

 

[petersonj]

13.71 running, thought it was supposed to be 14V running.

May or may not be an issue. I believe there is a battery temperature sensor under the driver side battery. That sensor helps set the upper voltage limit of the voltage regulator. Normal operation you might see 13.5 volts on a 100° day, or 14.2 volts on 40° day.

If that battery is getting warmer than usual (due to a possible shorted cell), the upper voltage limit could be reduced to compensate for the additional heat being produced. How old are your batteries?

- John

 

[Ozymandias]

It would set a code with a faulty temp sensor.

Did you check the battery's independently disconnected from each other?
13.7V charge would match at 105f outside temperatur.
I've seen 13.3V at an outside temp of 120f.

 

[garyp285]

Batteries are 1 year old and I did not disconnect them. It's running fine with no codes so I'm going to try to tow with it.

 

[BigPapa]

You should have the same voltage at both batteries if they’re connected.

 

[Ozymandias]

Batteries are 1 year old and I did not disconnect them. It's running fine with no codes so I'm going to try to tow with it.

So the measure was worthless, you can have an entirely dead battery and don't see it that way.
As long as they are connected you measure both the same, that's how it works.

12.5 isn't a healthy state for a battery. Fully charged, one hour after shutdown you should see a nice 12.8 or slightly higher resting voltage.

 

[Ozymandias]

Just because they are only one year old doesn't mean they are good.
There is always a chance to buy a rotten egg.

 

[garyp285]

I will disconnect them tomorrow morning and check again and post what I find.
Thanks

 

[sag2]

Did you actually attempt to pull codes, or just relying on no CEL to assume there are none?

 

[garyp285]

I disconnected them this morning and got 12.43 and 12.44, I took it yesterday to a diesel shop and their scanner subscription had expired for Ram go figure, and Ram dealer is two weeks out.
sag2, I have a obd2 code reader and shows none.
Looks like voltage is a little low and will get batteries tested or replaced.

 

[Ozymandias]

12.4 is almost drained, there is something wrong with either the battery's or the charge system.

 

[garyp285]

Yes something is weird, I drove 3 hours today and they now show 12.73 engine off.
I checked the alternator and is 14.4

 

[AH64ID]

Yes something is weird, I drove 3 hours today and they now show 12.73 engine off.
I checked the alternator and is 14.4

They need to sit for at least 3-4 hours after a charge to know their true resting state.

Leave them disconnected overnight.

 

[Rob S]

They need to sit for at least 3-4 hours after a charge to know their true resting state.

Leave them disconnected overnight.

Charge, rest, load test each battery separately

 

[garyp285]

Thanks so much for the help and info, I’m at a Rv campground in Mt. View AR and will try to get them tested.

 

[WalterJ]

Greetings;
"Remote start disabled." It's -1 this morning.
Disconnected pass. batt neg & read 12.78V.
Disconnected driver battery pos & was 12.76V.
Reconnected batts. Turned on ignit & dash msg "<8 Volts".

When started manually, most truck screen options were greyed out & dash displayed "Battery saver node." Heater fan would cycled hi to low & dash battery screen alternated between 11V & 14V 'bout every 10 sec. Center display returned to normal after driving 15 minutes.

With pass batt neg disconnected, driver batt connected, dash was dead. Thought I could use truck as voltmeter?!? Seems it's not a simple parallel hookup, eh.

UPDATE: Reconnected batteries; entered cab; turned on ignition; dash display showed 11V; turned off ignition & removed key; commended "remote start"; it started & ran; dash displayed "Remote start active key to run" then 5 sec. later the engine shut down and dash displayed "Remote start disabled Start vehicle to reset".
I'm not convinced it's a 'battery' problem, rather a control problem.