Smarty Jr. 911/411

[XXLTexan]

Hey Ya'll



I have had my smarty jr. for a month now and I have really enjoyed it. I had a smarty on my 05' that was stolen and loved it and used it for over 60,000 without an issue. I have my smarty jr. on my 07' 5. 9 for about a month and have had it on the fuel saving setting and noticed a power gain although not much of a mpg gain. I tow around 8-9 thousand a few times a week and today i wanted to do some hand calc on my way to the lake with no load. I had read in one of the threads that a gentleman had better gains on setting 2 (tow) and had been playing with it since wednesday. When i filled up i reloaded the stock setting from 2 and went inside to get some weekend supplies. When i came back out the download was done and told me to cycle on and off. When it said it was done and to unplug it i did and thats when my trouble started. I tried to start my truck and it would not. Batteries and charging system seemed to be fine so I plugged my smarty jr (i dont have the most current program i have 5. 03c) back up and looked for any codes. There were none so i reloaded setting 2 and after it was complete I tried it again and would still not start so i reloaded my stock program and went inside to use the head while i waited and locked my truck. When i came back out my remote keys would not unlock the truck. When i got back in the alarm went off and i stood there reloading every setting from stock to 3 and the truck would still not start. I reloaded stock and conceded defeat and called roadside assistance. When the tow driver came he disconnected my batteries so my alarm wouldn't sound and then i remembered something I used to have to do to my wife's subaru sti when i had a cobb performance flash on it. i reconnected one of the batteries and my keys worked again and my truck started. Embarrased, i gave the tow driver the money and he dropped it and I reconnected the other battery and was on my way. The last program I loaded was the stock and thats what I drove home in. I noticed the orange light (transmission or motor light?) at the bottom center of my gauge cluster was on. Here are my questions... Has this happened to anyone else? What is that light? I know the smarty is "undetectable" so do i need to do anything before i take it in to the dealership? Thanks in advance for any help and thanks for reading this rambling post.

 

[Motorhead]

OOPS... . Read too fast! I have a Smarty jr and have never had that problem. The light you are talking about sounds like the check engine light. You should be able to plug the smarty in and read codes that now seem to be stored. Wierd... .....

By the way... . I see that this is your first post. Welcome to the TDR!!

 

[osiris]

it says right there in the second line he has an 07

 

[XXLTexan]

Thanks for the welcome Motorhead (one of my favorite bands by the way)... i actually was a member XXLTXN but let my membership lapse and just signed up with a different handle. I checked the codes and one said "error powerdown" and the second said "invalid" or "incorrect skim code" I erased them but don't know what they mean. Does anyone here know what those mean? If so does it warrant a trip to thr dreaded service dept. ? While I'm asking questions again, does anyone know what was updated from 5. 03c to 5. 03d? Also, on my truck, smarty jr. setting two eliminates my reverse horn. I saw a thread that was discussing that and thought I would throw that out there.

 

[osiris]

not to hijack your thread but does the regular smarty get rid of the reverse horn thing?

 

[pwr2tow]

Neither the Sr. or Jr. gets rid of the reverse horn honk.

XXLTexan,
I would suspect your Jr. has a program glitch since it eliminated the reverse horn honk and now being able to program the ECM properly. I would suggest contacting Bob at Smartypower.com | Home Of The Smarty | Home or the place you bought it from and discuss a replacement since you no longer trust the one you have.

 

[XXLTexan]

RWendlick,
Thanks for the link. Please understand this is not an attempted rip on smarty, mads etc. I thoroughly enjoyed the "Sr. " on my 05'. I think maybe there was some user error (maybe i tripped the theft deterrent feature of the mopar alarm? Or maybe the cord lost contact or had a bad connection?) and now the goal is to get some feedback about the code's meanings, whether to go to service (atlthough now the codes are gone), etc. It is weird that my smarty jr. deletes the reverse horn on setting two and one ( i just checked ). Thanks

 

[CToney]

I had trouble, installing a flash, with my buddy's '05 but he had a loose battery connection from when he installed his FASS system. I think that was my trouble. I got it to download and set back to stock. Give Bob a call he'll be sure to answer your questions. I think you are on the right track with the security/alarm idea. The alarm maybe disconnected something.

 

[Motorhead]

XXL, I think that I would try again and maybe the plug did get loose. The Error powerdown could have been when the smarty was changing power selections. I am only guessing. I DO notice that when I am changing my power settings and even going back to stock, the smarty must erase stuff and then re-input the selected program. I would try the different programs "close to home" and see what you get. I also don't leave my Smarty when it is doing its thing. I do the key on-off as soon as it says.

My BEST opinion is to call BOB Wagner at Mads and talk with him.

 

[Bob4x4]

I have been seeing a large # of skim module failures on trucks and cars of the 06-07 vintage. Quite a few tow-ins



Bob

 

[pwr2tow]

I have been seeing a large # of skim module failures on trucks and cars of the 06-07 vintage. Quite a few tow-ins

Bob

O. K. so what does that mean, I have no clue and need educating for future references?

Does this also include pre June 06 or just post June 06 and 07 trucks?

 

[Bob4x4]

99. 9% of the time with the code lost com with the skim module,the module has failed or locked up. That sounds like what happened in your case. If it were my truck or my customers truck I would replace the skim module or WCM as it is called now and of course it has to be programmed to function.



Bob

 

[Bob4x4]

One other thing on these trucks... ... ... any time any flash is done the batts need to be fully charged to make the operation dependable .



Bob

 

[pwr2tow]

I was thinking about getting a Smarty Jr. in the future after warranty is up. Sounds like the programmer is not the way to go.

 

[Bob4x4]

I have yet to see a true issue with the smarty other than some personal preference with smoke etc.



Bob

 

[XXLTexan]

Hey Bob4x4,

Thanks for the reply. What is a skim code failure? also do you think this might be a prob for 06-07 because the use the key with the chip in them? I don't care about the smoke or the possible horn delete I just want to make sure that i don't get stranded. I am looking to buy a 03'-05' to build up like the 05' i had stolen. I am going to give the 07' to my wife when her lease is up in ten months. Maybe i should save the Jr. for that truck?

 

[Bob4x4]

The reverse horn honk is not done in the ABS or ecm the 2 modules that the smarty deals with... ... ... ... ... . It is in the ccn and tipm.



Bob

 

[Bob4x4]

Hey Bob4x4,



Thanks for the reply. What is a skim code failure? also do you think this might be a prob for 06-07 because the use the key with the chip in them? I don't care about the smoke or the possible horn delete I just want to make sure that i don't get stranded. I am looking to buy a 03'-05' to build up like the 05' i had stolen. I am going to give the 07' to my wife when her lease is up in ten months. Maybe i should save the Jr. for that truck?

Any code that has to do with the Skim system (Sentry key) From what I have seen if you get any codes in that system it is safest to replace the module unless you can verify the cause being something else,wich will be very rare.



Bob

 

[pwr2tow]

I'am confused. So is the programming causing the skim code problems or would there be issues even if no programmer had been installed.

Seriouly, I'am electronic illiterate, can barely run this thing I'am typing on. Not harping on the smarty by any means. Would it be safer to run a module than a programmer? If a programmer of any kind is going to cause a program problem why take the chance.

Am I missing something, maybe this problem isn't caused by a programmer. Help I'am computer stupid!!!!!!

 

[Bob4x4]

I think you would have had the issue any way just bad timing... ... ... ...

I have downloaded 1/2 dozen smarties out in the middle of no where (Glamis) on 06 trucks with out any fear of issues all in the same day To get them up the hill.



Bob