Smarty Jr. Software poorly written/not thorough

[MStrain]

I have a Smarty Jr. , I like the product, it is pretty nice, not quite as much power as I hoped for but it is overall pretty good.

Now for the downside, ever since I installed the software, my cab dome lights time out after 3 seconds, so if I open the doors at night for whatever reason, to put things in etc, it goes dark in a couple seconds, even if I roll the little wheel to the on postion on my dash next to the light knob it still times out after a few seconds.

Now for the really downside, I usually make sure to turn off my headlights, but if I forget its no big deal because they will automatically turn off after a few minutes anyway, has been like that ever since I bought the truck in 06. Well I forgot to turn off my headlights two nights ago and they didn't turn off by themselves, and today when I went to start my truck, the batteries are dead, wont start. I am really upset because I missed a important work appointment because of this (costing me money) and have truck that won't start, I'm sitting here waiting for my brother to drive across town with his CTD to jump my truck, I hope I don't have to buy new batteries (cost me more money).

I PM'd Bob Wagner who I bought the Smarty from but he never replied, anybody else notice this, when will this issue be fixed, it is a issue with the Smarty software, how could they overlook this.

 

[MStrain]

Anybody else, I know they have sold alot of Samrty Jr's, I cant be the only one with this issue.

 

[DaveHess]

Sorry. Mine has been flawless. I wonder how the Smarty Jr ties into the other controllers. I thought it only talked to the engine controller (ECM). Of course mine is a 2003.

 

[Regcabguy]

I've got the Sr. and to be honest,I've never checked as I physically hit the switch again to turn them off. I don't get the headlights on deal with a lot of vehicles. If your eyes can't dilate to compensate for darkness,you shouldn't be driving.

 

[ttreibel]

I haven't heard anything like this but I can attest that Bob is a great guy and he will get back to you soon. You might want to look Bob up at the NWBombers site he spends more time there... ... it's our local chapter

BOMBER Board (Powered by Invision Power Board)

 

[Wingate]

The interior light issue is a Dodge issue and has nothing to do with a programmer. My truck did the exact same thing. . Had it to the shop several times and the dealership kept saying that " well the tech that set it up last time didnt know what he was doing" Then finally, they contacted Dodge and they (Dodge) was just coming up with a fix for it... I've heard it also includes other Y. M. trucks... but everybody that i've heard that had the issue owned an 06 model truck.

If its under warranty, there is a T. I. B. that involves a re-flash. So far, mines been ok since the update. If not, I've read on here that some have disconnected the batteries for 15-20 minutes and it supposedly re-sets it. .

You might do a search. . I know that I started a thread when mine was acting up...

 

[BILLVO]

I noticed the headlight switches can be a bit fussy at times, I have had to replace 2 already and they both had the same issue, Turn light off and they are still on. Flip the switch on off again and they then turn off.



I replace the switch when it get to a point where I have to turn it on off more than a couple times to get lights to turn off.

 

[CDonaldson]

I was having the interior light problems, got the truck flashed by the dealership. Actually, when they did the flash, they flashed the truck for ALL the programming changes to date, which included a lot more than just the light problems.



I have a Samrty Jr and it has been functioning flawlessly. I got it after that total flash was done.





and . . have you tried returning your truck to stock to see if you still have the problem?





CD

 

[sag2]

Disconnect your battery negative cables (both batteries) for 15-30 minutes and connect again. Your dome light problem should be fixed.

 

[Motorhead]

My Smarty jr has worked flawlessly! My headlights and dome light work just fine and shut off by them selves even though I manually shut off my headlights myself.

Gee... Lets blame a GREAT performance enhancement device that YOU chose to put on your truck for some TOTALLY unrelated problem and the fact that YOU don't turn your headlights off MANUALLY and YOU missed your work appointment!!! :{

 

[TMitch]

I don't have a smarty BUT I have had the dome light problem 2x. The dealer told me I needed a new computer but instead I unhooked the batteries for 1/2 hour and it fixed it. First fix lasted over 2 years, 2nd fix still going strong.

 

[2Rowdy]

I have never heard of any programing problems that Marco developed that was put out commercialy. Here is the web site Smartypower.com | Home Of The Smarty | Home call Bob.

 

[JJPage]

My Smarty jr has worked flawlessly! My headlights and dome light work just fine and shut off by them selves even though I manually shut off my headlights myself.



Gee... Lets blame a GREAT performance enhancement device that YOU chose to put on your truck for some TOTALLY unrelated problem and the fact that YOU don't turn your headlights off MANUALLY and YOU missed your work appointment!!! :{

Easy there Motorhead... we all make mistakes, and I'm usually right there at the top of the list:-laf.



The Smarty has caused glitches, and/or left out details in past programs. Marco has rectified some of those details by adding that key off>, key on>, key off>, at the end of the download.



If by disconnecting the neg battery cables, it can clear up the dome/head light situation, it's not such a stretch too believe that a download into your ecm could by coincidence, initiate this condition.



Not trying to start anything, it's Christmas season, I'm feeling gracious and forgiving!

 

[MStrain]

Well, thanks everyone who had good advice, turns out I was wrong. I disconnected the batteries and so far it seems to have taken care of it, I assumed that it was the smarty because it started shortly after I installed it, my mistake, my apologies to Marco and Bob Wagner, everyone who had negative remarks well, maybe you should switch to decaf, thanks again gotta love the TDR!

 

[opjohnny]

I always hated when my dad jumped to conclusions. I try not to now. With the title you used it was bound to stir things up. Glad to see things are working.



John

 

[AWise]

No problems with my Smarty Jr. , works great. It is entirely possible that the Smarty triggered the issue, but I have heard about this on trucks with no programmers so it seems to be a Dodge programming problem.

 

[Wingate]

If the problem started at the same time the programmer was loaded... the two could actually be related, although it still has nothing to do with the programmer.

I'm sure the programmer is using an industry standard such as CAN (J1939) or similar data link pathway. Its the same thing the various modules and ECU's communicate with each other and transmit info. It (the programmer) jumps onto the datalink thru the diag. port and if there is already an issue with data transmission rate... etc... with a particular module, it will only complicate or exaggerate the problem.

Where I work, we connect to engines thru "Communications Adapter". . There have been times when having a software issues that the engine will be running, and when you hook up the adapter, the engine dies or throws active codes.

Just a thought.....

 

[sag2]

When flashing any module you are using the communication Bus and from time to time strange things happen. The newer trucks are very sensitive to battery voltage and the modules get cranky with either high or low voltages. So it probably was the "Smarty", not necessarily the program itself, but more likely a glitch that happened during the flash, just like those that happen with OEM flashes.