Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Three cylinder idle reflash - complete

[WestTN]

Which sensor--the answer!

The sensor that controls the fast idle is mounted in the left side battery box in contact with the battery bottom. The plug for this sensor is mounted to the inside front corner of the battery tray next to the windshield washer bottle. Well, it is on a 2001. This sensor has the same range as the IAT.

 

[stg2500]

I finally just got mine done this afternoonOo. Now I have to wait for the temps to drop enough to test it. Oo. I had it done by a friend who works at a dealer in RI.

 

[Hollywud]

See How it Goes

I have my appointment scheduled for this coming Monday... . at Clayton Motors in East Hartford, CT.



The person who took my appointment seemed a little bewildered over that fact that I was requesting a specific TSB..... even more so when I told him that I have a copy and it should only take a 1/2 hour.



I plan on bringing a copy of this post along with the TSB. Even thought a 1/2 hour of labor isn't much money, I'm going to point out that a few TDR members had theirs done for free. I'll also make sure to tell the tech. to enable the feature after reprogramming.



Any other tips/things to watch out for?

 

[TowPro]

Re: Mixed Emotions

I think you will find that what ever the newest version of firmware is, is the only version of firmware the dealer has in his computer. I had the 18-11-99 done on my 98 after the recall that forced a reflash. It did make the 98 run better. but that version of firmware has probably been replaced with the version that includes the High Idle Feature.

Originally posted by Hollywud

I just printed off TSB 18-019-01: Cold Idle Engine Warming and TSB 18-11-99: Slow Acceleration or Lack of Power While Towing or Hauling a Heavy Load.



After reading this extensive post, I now have mixed emotions.



Has anyone performed both TSB's simultaneously? If not, do you think it would be wise to make 2 separate appointments?

 

[Hollywud]

RE: TowPro's Response

At this point, judging from the dealer’s reaction to my request, I'm not going to allow them to do too many things at once. I'm positive it is possible for one load to do both features but, a specific program would need to be called out... ... . and I'm not going to let the dealer do something that I'm not fully aware about. At this point, I can hand the dealer detailed instructions on how to perform each TSB load and am comfortable with that (probably because I feel like I'm still somewhat in control... . hate other wrenches touching my toys )



You know how the old adage goes, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it. " Well it ain't broke and I'm already fixing it soooo, I want to take it one step at a time (history has proven itself to me too many times not to do to many changes at once).



Oh well... . that's just my 2 cents. If someone has instructions/program code ID's to load both applications at once, give this post a shout.

 

[KatDiesel]

Re: RE: TowPro's Response

Originally posted by Hollywud

At this point, judging from the dealer’s reaction to my request, I'm not going to allow them to do too many things at once. I'm positive it is possible for one load to do both features but, a specific program would need to be called out... ... . and I'm not going to let the dealer do something that I'm not fully aware about. At this point, I can hand the dealer detailed instructions on how to perform each TSB load and am comfortable with that (probably because I feel like I'm still somewhat in control... . hate other wrenches touching my toys )



You know how the old adage goes, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it. " Well it ain't broke and I'm already fixing it soooo, I want to take it one step at a time (history has proven itself to me too many times not to do to many changes at once).



Oh well... . that's just my 2 cents. If someone has instructions/program code ID's to load both applications at once, give this post a shout.

The latest software should contain all of the recent updates, I don't think you can pick and choose, you just are forced to reflash to the most current software available.

 

[mopars1]

You can pick and choose the reflashes by loading the TSB number into the MDSII so that is the only one that comes up. It is pretty simple.

 

[parcher]

Flash procedure, (one of two possible methods) connect drbIII to MDS2 and to vehicle with key on. Connection to MDS2 will be detected and vin will be read by MDS2. click the "flash" tab and the the "read controller part nember" radio button. MDS2 will read vehicle controller part numbers (ALL OF THEM) and show a list of which one are up-dateable. There will not be multiple choices for pick and choose software items, there will be ONE new part number for any given controller. There will be a window to view related tsb's and scrolling through this window will show all tsb's that the new software is designed to address, it's all or nothing! The other method involves loading new softwareinto the DRBIII and bringing it to the vehicle, but only compatible flashes are allowed, if you didn't pick the right software you won't be allowed to flash the controller.

 

[Hollywud]

Originally posted by parcher

There will be a window to view related tsb's and scrolling through this window will show all tsb's that the new software is designed to address, it's all or nothing!

So what you all are saying is by asking for the Cold Idle TSB reflash, I will automatically get any and all other flash-able TSB's available for my truck?

 

[stg2500]

Well this morning it was about 25 out and the high idle option workedOo. Oo. Oo. I actually was concerned because it didn't ramp up right after starting the truck.



After idling for about 30 seconds the engine slowly ramped up to 1200 RPM. Now all I am waiting for is the three cylinder option to work. Maybe next week since it is supposed to get colder.



As far as I know the only thing that wasflashed into my ECM was the Cold Idle TSB. The flash was done using the above mentioned tequinique using the handheld DRB III.

 

[mgoncalves]

Thanks Dennis!



I'll see if I can get high idle to come on, on demand as long as the coolant temp is below 140.

 

[fredflinstone]

Well I went down to the dealership and had the cold high idle turned on yesterday and it worked great thismorning!!althought it sounds like it's gonna explode. Doing it was no problem once the DRB was hooked up took about two minutes just selected it and turned it on!!! Good luck to all others getting this done Seth

 

[yourdodgeman]

Maybe you guys can answer this for me. I had the Cold idle TSB done on my truck a week or so ago, but it is not working quite right.



It has been cold enough in Louisville a few nights now and the engine has not even tried to ramp up to 1200 RPM. I had asked the tech about the high idle when he enabled it, and he pretty much said I was crazy that the truck would not do that.



I figured the it shouldn't have any problem with the high idle since it doesn't get plugged in, and it sits in a parking lot all night while I am at work.



I also noticed that the function description on the DRB was something like 3-cyclinder idle, if that has anything to do with it.



Any clues?

 

[Bratton]

My high idle and 3 cylinder idle work great. I've had the features enabled since last March. However it seems to take temperatures below 10 degrees to get the 3 cylinder idle to start. In fact, it never cut the 3 cylinders until this Winter.



Recently, I had a little service work done which evidently involved a reflash along with the wrenching. This caused the cold weather idle features to revert back to the default setting (off). The dealer reenabled it for me today in about a 15 minute visit.



The moral of the story is be sure and tell the service manager that you have those features enabled and to make sure they stay that way!

 

[yourdodgeman]

Hey Bratton,



You said "those features". Is there two features that need to be turned on. One being the 3-cyclinder idle and two being the cold high idle?



That is the wayt I took it.

 

[KatDiesel]

Originally posted by yourdodgeman

Hey Bratton,



You said "those features". Is there two features that need to be turned on. One being the 3-cyclinder idle and two being the cold high idle?



That is the wayt I took it.

You "Enable" the 3 cylinder feature through the DRBIII tool, and it activates both. If it is disabled (default setting) neither one will work.

 

[Bratton]

It sounds like Katdiesel knows his stuff Yourdodgeman.

 

[700rmk]

It works!!1

Well mine finally activated this am, it took 16 degrees to get it to work... . I wonder if I have a sensor bad or dirty, is it the one in the block or the one up by the battery? Any Ideas?

 

[Mschevey]

My understanding is that the temp. comes from the battery temp sensor. The one in the block will be much higher because of the grid heaters.



Mike Schevey

 

[yourdodgeman]

Thanks KatDiesel!



The dealer did enable it, but maybe it has just hasn't been cold enough. It is supposed to get down to 12 degrees tonight. I'll see what it does then. I also could be that when he enabled it that it did not take.



Thanks everybody for the help.