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

[Weidner]

I have been trying to get this done for over a year. 3 dealers and at least 6 visits (with the TSB) and no luck.



After holding back from choking multiple incompitent service managers in the South Metropolitain Twin Cities area I took matters into my own hands.



I have a friend that is a Nissan tech I have been telling him about my problems with this. I started to read the TSB and he stopped me, he said "DRB III? the guy next to me here at work has one, he drives Chryslers... I bet you can use it"



I got the DRBIII out to my truck in the parking lot, pluged it in, and wow what do you know, follow the directions and this 3cyl thing does exist (contrary to the local 5 stars beliefs). This is so easy, it took less than two minutes. I can't wait to make some calls at 5am tomarrow when its running on 3 cyl. I have two service manager cell #'s as well as all 3 of their direct numbers. I am going to fill some voice mail with that 3 cyl clatter.



Being a balmy 0 degrees I figure it should work like a champ! I can't wait. I feel so good, thank for reading my rant-sorry so long.

 

[homeka45]

minus 15 degreesdamn thats cold!!!

 

[SnoKing]

Had my 2001. 5 done about a year and half ago and it has never worked. Truck sat out at Whislin Jacks over Martin L. Birthday and it was 26 degrees the third morning when I started it. NO FAST idle.



So today I stopped by the dealers and asked them to check to see if it was enable. Found tech working on it out back. He said he did not see anything that said it was enable or disabled, so he choose enable and finished it by cycling the key. He then went back in while I was in the truck and I saw where it said enabled. (I think he most likely missed the disabled statement the first time.



So I said sounds good to me, give it back, I will test it next time I go snowmobiling. However I may just get to test it tomorrow morning here at home, it is cold out, and I have the truck outside, while I am using the garage bay to building a V-box for behind the 5th wheel hitch, to hold our golf clubs.



I am pretty sure the first guy never enabled it correctly. He did do the reflash, because the option was available today.



Sure wish it was colder around here and we were getting more snow in the mountains. We may have to cancel the snowmobile trip for Pres Day and go boating. Those little Cummins B150's in the boat have been calling to me, saying hey SNOKING, there is no snow, we are ready!!! Lets go boating Capt. Chris!



FYI, we have a boating Forum up now at our Yacht Club.

http://www.healthmon.com/psyc/phpbb/



SNOKING

 

[Sixpack]

Snoking, which dealer did you go to? TIA Sixpack

 

[SnoKing]

Well the first time in the fall of 2001 was the South Everett Dewayne Lane(?), because Lynnwood Dodge said they did not have anyone that knew anything about Diesels.



Yesterday I went back to Lynnwood Dodge where I had purchased the truck. FYI, they covered it under warranty both times. Wish it was a little colder out right now, I would go out and start it as a test.



SNOKING

 

[Hollywud]

Works!!!

Well, I visited my dealer yesterday for the re-flash. The service manager was bewildered by the fact that there was nothing wrong with my rig but I still wanted the TSB incorporated. My appointment was at 07:30 and I didn't get out of there until 09:00. When I inquired what was taking so long, the service mgr said he wanted to wait for his top electrical tech. to be free. I told him I would wait as long as needed, in order to be ensured the flash was done correctly. I specifically told them to follow the TSB verbatim and especially not to forget the last part... to enable the 3 cyl idle feature.



Left the dealer and went to work. At lunch time a buddy (owns an '01 TD) and I went outside to see if it would go into high idle. To our surprise, nothing happened. We went back inside and checked our wx station and found that the outside air temp was 34 degrees (not cold enough). When I left work, I stared at the rpm gage with great anticipation... . nothing happened (OAT still in the 34 degree range). This morning I started my truck and almost burned a hole in the rpm gage waiting with anticipation (OAT was about 18 degrees). After 30 seconds of staring and almost getting ******, the truck ramped up to ~1200 rpm. Oo. Oo. Oo. I'm such a happy camper Drove into work and it's sat outside for about 3 hours... . my buddy wanted to see it go into high idle so we went outside to give it a try (OAT is now about 20 degrees). No high idle ... I'm guessing that since the sun is beating on my black hood that the under hood temps are slightly higher than 32 degrees... and maybe the block is still slightly heat soaked since the "wait to start" light only was on for a second or two. Now my buddy thinks, I'm pulling his leg... . haaa, haaa!!!



I can't wait to hear the thing run on 3 cylinders. Temps are supposed to drop down to around 10 degrees tonight so I may set my alarm clock for 03:00 in the morning just to try it (probably tick off my neighbors but, I can't wait

 

[yourdodgeman]

My high idle finally worked!



I got off work Saturday morning, started the truck, waited a few seconds and sure enough the idle ramped up. I guess the temp finally cold enough (18 degrees) for it to work.



Later

 

[Mschevey]

IT WORKS (long)

Mine finally works!!



I looked back through my files and I have been dealing with this since Oct. 10, 2001. Last Thursday I was at the dealer and I talked the service dept. into letting me 'help' try to get it working. We hooked up the truck to the DRB Down loaded the current information and then went to the computer and the reflash did not come up as available. So we looked under a standard cummins not the HO. There it was. Tech read the TSB and where it says all 24 valve Cummins engines.



Went back in under my truck and not there?? So we restarted the session on the computer and instead of entering the VIN number and info from the DRB tool, the tech entered the ECM programing serial number manually (he wrote it down from the DRB tool). And there it was listed, as an available reflash. So we then hooked the DRB up to the computer and downloaded the flash to it. Went to the truck and uploaded the reflash. The tech said that he didn't think the reflash would go because it haden't come up earlier. But lo-and-behold it took about 5 minuets to upload. We then went back in and enabled it.



If you have a HO and it is not listed as available already, or is there but dosen't work, this may be a way to get the dealer to help you. (They worn't reflash if it's not listed specifically. )



Now it works, hasn't been quite cold enough for the 3 cylinder but should be tomorrow morning.

 

[Hollywud]

Doing the 3 Cyl. Jiggle

Well, I know we are beating a dead horse to death but, I've had my engine do the 3 cyl jiggle twice since my last post. OAT was 10 degrees one day and 0 degrees the other. Man does this warm the engine up fast!!! I let it idle in the 3 cyl mode for between 5 - 10 minutes, as soon as I left my driveway the temp. needle was already moving.



Here is my dilemma. The high idle and 3 cyl features only seem to activate when the truck sits for long periods of time (i. e. cold soaked overnight for ~10 hours). When I run my rig to work, I park it in the lot for ~9 hours or so. OAT has been below 32 degrees during the day (and coolant temp is definitely below 140 degrees) but, it doesn't go into high idle. I have a black truck and am beginning to think that under hood temps (due to the sun beating on my hood) may be slightly higher than 32 degrees (vs. actual OAT). Has anyone else experienced this?



Also, a number of posts back MGONCALVES seemed to have a similar scenario. I began to think that maybe I could fake the ECM to believe that the sensor was reading, at least, 32 degrees. I re-read this thread and saw that MGONCALVES posted a similar idea. Has anyone out there performed this mod? My overall goal is to be able to enable the high idle feature on demand... . even if temps are slightly over 32 degrees.



Thanks!!!!!

 

[Newf Limo]

I battled with dealers for a year on this. I think it was my frustration level and that "Oh god, his head is about to explode" look that finally clued the last service department in on the fact that they better SHUT-UP and LISTEN.



There is no special tricky stuff involved with getting a 98. 5 and newer to do this. Just turn on Enable for 3Cyl operation and back out of the computer "PROPERLY!" It is that simple. No reflash, no sprinkling of volcanic ash in a triangular pattern around the DRB-III as it sets in the geographical center of the service bay the truck is scheduled to be serviced in. Did I mention to "back out of the computer properly so the enable doesn't return to it's default setting of disabled?" You see, Moss Bros. Dodge in SanBernadino, Ca. (after a long drawn out battle and un-necessary reflash and multiple trips) finally enabled the three cyl idle operation (for $75. 00) then to prove to me they did it, they went back in to show it to me on the DRB III. Yes I saw it. Alas, it did not work. I gave up dealing with them. Lee Dodge here in Portland Maine, (after alot of convincing) tried it again. They said it was not enabled. The last person didn't back out properly the second time and the computer went back to default. That will be $35. 00 please



When my 3 Cyl operation is working, not much gets in its way. You can push in the clutch, or step on the brake, put it in gear (6 speed) or release the Parking brake. You can do them all simultaneously. It just keeps its 3cyl high idle going. Touch the Accelerator Pedal, and the show is over. On most chilly mornings i. e. 5- 10 degrees it takes about 1- 1. 5 minutes to go through the whole process. on a really cool morning i. e. -25*F. It barely lets the Oil pressure get up before the RPM's JUMP not RAMP to 1250 and immediatley goes to 3 Cyl Idle. I think there is more to these trucks than we give them credit for! They have the ability to determine that it is too darn cold out to follow proceedures. Some rules are meant to be broken



Sorry for the long post, just wanted to make sure to clear up the mystery. Remember, go to your service department with the printed copy of the bulletin and a BIG STICK