Uninstalling the Recent recall?

[BStoecker]

This whole issue makes me want to puke, thus far I have not used a dealer since I got the recall notice. In the event I need the dealer, I will demand, written on paper, an agreement NOT to reflash with this "fix" if they are unwilling the work will be done at a non-DCX location. DCX should be damn glad they have Cummins. How many of you would follow the Cummins to another brand of truck???

Makes me want to go out an buy a Ford F-650. As I understand it, at that level you can order the truck with the motor/transmission you want. I do not know this for a fact though. At some point, the transfer of $40,000 should give me all legal authority over what is done to my truck. It is like the real estate agent coming back after you close on your house and installing an alarm on your front door that you have no control over that goes off if you don't have your left foot on the welcome mat and your left hand on the doorknob.

 

[Prairie Dog]

This would take a little work but a person could add a relay that opens the wire to the horn any time the backup lights are on.

 

[MD500E]

I have to take my fathers 05 in for service next week. I plan to make up a metal lock to go around the plug so the dealer can not attach their computer to it. That should make them scratch their heads!

 

[BStoecker]

I just played around in the driveway with it. The only way I could get it to go off was to leave it in reverse, with the door open and my foot off the brake. Exactly like it would be if I were backing up with my door open, which happens fairly frequently. It isn't just the horn, but the headlights flash as well. We should be allowed to "modify" the vehicles that belong to DCX management, as well as ****ty service advisors that don't consult with their customers prior to screwing up their trucks.

 

[KSHall]

Just Saturday I had to hook up to my camper and then my car trailer without the aid of a spotter and I too back up with the door open then stop to check where I am and then back up and so on a bunch of times on each hook. So with what ya'll are saying that my horn would be honking and my lights would be flashing the whole dang time. Humph, and to think, on the 26th I was taking my truck to have this flash done to it. THANKS GUYS!!!!!!! I'm gonna cancel that appointment for sure! I'm glad that DC doesnt build battle ships or tanks for our military. That is a poor way to fix a mechanical problem, i gues with a thought process like that it explains all their transmission problems thru the years huh?

 

[MMcdonough]

Is the flash made through the ODBII port? Is it actually part of the PCM code or some other flashable computer in the truck?

 

[betterthanstock]

I'm glad I got a stick shift, but for you guys,



a relay wired to kill the horn when the dome light is on should do the trick. Again, do this at your own risk. If you see someone backing into you in a parking lot and your door or a passenger's is open, you won't be able to blow your horn. (Or if you drive with the dome light on, you won't be able to honk, so use your map light) Other than that I don't see a problem.

 

[MartyK]

I like MD500E's idea. That would be a cool bomb, lock out the OBDII port. Ok, where can I get one? Tomeygun maybe???

 

[MD500E]

This happened to me all of the way back in 99 when they reflashed my 98. 5 with new emissions software without asking, and my truck never ran as strong again. I am going to get to work on an OBDII lock!!!

 

[Donn]

Humm everyone is calling this the idiot flash and some still had it done.

I guess the answer to idiot need not be said.

 

[Amish Elegance]

Anyone have the flash and then load a BDDL or other downloader? I wonder if that'd fix it? If not I bet they'll have it as a web upgrade on one of their Triple Dogs soon.

 

[barleysoda]

Humm everyone is calling this the idiot flash and some still had it done.
I guess the answer to idiot need not be said.

I am the only one that called it an idiot flash and I was told by my dealer that I had no choice in the matter about having it installed.

"I guess the answer to idiot need not be said"
what does this mean? Is this a shot... because it almost sounds like a shot but the sentence doesnt really make sense.

 

[Bob4x4]

Is the flash made through the ODBII port? Is it actually part of the PCM code or some other flashable computer in the truck?

It is the FCM and the MIC that get flashed.



Bob

 

[nickleinonen]

I just played around in the driveway with it. The only way I could get it to go off was to leave it in reverse, with the door open and my foot off the brake. Exactly like it would be if I were backing up with my door open, which happens fairly frequently. It isn't just the horn, but the headlights flash as well.

um, how about just left foot braking... drag the brake enough to make the brake lights turn on when backing up with the drivers door open. . left foot braking isn't hard to do. . [heck, everytime i drive a slushbox i do that, especially when backing up to/with a trailer. . ]

 

[jayhawktrailers.com]

I installed a hitch on an 06 with the update. man that sucks horn going off and lights flashing. I was interested in this thread and as always I learn something. Am I right in asuming this is only done on auto trucks? How far back do they do it, because I have buddies w/ 03's 04's 05's and 06's. Just want to warn them first. I think the OBDII lock is a great idea. That way when you take it in for aleaking axle seal, etc. they can't snoop in your truck and see what bombing you have done and flag your truck

 

[PGreenleaf]

My 06 came from the factory with it already on

 

[brods]

um, how about just left foot braking... drag the brake enough to make the brake lights turn on when backing up with the drivers door open. . left foot braking isn't hard to do. . [heck, everytime i drive a slushbox i do that, especially when backing up to/with a trailer. . ]

You miss the point. For years people (myself included) have jockeyed their vehicles around with the door ajar, checked for being between the lines by opening the door, etc. Now because of either a mechanical issue or an operator issue we have to modify our ingrained behavior or be punished by flashing and honking. If it is a mechanical defect... THEN FIX THE DEFECT! If it is operator error, then once again we have to be protected from our own stupidity with bells and whistles. Even in the recall thread you will see posts by people who knew about this issue and yet still park their vehicle without setting the e-brake.



To be fair to DCX, they have no choice but to CYA. We (meaning society) have brought this upon ourselves with all the lawsuits. Just recently DCX had a judgement go against them in a lawsuit about not having the shift out of park brake interlock on a minivan. IIRC it was a toddler left unattended in a minivan with the keys in the ignition. The toddler shifted it out of park, which allowed the minivan to roll, the toddler fell out and was run over and died. Sad and tragic.



The owner/operator was held only partially responsible and DCX was held partially responsible and had to pay. IMHO it is all the responsibility of the operator who left a child unattended in the vehicle with the keys in the ignition and probably did not set the parking brake either. But as you know we now have to step on the brake to shift our trucks out of park. Every time I bind up the shifter because I tried to shift a moment too soon, before the brake was depressed far enough, I politely thank all those who can't use common sense when operating machines!

 

[Donn]

You miss the point. For years people (myself included) have jockeyed their vehicles around with the door ajar, checked for being between the lines by opening the door, etc. Now because of either a mechanical issue or an operator issue we have to modify our ingrained behavior or be punished by flashing and honking. If it is a mechanical defect... THEN FIX THE DEFECT! If it is operator error, then once again we have to be protected from our own stupidity with bells and whistles. Even in the recall thread you will see posts by people who knew about this issue and yet still park their vehicle without setting the e-brake.



To be fair to DCX, they have no choice but to CYA. We (meaning society) have brought this upon ourselves with all the lawsuits. Just recently DCX had a judgement go against them in a lawsuit about not having the shift out of park brake interlock on a minivan. IIRC it was a toddler left unattended in a minivan with the keys in the ignition. The toddler shifted it out of park, which allowed the minivan to roll, the toddler fell out and was run over and died. Sad and tragic.



The owner/operator was held only partially responsible and DCX was held partially responsible and had to pay. IMHO it is all the responsibility of the operator who left a child unattended in the vehicle with the keys in the ignition and probably did not set the parking brake either. But as you know we now have to step on the brake to shift our trucks out of park. Every time I bind up the shifter because I tried to shift a moment too soon, before the brake was depressed far enough, I politely thank all those who can't use common sense when operating machines!

You are 100% correct. People that sue because they drink coffee from the cup and then go after the place that served them the coffee because it was hot. We all have to be penalized because of the lack of common cense aka stupidity. I wasn't aware that if you took your truck in for any repair that dodge would do the recall. I wonder if that is actually true or just someone with a regret from having the thing done without them thinking first. It is always easier to blame someone else than own up to the mistake. I have the bullydog downloader and it sets the computer back to stock, but I don't know if it will take care of this asinine recall crap, and I am not going to have my truck done to see.

 

[RMarkey]

I like the obdII lock idea, that's kinda what I was thinking when I started reading this post. But if nothing else, at least for the horn, just dissconnect it and install an air horn setup. Just an idea, I've been thinking about doing that anyway just to get people's attention.

The regular horn doesn't work, the lights and horn don't work, and all of that barrelling towards them still doesn't seem to get their attention around here!

 

[BStoecker]

I had a friend check with his dealership last night to see what they know about this recall. As of sometime last week, Star told this particular dealership to STOP installing this recall software. The Star rep admitted to the service advisor that they have had over 1,500 cases of the PCM burning out during the reprogramming process. There goes an $800 part. This dealership said they would be willing to install the old software, but I run the risk of the computer getting fried in the process. That would not be covered under warranty because it would be unauthorized. Star also told them that DCX has received a HUGE backlash from owners of vehicles that have had this recall performed for exactly the reasons stated in this thread. Once again, DCX follows the $$$ and screws the customer in the end and still never fixed the problem. So, now we will just have trucks rolling down hills with lights flashing and horns blowing. So, how does DCX think this would look in a lawsuit after that truck hits a school bus? Well your honor, we didn't actually fix the problem. We just made the lights flash and the horn blow. Yeah, their Risk Management team is brilliant.