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Dodge Ram Warning Lights and Trouble Codes

320 messages,  Last post on Mar 31, 2012 at 6:55 PM

You are in the Dodge Ram-2010 and older Forum.

What is this discussion about? Dodge Ram Pickup 1500, Dodge Ram Pickup 3500, Dodge Ram Pickup 1500 SRT-10, Truck

Messages Page 29 of 32

#281 of 320 Ddoge 3500 box van keeps dying! by 06driver1

Dec 22, 2010 (12:48 pm)

Sorry if this is a duplicate... i didn't see my message after posting initially.
Our Dodge 3500 box van kept dying so the dealership found some codes in the computer. After much ado, they said it was just some needed updates, but weren't sure if that was causing the dying problem. Well, evidently those things weren't related becuase it died again today and will not start.
 
Having it towed to a different dealership, very frustrated. A friend said it could be ignition switch. Hope so because new computer is $1700. No warning, just driving along the interstate and truck dies, pull over, but it starts 5 min. later. That happened several times but today it will not start back up. Any advice/comments??
 
UPDATE: OK, a system booter was installer and PCM was updated to latest calibration. That's what was done yesterday according to codes that were showing, but truck is dead again today. Any ideas??

#282 of 320 Unknown Warning Light by alaskanduck

Jan 22, 2011 (11:05 am)

Bought a used 2008 Ram 1500 a couple months ago. This morning a warning light came on. I could not find the manual anywhere in the truck. The warning light looked like the outline of a horse show or pot with an exclamation pint (!) inside. Can someone tell me what this warning light indicates? Thanks!

#283 of 320 Re: Unknown Warning Light [alaskanduck] by alaskanduck

Jan 22, 2011 (11:11 am)

Replying to: alaskanduck (Jan 22, 2011 11:05 am)
I meant "horse shoe"

#284 of 320 Re: Unknown Warning Light [alaskanduck] by corkscrew

Jan 23, 2011 (6:16 am)

Replying to: alaskanduck (Jan 22, 2011 11:05 am)
Check the tire pressure. You can find your owners manual here: http://www.dodge.com/en/owners/manuals/index.html.
Corkscrew

#285 of 320 Re: Unknown Warning Light [alaskanduck] by bobwinner

Jan 23, 2011 (7:24 am)

Replying to: alaskanduck (Jan 22, 2011 11:05 am)
KCRAM is correct. Tires now have a radio signal device attached to the wheel inside the tire. When air pressure in the tire is low, a signal is sent to the horseshoe looking light ( a slice of a tire) on the dash. Part of the saving fuel philosophy. bobwinner

#286 of 320 Re: Unknown Warning Light [bobwinner] by cobrazera

Jan 24, 2011 (11:14 am)

Replying to: bobwinner (Jan 23, 2011 7:24 am)
More than saving fuel, driving on underinflated tires is dangerous. These pressure indicating systems came into our lives because of all the Ford Explorers that ended up on their roofs about 10 years ago. Overloaded vehicles in hot weather, combined with high speeds, killed a lot of people - so now the gov't saves us from ourselves. The brake/ shifter interlock came to be because of the Audi " sudden acceleration " lies of 20 years ago.

#287 of 320 Re: Ddoge 3500 box van keeps dying! [06driver1] by jpbledsoe

Jul 07, 2011 (9:44 pm)

Replying to: 06driver1 (Dec 22, 2010 12:48 pm)
Our church has a 1994 RAM 350 van and it's behaving exactly as you described above (dies and cranks but won't restart for 5 or 10 minutes). Failure is intermittent and unpredictable. It dies randmonly, year-round, in any weather. I usually dies at slow speeds, most often when slightly accelerating. It only dies once every week or so.
 
I hardwired a timing light on one of the plug wires and drove around town until it finally failed one day. With the timing light I verified that there was no spark when it failed. That's good because I've eliminated fuel problems as possible culprits.
 
Now, I have an account with alldatadiy.com for schematics and functional information for this van. I believe the ASD relay (automatic shutdown relay) is de-energizing.
 
The ASD relay normally provides power to fuel injectors, the coil, and the fuel pump. If the computer (PCM) detects a problem with crankshaft or camshaft sensor signals, it (the PCM) decides "game over" and de-energizes the ASD relay.
 
We've spent over $1,000 on this problem already. At least 2 mechanics have helped us spend lots of money that didn't fix the problem. Neither mechanic had it in the failed state long enough to perform a real investigation so they just guess at the cause and install replacement parts.
 
So, I've decided to monitor some of the crankshaft and camshaft position sensors' signals. I hope to monitor signals with an oscilloscope or a data acquisition system. (My biggest problem so far is figuring out how to provide reliable power to the scope after the engine dies.) I'll have to instrument the signals, then drive around until the scope triggers when ASD relay de-energizes. Then, with the trigger delayed, I can look at the state of key signals right before the trigger.
 
Anyway, did you resolve the issue with your van? I'd like to know before I embark on this data-gathering crusade I'm planning.
 
Thanks,
 
Jeffrey Bledsoe

#288 of 320 Re: Ddoge 3500 box van keeps dying! [jpbledsoe] by malachi4_6

Jul 08, 2011 (6:04 pm)

Replying to: jpbledsoe (Jul 07, 2011 9:44 pm)
Did you check your computer readings?
 
I had a 95 Dodge ram van with similar problems as yours I could not figure out the issue, finally I looked at the computer readings and it was the alternator, when I changed it it got all fixed.

#289 of 320 Re: Ddoge 3500 box van keeps dying! [malachi4_6] by jpbledsoe

Jul 08, 2011 (6:58 pm)

Replying to: malachi4_6 (Jul 08, 2011 6:04 pm)
I have not scanned the PCM. It's hard to find an OBD 1 scanner. Autozone can't scan OBD 1. O'Reilly's will let me have a scanner for 48 hours if I leave a $400 deposit. Since the failures are so rare, it's not likely I'd have a failure in that 48 hour period.
 
I've read the codes by switching the key on 3 times, then counting the number of 'Check Engine' flashes. I read code #55, which means there were no faults. I didn't know you could read the codes this way until a few days after the van failed. Next time it fails, I'll immediately read the codes.
 
There's nothing in my alldatadiy.com account showing that a failed alternator would be a 'no start' situation. The only failures that cause a 'no start' are failed crankshaft position sensor or failed camshaft position sensor.
 
Jeff

#290 of 320 Re: Ddoge 3500 box van keeps dying! [jpbledsoe] by corkscrew

Jul 09, 2011 (8:53 am)

Replying to: jpbledsoe (Jul 08, 2011 6:58 pm)
When the van is running, do you have problems such as low battery voltage, rough idle, stumble, hesitation, or surge?
 If so, check the ASD relay circuit here: http://dodgeram.org/tech/gas/Trouble/Fault-42.htm
 
Corkscrew

Messages Page 29 of 32

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