Issues with new to me 19 2500 Tradesman 6.4

[J. Reacher]

Afternoon guys.

So, about three weeks ago I purchased my 3rd Ram. My other two were 4th gen 1500's and never had a problem with either of them.

I purchased this 19 2500 6.4 with 25 thousand miles with the intensions of starting my own business and using it to pull various heavy trailers. This truck was found on a dealership sight about an hour away from my house. Beautiful inside and out after checking it out in person.

Anyway, the day before yesterday my wife and I were out with friends about an hour away from home. We stopped out to dinner to start the night off. After dinner, we went out to the truck, jumped in and hit the start button. The truck started like it usually did but shut of right away like somebody had shut the key off.

I attempted to start it back up but seemed to be stuck in accessory. Everything was powered up as normal, but it was like there was no communication to the starter. It wouldn't do anything while hitting the start button.

After attempting this a couple times, the truck started right up and ran fine but had a check engine light. It sucked but I thought to myself "at least I got a code" and will take it in the next day "but for tonight thankfully we are still able to accommodate our company".

We pulled out of the parking lot and caught a red light. We sat there for about half a minute, truck running fine. The light turned green, and we were about six vehicles back from the intersection. As we proceeded to turn left through the busy intersection, again it was like somebody just hit the key. Luckily, I was able to finish the turn in the intersection and make my way to the curb lane.

I looked down at the dash and a bunch of different warning lights were coming up on the screen. Check trailer harness, service fuel filter, service stable track, service abs system, cannot read tire pressure as well as the check engine light. After traffic had given me a window to jump out of the truck, I popped the hood and started wiggling wires thinking there was some kind of electrical issue with a positive or ground wire.

I kept jumping in and out of the truck trying the start button but to no avail. Finally, after five- or six-minutes a cop pulled in behind me and offered to help push the truck to the nearest parking lot which was quite a bit away. We were able to get the truck into the parking lot where I tried it several more times. No joy.

We ended up having to pay just under four hundred dollars to get the truck flat bedded to a dodge dealership closest to my home which was a little over an hour away. We also had to get an Uber home as we were not able to catch a ride with the driver which again was more than I care to share.

So yesterday I called the dealership that I bought the truck at to find out what kind of help I could get to which the reply was if it was the powertrain, it would be covered. This does not put me in a good mood knowing damn well that it's not the powertrain that's the issue.

So, the dealer that currently has the truck called me today and said that they pulled a code, but it was running fine. He didn't tell me what code it was but did tell me that none of the modules in the truck were communicating. However, after clearing the code, they were not able to replicate the issue and the truck was still running tip top and I should come pick it up. I expressed my concern about pulling heavy trailers and losing the power brakes and steering while doing so could be a big issue. If they were not able to find the issue, I could no longer have trust in my vehicle. Obviously, there's nothing he could do for me which was understandable.

I still had a couple more hours until I got off of work and pick the truck up so we both agreed that they would take the truck for another long drive on the freeway and backroads to try to replicate the issue again. He ended up calling me back about twenty minutes before I got off work and told me that I was going to have to leave the truck overnight again. Apparently, they fired it up to take it for another ride and it crapped out on them before they were able to get off the lot with it.

So that's where we are at. I no longer have confidence in the truck if they can't find the source of the problem and the more I search the forums the more I'm getting scared out of my mind because I don't have the money for somebody to just take guesses on what the problem could be. I also don't have the money to keep getting this thing towed every time we find out that the last part thrown at it didn't work.

Should I ask the dealership that I purchased the truck at to purchase the truck back? Is that even an option? It's been less than thirty days.



What should I do guys?

 

[Units]

Does the dealership you bought the truck from have a return policy? I.e. 30 days? I’d say let the dealer diagnose it and if you don’t like what they say then take it back to the place you bought it.

 

[J. Reacher]

They do; however, I'm giving them the chance to make it right. The GM contacted me at the end of his day yesterday and gave me his personal number and told me to call with any questions or concerns. Also told me to get a rental and send him the bill. Made sure I knew that all financial responsibility will be taken care of by him and that if the current dealership cannot find the problem that he would pay to get it hauled to a mechanic of his choosing that he feels confident that will find the problem.
He said he wants to make sure that I get the truck that I thought I was purchasing.

I got to tell ya, I'm impressed so far. I just have to make sure I'm not being strung along until the return policy time has expired and then dropped like a bad habit.

Love your signature by the way.

 

[Units]

Glad they’re taking care of you. It sucks being stuck with a note and no truck. Keep us updated.

 

[J. Reacher]

So, the dealership that's currently working on the truck called me. Apparently, all the wiring checked out. They called Dodge and Dodge had them run through a couple things to which somehow the results called for a new PCM.

I asked if this was just something they are doing for a guess being that supposedly the wire checked out. He explained that there pretty sure that when the truck goes into sleep mode that the PCM loses communication with everything. I'm hoping there not just throwing parts at it, but it is covered under the powertrain warranty, so I guess it couldn't hurt. Maybe I'm wrong and I hope I am. I'll be picking it up after I get off of work tomorrow so time will tell.

I am grateful that both dealerships took care of me, however it's going to be a while before my faith is restored with this truck.

 

[Deltron]

My '21 1500 went completely crazy like that once. Unhooked the battery and hooked it back up. Been fine ever since.

Be happy you don't have a '22 diesel, mine's living at the dealer.

 

[H3LZSN1P3R]

This is why i would not buy a newer used vehicle from a dealer as people usually don't trade in a problem free truck when its so new or it was a rental before and both are scenarios i don't like. I hope your issue gets figured out

 

[dtsequeira]

This happened to me up at a ski resort miles from the nearest town. I was able to jump it and get it running but as soon as I coasted to a stop it died and every light was illuminated. Started again and wouldn't go into drive. Called a dealer at home and they told me it sounded like the battery was dead(my orig. batt. truck is a 2019 too). Called an off road service that was able to pick up a battery at Napa from a town 20 miles away and delivered to me for a steep fee. Swapped the battery out and the truck was fine with the new battery. I didn't have my code reader but the check engine light was still on but went away after a few restarts.

 

[pizzatots]

This does sound battery related.

 

[Dave01]

Agree, battery or general electric system. When the electronics go nuts, dash lights up with every warning light, makes me wonder if battery/alternator etc., is delivering proper voltage. Another thing would be the push button start switch being faulty.

I assume you have the GM's email along with his phone. Send him an email thanking him for his help, that you really appreciate him letting you know he would make sure the truck is being fixed correctly for you. Say "I can't afford for this to not work out and can't afford to fix it myself, so I want to make sure it is all fixed in the 30 day period so I don't lose the ability to give it back for a refund." That email will put in writing that the GM is aware and has agreed to fix it within the 30 days, so if you get in a pickle you'll have it to refer back to. If he replies something to the effect of "don't worry sir, we're taking care if it" all to the better.