Dead 2022 3500 Help, RAM says they've never seen this issue!

[AZOILBURNER]

Hi all,

I did some searching to make sure I'm not repeating another post, and given that Ram is telling my dealer that they've never seen this problem before, I'm confident that I'm in the clear.

I need some help, as the dealer seems lost and is working directly with Ram on this.

Truck Details:
2022 3500 Long Horn CCLB HO/AISIN, MAX Tow, Heated seats and wheel, digital dash, 8.4" display, Plow Prep. Let me know if I'm missing pertinent details and I'll update the description.
Took delivery Early Dec 2022, Put ~4000mi on the truck and in mid-March had this problem.

The Story:
16 Mar 2023, started the truck and warmed it up. No unusually cold or severe weather to note. Drove roughly a mile and stopped at a light. Suddenly, with no warning, no dash lights, no roughness or symptoms at all, and with the truck still in gear, the engine cuts off. I try to restart, but get a no-crank, no-start. The dash and radio remained powered through all of this, I could use the ignition button to shut the truck off, and attempt restart. On the first re-start attempt, I got an interesting message from the auto leveling system that it was leveling the truck, but that quickly went away. Now, when I attempt to start the truck all I get is the normal dash startup, it says it is going through a grid heater cycle, and when I press to start, the ignition switches to run, but no crank and no start. It didn't even throw any codes.

I put a volt meter on the truck and it correlated with the in-dash volt meter, with systems on the batteries were showing low 12.2-4'ish and draining quickly. Charged the batteries overnight, and still nothing.

The dealer has had my truck since 17 Mar, they replaced a BCM and it did not fix the problem. Now several weeks into this, the dealer is telling me that the tech is troubleshooting other modules while on a direct line to Ram.

Anyone have any insight into this? I don't have the truck so I can't make sure that they're working through easy stuff first, and checking grounds, and making sure everything is tight underneath. I went over the whole truck when I took delivery and after I got it home. Nothing seemed out of sorts.

Many thanks in advance!

 

[H3LZSN1P3R]

Sounds like the ECM but hard to say could be many things with all the electronics. Did they check to make sure the engine didn't just seize up?

 

[RamCares]

Hi all,

I did some searching to make sure I'm not repeating another post, and given that Ram is telling my dealer that they've never seen this problem before, I'm confident that I'm in the clear.

I need some help, as the dealer seems lost and is working directly with Ram on this.

Truck Details:
2022 3500 Long Horn CCLB HO/AISIN, MAX Tow, Heated seats and wheel, digital dash, 8.4" display, Plow Prep. Let me know if I'm missing pertinent details and I'll update the description.
Took delivery Early Dec 2022, Put ~4000mi on the truck and in mid-March had this problem.

The Story:
16 Mar 2023, started the truck and warmed it up. No unusually cold or severe weather to note. Drove roughly a mile and stopped at a light. Suddenly, with no warning, no dash lights, no roughness or symptoms at all, and with the truck still in gear, the engine cuts off. I try to restart, but get a no-crank, no-start. The dash and radio remained powered through all of this, I could use the ignition button to shut the truck off, and attempt restart. On the first re-start attempt, I got an interesting message from the auto leveling system that it was leveling the truck, but that quickly went away. Now, when I attempt to start the truck all I get is the normal dash startup, it says it is going through a grid heater cycle, and when I press to start, the ignition switches to run, but no crank and no start. It didn't even throw any codes.

I put a volt meter on the truck and it correlated with the in-dash volt meter, with systems on the batteries were showing low 12.2-4'ish and draining quickly. Charged the batteries overnight, and still nothing.

The dealer has had my truck since 17 Mar, they replaced a BCM and it did not fix the problem. Now several weeks into this, the dealer is telling me that the tech is troubleshooting other modules while on a direct line to Ram.

Anyone have any insight into this? I don't have the truck so I can't make sure that they're working through easy stuff first, and checking grounds, and making sure everything is tight underneath. I went over the whole truck when I took delivery and after I got it home. Nothing seemed out of sorts.

Many thanks in advance!

Hey,

We definitely want to get you as many hands on deck with this as possible. Have you opened a case with Ram Cares? If not, please send us a direct message. We'd love to get that started for you.

Callie
Ram Cares

 

[AZOILBURNER]

Hey,

We definitely want to get you as many hands on deck with this as possible. Have you opened a case with Ram Cares? If not, please send us a direct message. We'd love to get that started for you.

Callie
Ram Cares

Message sent. Thanks for looking into this.

 

[areuriding]

They'll get you sorted man, just hang in there.

 

[AH64ID]

While it doesn’t explain the stall, there is a TSB for a no-crank/no-start. Likely not your issue, but worth mentioning.

The voltage dropping fast sounds like something is drawing excess voltage, like a starter. Did they certify the motor can turn over by hand?

They will get it figured out, hopefully sooner than later.

 

[AZOILBURNER]

While it doesn’t explain the stall, there is a TSB for a no-crank/no-start. Likely not your issue, but worth mentioning.

The voltage dropping fast sounds like something is drawing excess voltage, like a starter. Did they certify the motor can turn over by hand?

They will get it figured out, hopefully sooner than later.

Thanks for the heads up on the TSB, I'll look into it.
As for the voltage drain, that's what I thought. Maybe the starter was fried and creating a draw. Spoke with the dealer yesterday, and (3.5 weeks in) after I started asking for details on their troubleshooting, they decided to hand crank the motor, and check the starter. Sounds like they were able to turn it over, but it seemed strange to me that they were confused about the fact that the starter was getting power but not turning....

 

[AZOILBURNER]

Sounds like the ECM but hard to say could be many things with all the electronics. Did they check to make sure the engine didn't just seize up?

They checked it yesterday, and said they were able to turn it through.

 

[gimmie11s]

While it doesn’t explain the stall, there is a TSB for a no-crank/no-start. Likely not your issue, but worth mentioning.

The voltage dropping fast sounds like something is drawing excess voltage, like a starter. Did they certify the motor can turn over by hand?

They will get it figured out, hopefully sooner than later.

This was my thought. Easy stuff first -- they should validate the starter is getting 12v when commanded. If it is getting 12v, but no start, then its the starter.

Seems silly, but that's where I'd begin.

 

[gimmie11s]

Thanks for the heads up on the TSB, I'll look into it.
As for the voltage drain, that's what I thought. Maybe the starter was fried and creating a draw. Spoke with the dealer yesterday, and (3.5 weeks in) after I started asking for details on their troubleshooting, they decided to hand crank the motor, and check the starter. Sounds like they were able to turn it over, but it seemed strange to me that they were confused about the fact that the starter was getting power but not turning....

If the starter is getting power but not turning.... ITS THE STATER!!

smh... damn dealerships.

 

[AH64ID]

If the starter is getting power but not turning.... ITS THE STATER!!

smh... damn dealerships.

But that doesn’t explain the stall.

Also, the starter getting power doesn’t mean it’s being commanded to start. To me getting power just means that the hot lead it hot, not that the relay control is being activated. Maybe the OP and/or dealer needs to clarify.

 

[AZOILBURNER]

But that doesn’t explain the stall.

Also, the starter getting power doesn’t mean it’s being commanded to start. To me getting power just means that the hot lead it hot, not that the relay control is being activated. Maybe the OP and/or dealer needs to clarify.

That was my thought. It's like pulling teeth to get details right now.

 

[gimmie11s]

But that doesn’t explain the stall.

Also, the starter getting power doesn’t mean it’s being commanded to start. To me getting power just means that the hot lead it hot, not that the relay control is being activated. Maybe the OP and/or dealer needs to clarify.

Good point on the stall.

I

 

[jetrinka]

Just because the starter is getting voltage doesn't mean the wiring support structure can handle the amperage load. You could have 12 volts on a single strand of wire and it wouldn't crank the engine over. However on a brand new truck the biggest wiring issue I'd suspect is a loose connection.

Seems the dealer is dumb. If they've verified the starter has B+ at the solenoid wire when cranking and a constant B+ at the main lug with no voltage drop between the battery and the starter I'd start looking at the grounds on the engine. Might explain the stall too.

 

[AZOILBURNER]

Hey,

We definitely want to get you as many hands on deck with this as possible. Have you opened a case with Ram Cares? If not, please send us a direct message. We'd love to get that started for you.

Callie
Ram Cares

Hi,

Just checking in to see if you received my DM.

 

[jetrinka]

Any update on this problem?

 

[AZOILBURNER]

Any update on this problem?

Hi,

I finally had the chance to get over to the dealership and meet in person with my service advisor. From what he describes, the extent of the troubleshooting that they've accomplished on my truck is the few actions we've discussed here in the thread. Control module, hand cranking, and checking power at the starter lug. They admitted to essentially relying solely on their chat line with Ram, and aren't doing anything in the way of basic garage troubleshooting. Now 36 days into it's dealership stay, I received the distinct impression, from my service advisor, and a person who I think was a service manager literally screaming at another customer over the phone, that my vehicle is not being prioritized in favor of immediate paying maintenance at the dealership.

Does anyone here have any experience pursuing a manufacturer buyback or a lemon claim? I know this is most likely the result of an incompetent dealership and not a RAM issue, but when I spend as much as a small house on a truck, I'd expect at least a basic level of service. I will not be returning to this dealership, or purchasing any of the additional vehicles I'd planned, and am considering abandoning the Ram brand altogether (reluctantly, because I've wanted a Ram for years).

 

[flan]

Did ram cares help any?

 

[AZOILBURNER]

Did ram cares help any?

Nothing tangible yet. I do have a case number though. I'll give them some time.

 

[Crusty old shellback]

Sorry to hear about your issues. Sucks that warranty work seems to always take a back burner.

I've gone the lemon law with GM in the past. Each state is different in what they consider a lemon.

Find a good lemon law lawyer and ask questions on what your options are. They will take their cut out of what you get back from the manufacture.

In my case, they depreciated the car from the original price for the mileage it was driven. After everything was said and done, I turned the car into the local dealer, Car got paid off, lawyer got his money, and I wound up with several grand in my pocket.

Sad part was after all the complaining it took for me to even get them to look at the car, and the BS I had to deal with, GM called me trying to get my business back and offering some rebates on a new car. I told them I didn't care if they gave me one for free, I'd burn it to the ground in front of them. They lost a long time customer. I won't buy another GM product.

And here I am now with a RAM.

Good luck with your issues. Seems the true mechanics are a thing of the past. All we have now is mostly button pushers who follow a script and don't watch the screens to see what's happening.
You could see if you could have your truck moved to a better dealership, but more than likely they wont allow it since this one has already started working on it. Been there, done that.