What's new
Ram Heavy Duty Forum

Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

Truck systems lost communication and freaking out

Brutal_HO

The Mad Irishman
Staff member
Messages
14,259
Reaction score
26,627
Points
113
Location
Douglas County, CO
Used the truck Tuesday to take the wife to the airport so plenty of charge time. Remote start Saturday night failed. It did one bump and didn't start.

I started it from the cab, overriding the diesel preheat for fear the batteries were (has happened before after sitting) unable to start the truck, and the dash lit up like a Christmas tree, flashing and binging, etc.

Pretty much all modules lost communication, all safety features disabled. I unplugged my OBDLink MX+ and stopped/started and re-plugged it. Read and cleared codes for ABS, Engine, BCM. CEL wouldn't go out and still saying ABS module coms fault. Could not get the ABS fault to clear with AlfaOBD, Torque, or OBDLink. I was going to be late picking up the wife at the airport and should have just hopped in the car but it seemed to be running OK so I drove it up there with the MIL lit. Drove fine, all systems working, no other faults indicated except the CEL.

Got back and updated the firmware on the OBDLink, ran the ABS initi steps, and was able to clear the code.

It's been to the dealer and they say the batts are OK and blame it on my "aftermarket devices" power draw. I have a dashcam that's wired to IGN+ and BAT+ for parking guard. My Audi has the same setup and can sit for weeks without any issue. I guess I might try to use a solar charge panel on it but it's a shame the truck can't site for 5 days without issues.
 
Used the truck Tuesday to take the wife to the airport so plenty of charge time. Remote start Saturday night failed. It did one bump and didn't start.

I started it from the cab, overriding the diesel preheat for fear the batteries were (has happened before after sitting) unable to start the truck, and the dash lit up like a Christmas tree, flashing and binging, etc.

Pretty much all modules lost communication, all safety features disabled. I unplugged my OBDLink MX+ and stopped/started and re-plugged it. Read and cleared codes for ABS, Engine, BCM. CEL wouldn't go out and still saying ABS module coms fault. Could not get the ABS fault to clear with AlfaOBD, Torque, or OBDLink. I was going to be late picking up the wife at the airport and should have just hopped in the car but it seemed to be running OK so I drove it up there with the MIL lit. Drove fine, all systems working, no other faults indicated except the CEL.

Got back and updated the firmware on the OBDLink, ran the ABS initi steps, and was able to clear the code.

It's been to the dealer and they say the batts are OK and blame it on my "aftermarket devices" power draw. I have a dashcam that's wired to IGN+ and BAT+ for parking guard. My Audi has the same setup and can sit for weeks without any issue. I guess I might try to use a solar charge panel on it but it's a shame the truck can't site for 5 days without issues.
With 2 batts that should not be the case have you done your own battery testing or is that just the dealers test results? I can leave my truck for over a week without issues and i also have a constant powered dash cam
 
Does your truck sit outside? When I had my vehicle disabler installed they found a field mice nest under my fuse box. We didn't find any broken wires but it has me concerned about it being such a cozy little spot for them. I have never had an issue around my place with that. It could have happened before I got the truck. Regardless, if any of those wires are messed up you can have all kinds of weird stuff happen. I know of one other person that issues from mice. Going to be something I check now.
 
Does your truck sit outside? When I had my vehicle disabler installed they found a field mice nest under my fuse box. We didn't find any broken wires but it has me concerned about it being such a cozy little spot for them. I have never had an issue around my place with that. It could have happened before I got the truck. Regardless, if any of those wires are messed up you can have all kinds of weird stuff happen. I know of one other person that issues from mice. Going to be something I check now.
A great idea to put bounce sheets in the truck if it sits for extended periods
 
Does your truck sit outside? When I had my vehicle disabler installed they found a field mice nest under my fuse box. We didn't find any broken wires but it has me concerned about it being such a cozy little spot for them. I have never had an issue around my place with that. It could have happened before I got the truck. Regardless, if any of those wires are messed up you can have all kinds of weird stuff happen. I know of one other person that issues from mice. Going to be something I check now.

It sits outside but so did my 04.5 and I've never had any rodent issues. Something to check for I suppose. I'm starting to wonder if it was the OBDLink. This isn't the first time something similar happened with it plugged in.

Battery status history doesn't indicate a low voltage issue. I even had a super low dip on 9/29 and didn't have any starting issues. I was at the gun range and did several starts with short runs up the range and back before the last start to drive home (45 miles).

Screenshot_20211011-092126_Battery Monitor.jpg
 
Back
Top