2005 Dodge Ram 3500 not grounding transmission relay
This fine Dodge showed up in my lot overnight, and the customer told me that it doesn't shift correctly, and that it has had 3 different transmissions with the same issue. No other information. I pop the hood, and there's no batteries. Throw a pair of batteries in it, and as soon as the engine is running, headlights, and parking lights flash constantly, whenever the engine is running. So immediately, I'm sure it has an electrical issue. Drive it around to the bay, and pull codes, and I get all the codes listed. I look at transmission diagrams, and decide to tackle the solenoid codes first, because all 3 share a common power from the transmission relay. Hook up the lisle relay test adapter, and with the engine running, no power output, and no ground to trigger the relay from the ecm. I load test powers, and grounds to ecm, and they are all good. If I ground the relay control wire, I can hear the a/c clutch energize every time, so something weird is going on in this ecm.
With solid powers, and grounds, do I condemn this ecm, or am i missing something? BTW, it looks like a freshly rebuilt ecm, there's a tamper evident sticker on the case of it. I asked his son for more info, because he's not very fluent in english.
Inspect the wiring harness that lays on the left side of the bell housing, I’ve seen multiple chaffed wires at that location causing similar issues with the transmission relay.
Check for A/C voltage out of the alternator. Have seen multiple issues and very odd signals with A/C voltage. Also check both positive and negative cables to block and alternator.
Check for possible issues wi the TIPM-Fuse panel, most of the time electrical problem s with Chrysler are related with that unit. look into it. Good luck
Yes, I now see that even though I entered 5.9l on the vehicle info, somehow it changed to 5.7. I am going to see if I can edit it.
Ok there is a mulitwire connector on drivers side of valve cover….has bolt in center….you bolt is looses..we had one 2 months ago,,checked for chafted wire where harbess goes around back of head etc…set multiple codes and everytime we cleared and drove set differnt codes..take connector apart clean aplly dieelectric grease and try again..
This one doesn't have the bolt on connector, it has the type like a Duramax with the lever. I looked the whole harness over, and see no chafing. The circuit is great between the tipm, and the ecm. He has already replaced the ecm, and supposedly it made zero difference.
Supposedly 3 transmissions, and 2 ecms with the same issue. I unplugged the alternator, and inspected the harness. I'm leaning towards incompatibility issues with computers, or harness, or combination thereof. I think I need to tackle the flashing lights, and that might lead me to the real issue. Has anyone run into all the extrior lights constantly flashing, only when the engine is running? I…
Verify all grounds are clean and secure. Also, make sure the terminals on the batteries are clean and tight. Clean the terminal end on the positive battery cross-over cable as well.
He just stopped by, and I finally got the whole story. There was a fire, and they replaced the harness, and it has been having problems ever since. 3 used transmissions, and 2 used ecms with no change, so it looks like I am going to have to trace all the wiring to verify that it is correct.
On some of the wiring diagrams on diesel ive had to look year earler or later to find one with right color wires…..it would be good if he could supply you with part number her purchased..
Unfortunately this has been a 10 year ordeal, and no other shop has been able to figure it out.
I feel your pain in the middle of a harness rewire. Harness and engine was pulled from truck. Then customer decided wanted truck to run. Found an engine from one vehicle and harness from another. Nothing matches and having to repin connectors.
Ok, I have finally gotten somewhere with this one. I focused on the flashing headlight issue, and figured it was a theft issue. Discovered that it did not have a skim module, but the connector was there. Someone had previously bypassed the starter relay, and I assumed it was because of whatever issue they were having after replacing the wiring. The skim module for this one is no longer…
The headlights are flashing only with the door open, because the cluster thinks it's in reverse. Apparently there was a recall to add this functionality, but this is the first I have ever heard of it. The horn should be going off too, but I assume that it has been unplugged.
This truck is semi fixed. I still need to figure out the park alarm issue. The cluster thinks it's on reverse, not park. After repairing the incorrect transmission harness, the part number was for …, and adding a wire for the park position to ground the starter relay, the transmission still wasn't shifting with zero codes, and the governor sensor reading zero psi. Went to install new…