My dad has an 06 dually that died on the way home today. Waiting for the tow truck as I write this. As we were driving the check guages light came on and then the check engine light came on. All of a sudden the battery indicater guage started dropping fast. Then everything started to ding and flash. Were thinking alternator, but with only 6500 miles just doesn't seem right. Well got to go the tow truck is here. If anyone has any ideals on the problem please let me know.

 

BERMUDA TRIANGLE !

 

Sorry about that, I couldn't resist....
It's never funny when someones 30k+ rig goes dark for no apparent reason(especially when it's the same one as yours)
I hope all turns out well for you all.

 

Well just got the truck on the tow truck. When we tried to start it the guages would do a sweeping motion. It was a constant sweeping motion as long as you had the key on. Just pisses a guy off!

 

That's why they come with a warranty. So it will be fixed free of charge.

 

Warranties are great when you need 'em but the more you need 'em the more frustrating it is.

 

My truck did the same thing with the voltage guage, and the check guages light, But I made it home Anyways shut the truck off in the shop and tried to restart, it did but not by much and everything went back to normal. Please post what the problum was.

 

The wife's new Grand Caravan did the same thing in 2001. I was driving it at the time. The gauges started sweeping and then all of the lights came on along with the ding and then it just lost power like a bad alternator that finally drains the battery. It had about 1800 miles on it. They came out with a roll back and picked it up. They replaced the ECU, alternator and battery. Seemed ok after that but a month later we had to replace the CD player.

 

I will let you guys now what the problem is when we talk to service.

 

Well service just called and said that this is a very common thing for them as of late. They said that the key NEEDS to be taken out or the computers will continue to run causing the battery to drain. And yes this even happens with it in the off position in case some of you are thinking the key was left on. Anyhow the alternator has some kind of protection on it which stops charging if the battery gets to low. Doesn't make much sence to me but the guy said make sure the key is out. I have never had this problem with my 04 and I leave the key in it a weeks at a time. Also the tech said that when the key is in that the satillite radio is connected even in the off position. I personally think that the engineer that came up with this setup needs fired if this is truelly the case.

 

Seems like maybe someone could have told all the 06 guys this during the walk around of their truck before they left the lot. That is about the dumbest "safety" feature I have ever heard of. Is it just me, or does it seem like there has been a lot of gremlins with the 06's?

 

Do they mean just the models with the Sentry keys or all models?

 

It must be nice living in Montana were you can leave your keys in your ignition. Here in Los Angeles my truck would be gone in a 5 minutes.....

 

Yeah, the house stays unlocked keys in vehicles, children playing in the street, etc.

 

I wonder if this is somehow connected to the semi-rash of '06 trucks locking the doors with the key in the ignition? I left the keys in my 6 spd '06 one time, and I left it in the on position so I could mess with the trip odometer while it was fueling up. I walked around the truck to attend to the hose, and the door had locked when I got back. I have no idea why, but when I posted a thread about it, I found out that other people had similar things happen to them.