I don't think that wire is part of the engine harness. Following the wire from the passenger battery, does it lead to the grid heater relay mounted next to the battery tray? Can you find where the wire goes into the actual engine harness?

Why are they "making it up" anyway, relative to the battery harness? They should be able to get it by part number.

The 06 charging system is different from the 04.5. The 06's have what's called the TIPM (totally integrated power module). Its a POS. cheesiest looking glorified plastic fuse box I've ever worked with.

Have they checked the alternator. Sounds defective. The new alternators have a "sense" circuit for supposedly more efficient charging and longer battery life.

I would have them change the alternator and both batteries. I'd prolly also have them throw in a Mopar cold weather kit for free just for their incompetence.

 

Sorry to keep you guys in suspence but I have been half ashamed to tell you what I found out!!!!

I found the problem as I went out to start my truck Sunday. I had forgotten to plug it in and it was cold and I was ****** so I automatically pop the hood and pull the girlfriend's car over to help start it and as I walk past the driver's side battery I noticed the positive wasn't even hooked up!!! Man do I feel stupid!!!! It must of not gotten tightened up when we disconnected the batteries to weld on my new tip!! and come loose bouncing around hunting the last week. That would explain why my truck was throwing the code that the battery was too hot!! and the charging system was not working. Hell the whole system was working on one battery and that would explain why it wouldn't have enough cold cranking amps to start without being plugged in.

It still doesn't explain why the inline fuse fryed. The tech and the dealership said that they will go bad?? I am still curious about that whole concept of not being able to get any 8 guage inlife fuse wire?

It seems to be back in working order but it still cranks at most four times before it starts? I was listening to another guys start the other day and it did the same. Sometimes mine will fire right away and other times it will crank a few times.. No biggie but I am going to keep an eye on everything.

Well everything checked out. The tech said the altenator was charging at 14.4. They could not find nothing wrong with the charging system.

bigblock2stroke -

Unfortunately I allready have a coldfront/kit. The service rep told me that if it went out again that they would replace the batteries and the altenator and make everything right. Which I though was kinda cool.

Thanks everyone for all of your help!! I love this place!!

Shane

 

so have you had any problems since you discovered one of the batts was unplugged?

 

Yeah I traded it in!!! Honestly I think the injectors were going out again or it was just a truck that cranked a long time before it would start. My 06 fires right up and my 05 never would???

 

how many miles and why did you trade? did it give you alot of problems?

 

It had 60,000. I wanted a megacab and I was tired of the lift and really hated it - the lift..

Shane

 

Not that it matters now, but I think the problem does explain why the fuse was fried. Your loose (+) battery cable probably grounded to something metal. Since the other one was still hooked up the loose cable was probably energized.

Interesting story though. The funny part is that next time each of us have any cold starting problems we will run to check the battery cables and be very disappointed when that's not the cause.

 

Yeah, I learned my lesson.. Every time we disconnect the battery cables to weld something I am usually doube and triple checking them... Heck I checked the other day loose!! Had to re-tighten them....

Shane