My 06 starts very hard, especially now that it has been warm lately (80-90). Had it in once, reflashed it and seemed to help for a while, not it is getting worse since the weather is warming up. Probably 1 out of 3 times it doesn't start on the first try, and the whole truck shakes when it is attempting to the first try??? Anyone else?? Sure hope they have a fix, last i checked month or so ago, they didn't? Anyone have any ideas, your help is greatly appreciated. It is very embarassing to jump in your 40k truck and have to try to start it 2-3 times to get it to run. Thanks.

 

Did they actually flas it they told me they did mine and no ikprovement so took it in for service today and gave them the tsb # and I think they actually did it this time. Only time will tell I did not give em a # the first time so who knows what they did. I have only driven 25 miles since but have seen an increase in mpg over head. Now I am up to a whoppin 14.2 mpg instead of 12.9

 

Same problem here Very embarrasing. Not the first time I wish I had my 04 back. They better come up with a fix pretty quick or I will be driving something else

 

nobody else has this problem i guess??? Does anybody know if their is a fix, my said no the last time i asked, about a month ago, and gave me a reflash that did nothing for it.

 

I too have the same excessive cranking issue even after the "TSB Flash". Its almost acting as if the lift pump is taking its time to prime the IP. Thats my best guess. My local dealer is not too much help.

I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one who's having this problem!

Nav

 

I know what you are talking about on this hard to start issue, and I will tell you exacly what the dealer does, as I was a tech at one.

First off with a warranty issue, if you bring your truck to the dealer and complain about a problem, most likley somthing will get done to your truck... if they like to get paid. If a tech has to look at that truck they will find somthing to get paid for, they dont work for free. Dodge will not pay to look at a truck and then turn it away, they pay to accualy do somthing.

For ex. if you bring your truck in for this starting problem first thing to happen will be a diagnostic check to see if there are any codes. If not they will reflash the computer with the most current flash aval. from dodge. We have milage flashes, power flashes, and the stock flashes that the truck came with.

For all you guys getting @#$%& milage go to your dealer and see if they have a milage flash for your truck, it cant hurt, its free.

For the rough idle and slow starts it could be carboned injectors. If you let your truck idle for a long time and drive slow, or just let it idle in some cases it will build up carbon on the injector, therefore screwing up the injector spray pattern. You need to blow these new trucks out every once in a while.

I KNOW I KNOW, its a diesel, it is supposed to idle forever... well im sorry not anymore, these trucks are made to run, I used to argue the same thing but... its true. The dealer can acually blame these problems on you and not cover it with warranty! it sucks I know. The dealer can check run time and idle time through the computer to prove it, these new trucks are getting very smart.

If you own a bone stock truck right now, stay out of it for about 150 miles and then, floor it in about 2nd or 3rd and watch all the smoke come out of a stock truck, that is crap that was stuck to the engine.

Also if you have any performance parts on you truck take them off before you go. They can attach a memo to your vin# and if you have any problems in the future, say a trans failure and the memo says you came in before with twin turbos, they wont cover it under warranty.

I hope this info helps you out, it is what I was told and learned when I worked at the dealer.

 

I had my truck in at the dealer today to fix an issue w/ the passengers not being able to roll down the windows and I gave them the TSB's for "white smoke" and for "excessive crank time." They called and said it was all fixed up and ready to go, so we'll see if there's a difference in the next couple of days! Mines had excessive crank times since I bought it. In fact, it did it when I was going to start it for the first time and leave after signing all the paperwork!


Tony

 

Hey thanks for all the great info. guys, for those of you who just had work done keep the rest of us posted, as i hate to take my truck in if they are just gonna reflash it and say it's all fixed.

 

Well... so far so good! I gave them the TSB number and when I went to pick it up, they said they basically have one generic flash that is the "latest" software that "fixes" everything. Some long number ending in like AP or something (I'd have to look under the hood at the sticker again). Anyhow, a few things I noticed right from the start:

1. It started right up.
2. It felt like a 1000 #'s lighter --- exactly like when I put the DDII's on my old truck. Not sure why it feels like that....
3. My overhead has consistantly been 2 - 2.5MPG lower than hand calc. I left the dealership it read 15.0 -- when I pulled in my driveway it read 15.8 -- by the time I got to work this morning it was up to 16.5 -- so that will be cool if it's still low and I hand calculate in the upper 18's or 19's when I fill up again!

So.. like I said, so far so good!

Tony

 

What were the build dates on all of your trucks that have had the hard start issue?

 

I've noticed every once in awhile my truck will not crank on first try and it is usually after driving it to work with economy in mind. After I get on it and blow allot of black smoke it will start on first try. Also I've found if I depress that throttle part way, less than a quarter of the travel, it will start on the second try with a puff of black travel. The only time it idles is at stop lights and waiting at the gate to get on base. It will not give me any starting problems after completing a 1200 mile trip for at least a month. Then it slowly starts getting harder to start. My milage is consitantly in the high 18s to low 20s now that I'm over 18000 miles. On the long trips it will get in the high 19s to low 20s. This weekend I see how it does on summer fuel for milage.