2006 Ram 2500; Laramie 4x4; 250K miles
Mostly stock (no engine mods like Edge or others); additional fuel filter from Glacier Diesel
May 2020: Replaced all injectors and tubes (from F1 Diesel; 7yr Warrantee)
Nov 2020: Filled tank from fuel in a drum I have (fuel was not old, but stored for couple months)
Dec 5, 2020: Almost 30miles from home, the truck suddenly lost power (still drivable), engine shake. If I came to stop, I had to put it in neutral to keep RPMs enough so it wouldn't die. I stopped and check codes with hand-held machine: P2146
I limped it to my favorite mechanic (he used to work on Haliburton's fleet of diesel trucks).
Determined the wire-harness gasket was faulty. Replaced (O'Rielly's). Says he tested the injectors (but I can't confirm he used an ohm meter, or simple "idiot light")
Picked up the truck and it ran normal all the way home (60mph to home).
Next morning I take it to work. Accelerated onto the interstate---dang, check engine light and same code P2146, same symptoms. Took it back to mechanic.
Today he text me: "From the results we got after running all the tested needed, everything is pointing to a bad ECM."
ME: I'm reluctant to think it's the ECM. .... running condition (with code) seems to match most other comments I find regarding P2146...(injector) --- but I'm not an expert.
HOPING SOMEONE HERE CAN PROVIDE ALTERNATIVE CONCLUSION. AND, IF INDEED IT IS THE ECM, ANY DIRECTION WHERE TO PURCHASE? (I understand only the dealer can program an ECM?? y/n?

Thanks!

 

can you isolate to find which injector it is disconnect 1 at a time see if it runs better or worse?

 

I've had these engines code 2146/2149 more than i want to think about. Check where your injector harnesses cross over the injector lines. I've seen several now where the insulation is rubbed through just enough to provide a momentary ground issue, causing the ecm to panic.

good luck

 

PIND, good info on that. There is also the AC wire that will rub, and this will create ECM havoc... Trace all your wires to rule out grounding- exposed wire issues.

 

UPDATE: Thanks for the tips guys.
We replaced the wireharness/gasket (from Oriely's). This temporarily resolved the problem...next morning as I accelerated to enter the highway, same issue happened again. My mechanic tried one more harness (thinking perhaps we got a bad one...no luck. My mechanic ran several diagnostic checks (not sure exactly which) and all the tests pointed to a faulty ECM. I didn't want to throw money at a "possible" problem, .... Here's the omh results he got from testing (again, not sure what/how he tested).
#1= .6
#2= .6
#3= .8
#4= .6
#5= .7
#6= .8
I had him pull all the injectors and sent them back (warrantee) to FLUX DIESEL (near Dalllas). Don (boss) tested them and found the cellonoid on #3 was bad. They fixed it and sent them back.
Busy during the holidays so, my guy is hoping to reinstall them in the next day or so.
MEANWHILE.... I've contacted AUTO MODULE SOURCE (https://www.automodulesource.com/ams-contact-us.html) and he is prepared to send me an ECM (~$600.00) if there is still a problem.

 

Good luck,, please report back results.

 

UPDATE: ...believe it or not....
The shop received and installed the warrantied injectors. Now bear in mind, the truck has been in and out (mostly in) with the shop since late-December....
When they got the injectors installed, they started it and let it idle for a little bit; idled great. Then, as they were planning to take it for a test drive, they noticed: ANTIFREEZE leaking from the radiator (upper-driver side at the "tank"). Last week we had a freeze here in south texas... but frankly, it didn't get THAT cold (upper 20s for a few hours). Oddly enough, one of the other vehicles in the shop also mysteriously developed a cracked radiator. Hard to believe...the antifreeez was only a year-ish new so, not sure what would have caused the 'crack' in the radiator. ...then again, the radiator itself is likely the original (280K miles) so I suppose it's possible.
Anyway... replacing the radiator...and thermostate while I'm at it. Willl update...

 

UPDATE (final I hope...)
Picked up the truck yesterday (1/09/21). So far I've run 75mi on it with no issues. Ultimately, this is what was done (+ price):
FIRST EVENT
--purchased wireharness ($202 from Orielly)
--shop charge (hourly...plus they replaced stock fuel filter) ($291 shop fee)
SECOND EVENT
--shop pulled the injectors; I sent them back for check since they were underwarrantee; #3 was bad. ($35 postal)
--shop installed injectors upon return...
--shop removed/installed new radiator (plus antifreeze) ($230 for radiator+coolant)
--shop installed new (secondary) fuel filter... (shop bill $694)

Truck is running again. (hope the ECM wasn't the problem... no long trips until I get several 100miles under the belt)

D

 

Any more updates?

 

UPDATE: Aprx 1,000 miles on the truck since issue/repairs. No problems.
Glad I checked here before allowing my mechanic to claim it was the ECM. .... that said, with 258K miles on it, I may need a new ECM eventually.
I still like my mechanic...