Greetings,

New member here, looking for some advice.

I'm not sure if these issues are related or just a coincidence.

4 months ago: I had some body work done, they removed the tail lights and a few miles away my "taillight out" chime and display came on.

I have called the body shop back, because I never had that issue before...yet I haven't taken it back for them to look at what they did wrong (as I had never had that issue before, and now when I go over a bump and sometimes randomly the chime and light come on).

If you have any ideas on this issue that would be appreciated...BUT THE MAIN ISSUE:


A month ago, my truck stalled for the first time. It's a 2004 Dodge Ram 1500 Larime AWD/4WD 5.7L Hemi.

I stopped at a stop sign...truck died.

The red light on the dash board (alarm light, I think) would tick as it flashed. Also the numbers on the odometer would flash, but not all of them. I have 218,000 KM on it, so the 218 would flash and then the 000 would flash.

Same thing with my gear indicator: PRND would flash, then 2,1 would flash.

I turned the key to re-start it, just a single click...and no starting.

Waited a few minutes...turned the key, started up and away I went.

Yesterday it stalled twice. This was only the second occasion it stalled. The same sequence as above took place.

I got back to my home town, when to a friends house for a few hours, when back to my truck...and it wouldn't start. Id didn't stall...because it wasn't started, but when I turned the key to try and start it the above sequence also took place, namely: The red light on the dash board (alarm light, I think) would tick as it flashed. Also the numbers on the odometer would flash, but not all of them. I have 218,000 KM on it, so the 218 would flash and then the 000 would flash.

Same thing with my gear indicator: PRND would flash, then 2,1 would flash.

I turned the key to re-start it, just a single click...and no starting.


This time I tried waiting a few minutes...but that trick wasn't working.

So I popped the hood and did the only thing I could think of: I disconnected and reconnected the ground wire going to the battery.

Then the truck started. I don't know if it was just that disconnecting the battery let the truck sit long enough or if it actually did something.

Where do I go from here?


Thanks.

 

Also my battery might be old...would that cause the issue?

On another forum people are talking about having you key re-programmed...but I would think that if the key was faulty then it would never start.

 

Donny, this is a diesel specific forum, so I'm not sure how much help you're going to get.

I would suggest cleaning the ground contacts on both the battery and the engine block. A bad ground can really make these trucks do some funny stuff. Bend/feel your ground cable. If it is very stiff and crackles under your hands, it may be corroded internally. This is caused by poor voltage flow, either from a bad battery, connections or alternator issues. I'd start with cleaning the connections (all of them, positive and negative). If that does not fix the issue, I'd get the battery and alternator tested.

You can also try the key turn method to see if your truck has any codes. Turn the key on and off (do not crank, truck not running) three times, some codes or 'done' should be displayed in the odometer window of your gauge cluster. If three turns do not give anything, try four. Leave it on the last time so the codes can display. (on, off, on, off, on.)

You can also take it to Autozone or the like, they have code readers they will let you use for free.

As far as the tail light/lamp out issue, I'd pull your bulbs in the tail lights, look for a wire on the bulb itself to be bent or melted. Also look for corrosion in the socket. If you don't find these things, turn your blinkers/hazards on, see if you have lamp out. Set the parking brake, turn the key on (not to run) and put the truck in reverse. Check your backup lamps. If everything is good, check the third brake lamp over the cab.

Hope this helps.

 

Donny, based upon your description, I am betting one thing........

GROUNDS!

Grounds will drive you nuts on these trucks, literally one stupid little ground from the right control arm to the underside of the frizzenplate connector can turn your world upside down.

Since you said accident and body shop, this just elevates the chance that either the accident knocked a ground loose, or the bodyshop painted and then didn't make sure the ground was solid.

You probably don't want to hear this, but start at the nose of the truck and redo every single ground that you can find.........

 

Redo ALL the battery connections and grounds.