Disaster. Dealer got VTSS turned on in the 1yr ago box, but the VTSS doesn't work at all. DRB3 says it's on, real world says it's not. So dealer tech went to the 'new' CTM from eBay last week. Though the truck starts and runs, a LOT of the rest of the box does not work, so I've got a refund request into eBay vendor.

So, two for two bad. I'm almost to the point that of the dealer had one for a few hundred bucks I'd buy it. The dealer did charge me an hr labor, $120 today, but said when I came back with another box to pgm, he would not charge me. So, I get one more chance to make this right.

 

[I know, at this point I'm talking to myself in this thread, but I figured I'd finish what I started.]
As a last ditch effort to find a good CTM, I decided to have a go at the local U-Pull-N-Pay junk yard here in Albuquerque. Holy crap, they had a dozen gen1 Durangos, and one had a clean looking 56045453AG, same as the semi-dead part in there now. It was only $17 (!!), and I had a credit from a couple years ago for $20, so it was free!

Brought it home, plugged it in, and... it started fine, windows, doors, wipers, locks, gauges, all work perfectly..... AND the VTSS was already on and works perfectly (though my neighbors hate me now after testing). I'll give it the weekend of general use testing, then take it the dealer again next week to program in the key fobs. Assuming all is well, I'll even have the old one in the 'old parts' pile to use if something craps out in a month/year.

 

I'm still payin' attention.

Look at it this way, you just found a goldmine of spare parts.

 

Thanks. Yes, I was on a mission today, but I should go back to look around for general things. Maybe I'll find one driven by a 90 lb old lady or something and get the driver seat padding. For the 16 yrs and 118,000 miles of butt time that I've owned it, my weight has averaged 240 (though 215 for the past few yrs). Driver side padding and leather are definitely not as nice as the passenger side.

 

That seems to be a dodge thing. Every Dodge truck/SUV I have seen, (with high mileage) the drivers seat is pretty much trashed, even while the rest of the interior is pristine.

 

Done. Key fobs programmed in by dealer in 10 mins today. Everything works great!

 

The seat foam is the same on the passenger's and driver sides other than a small notch for the recliner handle. Nothing that a minute with a razor knife can't handle.