Hello everyone. This is my first time registering the DF. I've read some posts in the past, but actually registered tonight. Please forgive me if this post is in the wrong location. I will happily move it, but I am in serious need of help and I'm not sure what to do. Please bear with me because I feel like this is a long one.

I have a 2006 2500 Cummins 5.9L. We are the second owners of this truck and bought it in August 10. We've really enjoyed the truck, but the past several months have brought me nothing but misery. In March, the wipers wouldn't work quite right and the left headlight kept going out. I took it in and they told me the total integrated power module was burned out or something. Anyway, they replaced that. And they replaced one battery. (Yes, I know -- replace both. Hindsight ...) Life is good. Fast forward to June when I took a 2,600 mile road trip. Everything was fine the first half, but suddenly the tach dropped down to 0 and would fluctuate between 200 and 3500. The RPMs appeared to be running fine, but the tach was wack. LOL. So, I figured it was a sensor and planned to take it in when I got home. The A/C also was acting up a bit -- even blew little chunks of ice at one point, but mostly didn't cool. So I assumed it needed an A/C charge too. Got home July 23, parked the truck with intent to take it in in a couple days. Went out to take it in July 31 or so and the truck was 100 percent dead. Had it towed in to our local Dodge dealer and they said I had a dead battery. Ok, replace it because the other one should still be good.

Three days later, truck completely dead again. Have it towed in (on their dime) and they said that battery was defective. Now I have two beautiful brand new batteries in the truck. Ran for two days. Completely dead again.

I have it on my neighbor's charger now and need to get this figured out. The dealer has told me a couple times that they "just don't know what could be causing it."

I'd love to hear your opinions, any history of this type of problem, and whether it's true that you can't know what is causing the problem.

Thank you for reading. Again, I'm sorry this is so long.

 

Welcome to the forums

A few things...
Do you have any aftermarket CD/DVD player, amp, subs, LED lights, camera, CB radio or anything extra on the truck?
Check all your fuses


Have you had the alternator tested?
I know its a loooong shot, but did you get these batteries tested? I've bought 1 before and it was defected. they said if one is bad then others in the shipment would be more prone.

Do you have any codes? with the truck off, doors shut, insert key and turn to on, then off, repeat 3 times with the key ending in the off position. (dont start or even bump the starter, just turn so all the stuff lights up.)
If there are any codes they will show up where the mileage is.

It isn't uncommon for those cummins for have malfunctioning ECMs/PCMs. its what regulates the charging system

Do you have a car fax done? Might show up on there. How many miles are on the truck?

 

BadHazard,
Thank you for replying. I just went out and ran the code and nothing showed up. The truck did have an aftermarket starter in it, but the mechanic cut the wire to it. He said it was wired direct into tach and he said that was weird. Tonight, my neighbor came over and he showed me an interesting little springy piece that is after market for some reason mounted on the frame near the hood hinge on the driver side. He said maybe it was some sort of aftermarket security add-on so that it won't start the truck if the hood is open or something. He just said it was odd. Wired into battery area somewhere.

I have 107K on the truck. We didn't run a Carfax and I probably should do that. When I get this thing running again, I will ask the mechanic to check every fuse and to disconnect and check the alternator too. I just am starting to feel like they are talking to a "silly little girl" who doesn't know how to get something done right, so any information I can get only makes it better for me.

What does ECM/PCM stand for?

Thank you!

 

PCM = Power Control Module, sometimes also called an Electric Control Module (same thing).

I'd say this "aftermarket wiring" is probably the root cause of your issues. Possibly creating a short and battery drain somewhere. Sounds to me like the previous owner did some "primitive pete" modifications. Need to trace them down...

 

Im with hammer,

Track down where all these wiring things go to, and fully disconnect them. Some idiot did the same thing to my cummins, when I hit the defrost button, my oil tach would drop to zero. I tracked it to my heated mirror relay and to my oil pressure sending unit. I removed it completely and wala, it worked.

I've since got rid of my cummins, too expensive

 

Welcome BarbB! First off the springy thing by the frame is likely part of an aftermarket security system, my co-worker has one on his truck and if the hood gets opened up it can set the alarm off. Do you use the alarm system, or is it left over from the previous owners? If it's a leftover system it might be malfunctioning and draining the batteries. Also the remote starter system may be draining a lot of power if it's not properly wired up.
The ECM/PCM is the Electronic or Power Control Module, I think that's the main computer system in the trucks (it get's confusing with all the computer and electronic stuff).
Bad off the shelf batteries are also a likely culprit. When you get the next set put in, ask them to do a load test on the new batteries, this test more than just the proper voltage, but also makes sure the batteries can sustain the power level they are rated for. If the batteries check out ok, there's another round of tests that monitors all the battery draw from all the accessories when the truck is off. It involves hooking a meter up to the battery and checking for power consumption, then 1 by 1 fuses are removed until the circuit drawing a lot of power is ID'd.
So definitely get a load test on the new batteries and the other test (I think it's called a 'battery draw off test', I have to look that up because it doesn't sound right)

 

Caseys: I don't really know about the security system. The only alarm I ever set is the "beep beep" when I lock the truck using the button on the key itself -- and it's a Dodge key. I know it had the after market starter but I never used it because, quite frankly, there was a lot of button pushing and I always got it wrong.

I JUST remembered, there's also an after market electronic trailer brake control! One more thing to add to the list ...

This is GREAT information. I plan (hope?) to be able to get this thing started in the morning and get it over to them. I am going to print out this information to take to them and I will probably run a Carfax as well in the morning.

Here's what I plan to ask them for:

*Check the alternator after disconnecting from the battery
*Do a load test on both batteries (although I'm hopeful with these as they are brand new Mopars. But, we'll have them do it.)
*Check the ECM/PCM
*Check all after market remote starter wiring
*Check for any after market security wiring
*Check the electronic trailer brake control wiring
*Perform a battery draw test

I know this is probably going to be expensive, but I need this fixed, and I thank you all for arming me with more information to "help" them understand where I think the problems might be coming from.

Thank you all again and I'll post an update after we see what they say. Maybe they won't think I'm such a "silly little girl" any more. LOL.

Barb

 

I've run into a similar problem recently, but only after the shop did work on my power steering (pump/reservoir/gearbox). Up until that point the truck was starting fine. They ran tests on the battery and alternator/charging system, and it all checked out. Charged the battery all day today, cranks once, but then nothing but clicks. I noticed as well that while the charger was on the battery, when I opened the doors with the remote, the dome light was enough to instantly drop the charge on the battery almost back to the red zone. I'm thinking there's a bad connection, or ground somewhere. Any other ideas?

https://dodgeforum.com/forum/3rd-gen...-please-3.html

 

id bet on the remote start/security. the brake control just plugs in and wouldnt cause a dead battery, unless they tried to hardwire it.

 

Yeah, that would be my first guess as to the culprit as well...