This happened when I was leaving work today about four hours after I got there. I got in the truck and went to start it, panel lit up, radio started and then the ram on the panel started flickering in and out, and the truck wouldn't start. A second later everything is out. Tried again, same thing. Sort of looked like something was shorting out.

I thought it probably had something to do with the battery, but the truck was only four months old. I called the dealership and they told me to call Roadside Assistance. Normally, I would have tried to jump it myself, but it was pouring out here in CT. I mean the rain was coming sideways. So I called up. The tow truck came, latched on the back and was ready to roll. I told him what happened and he looked like he didn't want any part of it, but he looked under the hood. He went to his truck and came back with a wrench and tightened the terminal on the battery. He said it was so loose it was almost off. Started right up after.

In your opinion, how could this happen to a four month old truck? The only work I had done was an electronic start put on 3 months ago and an oil change a week ago. If it were caused by the electronic start install, wouldn't I have had a problem earlier? Im curious to what you guys think. Thanks.

 

Whoever put on the electronic start, they should of disconnected the battery in the process. So it would of been their fault for not tightening it up correctly. As to why it took so long to show up, well, that's just the way these things work. Might of been just barely making contact, got a little corrosion, and with the dampness of the rain, finally did not make enough contact to start your truck.

 

If you have a REN or RER radio be thankful it did not fry it. There is a RRT about pulling the fuse before disconnecting the battery or damage may occur to the radio.

 

I had my LS1 replaced in my old '98 Z28. There are three grounds that connect to the back of the cylinder head. Right away the car would run like crap, then wouldn't run at all, then would run fine, ect. Pretty quickly I figured out that it was the ground. So I cut down a wrench and felt my way back there and connected them TWO of them, I didn't realize there was a 3rd. I drove it for a year like that... it would very rarely cut out for a second over a certain type of bump or a acceleration while turning. The ground was pressed up against the head enough to make contact 99% of the time. Finally it happened enough that I looked it up, found that there should be a 3rd wire bolted up, and took care of it.

 

You must be a big dude if you were hand cranking over your hemi for an entire month! Just kidding, I couldn't resist. I know you meant remote start lol. Anyway, it is likely from the installer not tightening it back down - however I would keep and eye on it and check to make sure that it is still tight a couple weeks from now.

 

Ha. I didn't even realize I wrote that. Well you get the point. I will keep an eye on it. Thanks for the responses.