First time Ram owner having a bit of an issue on day 1.

After researching, picking a good used vehicle and buying a 2014 Ram 1500 Laramie (75,000miles) I am quite sad as on my first day commuting with the vehicle the Check Engine Light came on. There were no changes to the vehicle driveability, but that light burned deep into my soul.

I immediately dropped the truck at a dealer as I needed a couple software updates under recall as learned by a Carfax check. The tech read the trouble codes and said they didn't make sense, so he cleared them and proceeded to update PCM software related to all the recalls (ended up being 4 software and 1 tailgate part).

The tech said the PCM needed to be updated and that could have caused the CEL. They charged me a diagnostic fee and told me to come back if the CEL comes on again.

​​​​​​I'm wondering if this PCM software update explanation is possible, or a known issue.

I had a pre-purchase inspection done as I am a pretty careful guy and to have an immediate problem is disheartening to say the least

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated as driving along waiting for a CEL to come on is a little stressful.

Thanks!

 

Updates are generally to fix problems with the code, so, yeah, it is entirely possible that the codes weren't real at all, and just a figment of the computers faulty programming. I am surprised the pre-inspection didn't come up with the recalls, etc. After all, isn't that what they are FOR??

 

Thanks for the quick reply. I did know of the recalls before purchasing, they were simply a maintenance item to be completed after I purchased the truck.

I'm crossing my fingers the new software fixes whatever the bug may have been. I spoke to the person I purchased the vehicle from and they said the engine light comes in from time to time and goes out and it was never associated with an actual problem. They are a stand up person and said they totally forgot forgot about this and we're adamant there were no problems with the vehicle.

I was hoping this was a known issue but I couldn't find anything in my searches. Fingers crossed it's not a bizarre electrical gremlin somewhere.

 

If the check engine lamp is back on, Can you tell us what the code or codes are. If you purchased the vehicle from used car lot or dealership. The recalls should have been done before they sold it. Same thing for a smog check, dealer or owner is supposed to have those done before the sale.

 

I will for sure do that if the light comes back on. I didn't notice the Ram tech didn't list the codes in my paperwor when I left or ai would have asked for them.

I bought the vehicle privately, so I had an inspection done and was made aware of the recalls which needed to be done at a dealership.

I've ordered a code reader so I can be right on top of this if the CEL comes back on.
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When this came up my mind went to it being a catastrophe, but looking at the causes of a non flashing CEL has given me a bit of comfort that it's just something to be dealt with vs. the end of the world.

It helps that I smile every time I drive the truck.

 

Also figured the least I could do is share a few pictures.

 

We LOVE pics.

Nice Truck.