Trucks computer brain. (CPU) as the service tech called it

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David Roark

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On Tuesday I drove home on toll road as normal. It was pouring rain. I got late home, parked in driveway, and lock and set alarm. Wednesday morning I come out and the electronic key would not unlock truck. I tried the other fob with no luck. I then used the physical key and when I opened the door, the alarm went off. Fob would not shut it off. I tested battery, but it was in good shape. It should be, just replaced 2 months before. I drive a 2020 Laramie Longhorn with just 15,000 miles on it. About a year and a half old. Nothing would work on truck. did not crank. It was dead. Emergency pull cord would not release wheels so wheels would roll and in neutral. Finally had it towed. Service manager at dealership knew it was coming. Said he would get it in bay after noon time. I called about 2:00 and he said they didn’t know yet and would have to keep it overnight. next morning Wednesday) we were covered with ice on roads and dealership did not open. I called the next morning and he said they were just hooking up to machine to find out what was wrong. Never heard back and I called again in afternoon and he said he would check and call me back. He said it was still in service bay. Never called back. Friday (today), my wife drove me to dealership before she went to work. The truck was outside in parking lot and covered with ice. It had never been in service bay. Service manager gave me a bunch of crap story and said he would call me after lunch with verdict. About 3:00 today he called and said it was the (CPU), which is the brains of the truck and would need to be replaced. Thing is, it would need to be ordered and will be next Wednesday at earliest to get truck back. And to boot, they said they had no loaners at all due to the shortage of vehicles. So I am with no transportation for over a week. Who knows, it may not be ready by next
Wednesday. This truck is way too new for this to happen. And the service department as if this is the norm. Has anyone had a problem like this with the truck computer going bad. And I also worry about them dragging my truck since the wheels are locked. Please help this old man of 71 years figure this out. Are my tired going to suffer. Are my axles and wheels going to be OK. And is the truck going to be unreliable from now on.. Do I have a lemon. Should I get an extended warranty free of charge for this truck? HELP!!!!
Thanks,

David
 

GTyankee

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There is a possibility that you were upset & did not work the Park Release Mechanism correctly.

 

pacofortacos

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Thanks for the video GT, I never bothered to learn even where that was, let alone how to release it :)
 

crazykid1994

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If the computer did fail or glitch is not something uncommon. Unfortunately these vehicles are just really big computers on wheels now. It’s not a bad idea to disconnect the battery and let it sit for 24 hours just to let the computer reset sometimes. Same as your phone or computer or TV. Hopefully they figure out the computer issue if it is bad. Honestly it could’ve been the RF hub failing. Good luck
 
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David Roark

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Thanks for the video GT, I never bothered to learn even where that was, let alone how to release it :)
There is a possibility that you were upset & did not work the Park Release Mechanism correctly.

Nope, not me being upset. The tow truck driver could not get it to release and after it arrived at dealership on Wednesday morning, they finally tried the release Friday afternoon, and could not get it to release either.
 
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David Roark

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Nope, not me being upset. The tow truck driver could not get it to release and after it arrived at dealership on Wednesday morning, they finally tried the release Friday afternoon, and could not get it to release either.
After seeing that video, I think the tow truck driver may have broker the lock he referred to in video. He did not speak much English and someone was giving him instructions by phone. I watched him take the little panel off and pull the orange cord. He did not use the key to unlock it. However, it worries me that the dealership also said they could not unlock the it either and yet they said nothing about it being broker.
 
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David Roark

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If the computer did fail or glitch is not something uncommon. Unfortunately these vehicles are just really big computers on wheels now. It’s not a bad idea to disconnect the battery and let it sit for 24 hours just to let the computer reset sometimes. Same as your phone or computer or TV. Hopefully they figure out the computer issue if it is bad. Honestly it could’ve been the RF hub failing. Good luck
The battery was disconnected over 24 hours when they got to it in parking lot Friday afternoon. Dealership told me Friday they could not get wheels to release and they took diagnostics machine out to pickup and hooked it up out there. Must have had a 500 foot extension cord. They are closed right now and they have both of my fobs, so I can not go and check on the condition of the emergency release. Will need to get a ride from a neighbor Monday to go to dealership. Without a loaner vehicle to go to them as needed, I am at big disadvantage in dealing with this problem. If you are there in person, it makes a big difference than calling on phone and being lied too.
 

GTyankee

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I was lied to at the dealership 2 weeks, a Service Writer flat out did not know much about the
Eco-diesel Recall on the Diesel EGR Cooler
I have been waiting on them to call me when the parts were available.
He said that they were not available & they were on Back Order

I went in again to find out who give me more information

I was considering buying the parts myself & then putting in for reimbursement.
Most times a recall does not mean that they can't get the parts, it just means that Headquarters is only sending out a limited number of parts to cover the Recall, it may be 1 or 2 parts per dealership per month.

So this week when i went in, a lady Service Writer caught me by the Parts Dept. & ask for my reason for being there & she said that what i was told, did not sound right.
She went into the Parts Dept & found out that the parts were at the local Los Angeles Warehouse.
I now have an appointment.
 
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David Roark

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After seeing that video, I think the tow truck driver may have broker the lock he referred to in video. He did not speak much English and someone was giving him instructions by phone. I watched him take the little panel off and pull the orange cord. He did not use the key to unlock it. However, it worries me that the dealership also said they could not unlock the it either and yet they said nothing about it being broker.
I was just able to review the newer model "manual park release" and the newer model trucks do not have that "key release" feature any longer. so I do not know why the truck would not release out of park and to allow the wheels to roll. This feature is suppose to work no matter what happens. What other problems does this truck have?
 

Jeff Strader

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Back in my day we called them the ECM. Electronic Control Module.........Now the mechanics flip a coin as to what THEY want to refer to them as. ECM, PCM, BCM, ECU or that Damn Computer B******t!!
 

Tom6363

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I was in the towing business for 15 years. If the truck was properly hooked up, no damage will occur. The length of dragging the truck is less than slamming on your brakes and sliding on the road and it's without the downward force of the weight of the truck shifting to just the front tires. I personally wouldn't stress any damage to the tires or drivetrain. As long as the driver didn't attach his chains to any bendable parts you don't need to worry about anything. As to my 2500HD, mine has been a disappointment, but can't afford to buy a different one.
 

JCE

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Back in my day we called them the ECM. Electronic Control Module.........Now the mechanics flip a coin as to what THEY want to refer to them as. ECM, PCM, BCM, ECU or that Damn Computer B******t!!

There are more than one control modules in today’s vehicles. So there are but not limited to; BCM (body control module), ECM (or ECU, seems to be different with different brands), TCM (transmission control module or TCU) and PCM (powertrain control module). The latter, “PCM”, also can contain the ECM and TCM. So all these acronyms aren’t just ********. :)
 

864ETHERam

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I see this is an old thread. What ever happened to your truck? Was it finally fixed? Has it given you any more problems since?
 
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