PRNDL yellow, truck dies after start.

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Dusty

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2016 Ram Power Wagon, all stock, around 168,000 miles on her. So, about a month ago, I started to get a rough idle in my truck. Then I got a low battery voltage message. I scanned the truck for codes and got a p0207 open circuit. The exhaust also had a rich smell to it, and I would see a small bit of smoke on startup sometimes, not all the time. About a week later I took it to AutoZone to test the battery and alternator and they said it all checked out good. About a week later, the truck died in the middle of the road. PRNDL were now yellow also and a check electronic throttle control system symbol/message. I cleaned the throttle body; however, it wasn’t very dirty. Still no luck. The truck would start but die after a second or 2. Took it to the dealership and was told I needed a new PCM. New PCM was installed, and the truck was good. So, I thought. About a week later I got the low battery voltage again. Dealership said I needed a new alternator. I installed a new alternator and roughly 2 days later I got the low battery voltage message again. Now, today, 17 Feb 2023, as I pulled into my work parking lot, PRNDL are yellow again and truck dies after 1 to 2 seconds again. I’m completely stumped here. Not sure if I have a short somewhere, bad ground or what. Any help would be great.
Did you look up the code definition? A P0207 is the number seven cylinder fuel injector circuit is open.

The rich smell is likely caused by the fuel trim percentage going high(er) because the fuel injector is not firing.

Regards,
Dusty
2019 Ram 1500 Billet Silver Quad Cab 2WD, 5.7 Hemi, 8HP75, 3.21 axle, 33-gallon fuel tank, factory dual exhaust, 18” wheels. Build date: 3 June 2018. Now at 84654 miles
 

Dusty

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So far I’ve done the following, swap fuel injectors, five and seven, and it showed no issues. I still installed the new fuel injector into number seven. It still shows misfires on number seven on the scanner. I also cleaned the throttle body, replaced cylinder 7 spark plugs and left the battery disconnected for well over an hour. The truck will start and run, but runs rough and the service electronic throttle body light is still blinking. Also, when I turned on my scanner, it showed that every cylinder had an open circuit, so I have no clue what to do other than bring it to the dealership Monday, unfortunately. This is completely out of my ability to figure it out. The first picture is of cylinder 7.View attachment 514037View attachment 514038
(Original message deleted)

My now deleted message was composed before I continued through the rest of the messages. Sorry.

If you are getting random fuel injector open circuit fault codes, I would suggest looking for a bad ground that is part of that circuit. Do you have a wiring diagram?

Regards,
Dusty
2019 Ram 1500 Billet Silver Quad Cab 2WD, 5.7 Hemi, 8HP75, 3.21 axle, 33-gallon fuel tank, factory dual exhaust, 18” wheels. Build date: 3 June 2018. Now at 84654 miles
 
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RedRam55

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My Grand Cherokee had the same issue. In the service manual there is a whole process for checking injectors and wiring. I had the same code along with the misfire code. I thought it might have been mouse damage. Turned out to be bad gas. After a couple of fill ups the issue went away.
 
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ryanpaulaf1

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(Original message deleted)

My now deleted message was composed before I continued through the rest of the messages. Sorry.

If you are getting random fuel injector open circuit fault codes, I would suggest looking for a bad ground that is part of that circuit. Do you have a wiring diagram?

Regards,
Dusty
2019 Ram 1500 Billet Silver Quad Cab 2WD, 5.7 Hemi, 8HP75, 3.21 axle, 33-gallon fuel tank, factory dual exhaust, 18” wheels. Build date: 3 June 2018. Now at 84654 miles
No I don’t have a wiring diagram. Would love one though.
 
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ryanpaulaf1

ryanpaulaf1

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Welp, I've looked everywhere I can for a loose or damaged ground to no avail. I've replaced the number 7 fuel injector with a new one and still getting a misfire on number 7 on my scan tool, removed and cleaned throttle body, and replaced both spark plugs for the #7 cylinder. My little DIYer self has hit a brick wall. I'll be bringing my baby to the good ole stealership next Tuesday and praying they can figure it out. I'll definitely keep ya'll posted on any new findings should anyone else have this issue. Happy trucking ya'll and good day.
 

Rado

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Thanks for your updates. Hope you find the issue
 
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I've heard a drill to the side of the tank gets it done in a hurry (heavy sarcasm)

On a realistic note, if there's a fuel line you can easily pop off and put into a container, you could use the fuel pump to pump it out by cycling the key off and on. Don't use a jumper wire to bypass the relay- that's how my dad set a Shelby on fire when he disconnected it.
 

george55378

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2016 Ram Power Wagon, all stock, around 168,000 miles on her. So, about a month ago, I started to get a rough idle in my truck. Then I got a low battery voltage message. I scanned the truck for codes and got a p0207 open circuit. The exhaust also had a rich smell to it, and I would see a small bit of smoke on startup sometimes, not all the time. About a week later I took it to AutoZone to test the battery and alternator and they said it all checked out good. About a week later, the truck died in the middle of the road. PRNDL were now yellow also and a check electronic throttle control system symbol/message. I cleaned the throttle body; however, it wasn’t very dirty. Still no luck. The truck would start but die after a second or 2. Took it to the dealership and was told I needed a new PCM. New PCM was installed, and the truck was good. So, I thought. About a week later I got the low battery voltage again. Dealership said I needed a new alternator. I installed a new alternator and roughly 2 days later I got the low battery voltage message again. Now, today, 17 Feb 2023, as I pulled into my work parking lot, PRNDL are yellow again and truck dies after 1 to 2 seconds again. I’m completely stumped here. Not sure if I have a short somewhere, bad ground or what. Any help would be great.
Check throttle body, pedal sensor and all connections.
 
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ryanpaulaf1

ryanpaulaf1

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Well, I bit the bullet and had my baby towed to the dealership yesterday so I'm praying to the truck gods that she can be fixed in a timely manner and at the lowest price possible. Fingers and toes crossed. I'll post what they found the problem to be when she's back.
 

Rado

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Well, I bit the bullet and had my baby towed to the dealership yesterday so I'm praying to the truck gods that she can be fixed in a timely manner and at the lowest price possible. Fingers and toes crossed. I'll post what they found the problem to be when she's back.
Hope all works out god for you !
Had to have my RAM towed in a couple weeks ago. About $1250'00 later got it home :O About $350.00 for parts and about $900.00 labor :O Hope yours is cheaper but have a tube of grease ready so you can lube yourself up when you get the bill lol Good Luck
 

RamCares

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Well, I bit the bullet and had my baby towed to the dealership yesterday so I'm praying to the truck gods that she can be fixed in a timely manner and at the lowest price possible. Fingers and toes crossed. I'll post what they found the problem to be when she's back.
Hey!

If you'd like some assistance while your vehicle is at the dealership, please reach out. We're available via direct messaging.

Callie
Ram Cares
 
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ryanpaulaf1

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Ok, I have to ask, what is RamCares? Is this actually part of the Ram company? And where are they physically located?
 
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ryanpaulaf1

ryanpaulaf1

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So, every single tech at the dealership has looked at my truck and all are stumped. The only thing they can all agree with is there must be a short somewhere in the engine wiring harness and they have recommended to replace the harness. it's not crazy expensive, but if I choose to have them replace it and it still has the same issue, I'm gonna flip my ****. I don't know what to do with it.
 
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ryanpaulaf1

ryanpaulaf1

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Well I finally got my baby back yesterday. The issue was definitely not what anyone thought it would end up being. Turns out that there was a coolant hose hanger under the air box that came loose and as it was swinging around, it rubbed through the engine wiring harness that went to the PCM. It shorted out the first PCM, then shorted out the second one. They were easily 5-6 hours in with diagnosing. I only paid the price of a new PCM. No labor fees. The dealership already refunded me the cost of the first new PCM prior. Wires were repaired and she’s running great agin.
 
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ryanpaulaf1

ryanpaulaf1

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So, since I got my truck back, I've noticed that the average mpg on my dash has only slowly gone from 7.2 Friday evening to now, 8.4 mpg. Before this whole issue started it used to say around 11.2 average mpg. Low 11's anyway. Is this a normal drop, does it take a while to come back up after a new PCM install or what? Now I will add that what little driving I've don't in the past 3 days has only been city driving. I've probably only put around I'd say like maybe 200ish miles on it since I got it back on 17 March and probably only about 15 of those were interstate miles. I really hope the mpg comes back because when I filled her up and it only said 220 miles till empty my jaw dropped. It used to say about 380 ish miles till empty. Just curious what anyone else though. thanks.
 

chri5k

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Kind of figured it was a wiring harness issue. "Open Circuit" trouble codes usually mean wiring harness. Pays to check the entire harness from the malfunctioning component all the way to the PCM. Or in this case the OP paid to check the harness.
 
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