2014 Ram 3500 Cummins, Won’t start and red flashing light on speedo

[Croakes]

We have a 2014 Ram with Cummins and Aisin transmission. We have just fully disassembled and reassembled the dash to replace the 4 x HVAC actuators. Now the truck won’t crank at all and there is a red flashing light on the speedometer. There is also no communication when we plug in a SNAP ON Solus Ultra diagnosis reader into the OBD port. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.


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[chri5k]

Did you disconnect the large bulk head connector on the drivers side that connects the cabin systems to the engine bay systems? Or perhaps pull hard on that harness / connector? Sounds like there is an issue in that area since the OBD connector jack wiring passes through that bulk head connector to get to the ECM. The ECM is located in the engine bay on the drivers side below the TIPM.

 

[Croakes]

We have a 2014 Ram with Cummins and Aisin transmission. We have just fully disassembled and reassembled the dash to replace the 4 x HVAC actuators. Now the truck won’t crank at all and there is a red flashing light on the speedometer. There is also no communication when we plug in a SNAP ON Solus Ultra diagnosis reader into the OBD port. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.


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Some more info. We have lost OBD communication with the Engine, Transmission and ABS. We have communication with everything else including the BCM.


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[Croakes]

Did you disconnect the large bulk head connector on the drivers side that connects the cabin systems to the engine bay systems? Or perhaps pull hard on that harness / connector? Sounds like there is an issue in that area since the OBD connector jack wiring passes through that bulk head connector to get to the ECM. The ECM is located in the engine bay on the drivers side below the TIPM.

Hi Chris, thanks for posting. we did not disconnect the large bulk head connector. This is on the LH side of the vehicle. We have discovered that it is only the Engine, Transmission and ABS that we have lost communication to.


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[crash68]

Now the truck won’t crank at all and there is a red flashing light on the speedometer.

That flashing red LED is the vehicle anti-theft alarm, try locking and unlocking the truck with the key-fob
The CANbus also has two sections and there is a hub somewhere around the steering column.
just throwing some ideas out there.

 

[Croakes]

That flashing red LED is the vehicle anti-theft alarm, try locking and unlocking the truck with the key-fob
The CANbus also has two sections and there is a hub somewhere around the steering column.
just throwing some ideas out there.

Thanks for the post. The remote locking works. The truck locks and unlocks fine. The red flashing only starts when the key is turned to the Run position


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[Croakes]

Hi Chris, thanks for posting. we did not disconnect the large bulk head connector. This is on the LH side of the vehicle. We have discovered that it is only the Engine, Transmission and ABS that we have lost communication to.


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I should have mentioned that this truck has been converted from LH to RH drive. Not sure it matters but everything is inverted.


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[Croakes]

We have a 2014 Ram with Cummins and Aisin transmission. We have just fully disassembled and reassembled the dash to replace the 4 x HVAC actuators. Now the truck won’t crank at all and there is a red flashing light on the speedometer. There is also no communication when we plug in a SNAP ON Solus Ultra diagnosis reader into the OBD port. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.


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This is the three OBD errors. It seems we have lost communications with three control
Modules, Engine, Transmission and ABS. I believe this should mean this is not a module failure. It seems unlikely we would have three module fail together.


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[chri5k]

I am still leaning towards a wiring harness issue. A connector not plugged in tight, wrong connectors plugged together, bent / dislocated pin in connector, a pinched wire or screw penetrating a wiring harness. All of the modules mentioned are outside of the passenger cabin and have lost communications with the OBD port inside the cabin. I assume you can still communicate with the BCM since it is inside the cabin. Usually multiple module failures or multiple error codes after disconnecting / disturbing the factory wiring is due to that action. I would carefully and thoroughly recheck, clean and tighten all wiring connectors that were disconnected or otherwise could have been tugged on while removing and installing the dash assembly.

I was the "electronics guy" at a Ford dealer for a number of years. I have seen all of the issues I mention with wiring come from the factory or the customer. The screw in a wiring harness was from the factory. Same with a pinched wire. Also saw those and mismatched connectors, bent / dislocated pins when a customer brought in a vehicle. "All I did was replace the radio" and now nothing works was what was usually on the ticket.

 

[Jimmy07]

View attachment 213870
This is the three OBD errors. It seems we have lost communications with three control
Modules, Engine, Transmission and ABS. I believe this should mean this is not a module failure. It seems unlikely we would have three module fail together.


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Only two things those three modules have in common with each other under the circumstances of the work you did-
All of their canbus c wires are located in this same dash connector-
All of their canbus c wires are connected to this star can junction block-

 

[392DevilDog]

Taking a guess here based on my own experience.

2013 Cummins. We had a torrential downpour and when I got in the truck and started, all the water ran down my hand and into the igniton/key module.

Truck shut off and then would not start.

Noticed the red security light flashing. And the radio was asking for a security code.

Dealership wouldnt give the code so it was towed and then reset there.

Everything worked but the start. Wipers, locks, radio.

Something to think about.

 

[Croakes]

I am still leaning towards a wiring harness issue. A connector not plugged in tight, wrong connectors plugged together, bent / dislocated pin in connector, a pinched wire or screw penetrating a wiring harness. All of the modules mentioned are outside of the passenger cabin and have lost communications with the OBD port inside the cabin. I assume you can still communicate with the BCM since it is inside the cabin. Usually multiple module failures or multiple error codes after disconnecting / disturbing the factory wiring is due to that action. I would carefully and thoroughly recheck, clean and tighten all wiring connectors that were disconnected or otherwise could have been tugged on while removing and installing the dash assembly.

I was the "electronics guy" at a Ford dealer for a number of years. I have seen all of the issues I mention with wiring come from the factory or the customer. The screw in a wiring harness was from the factory. Same with a pinched wire. Also saw those and mismatched connectors, bent / dislocated pins when a customer brought in a vehicle. "All I did was replace the radio" and now nothing works was what was usually on the ticket.

Hi Chris, thankyou for your thorough response. We are removing the dash again to gain access to the wiring loom and will be checking all the wiring as you recommend. Will reply back with the findings which may be a few days from now.


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[Croakes]

Taking a guess here based on my own experience.

2013 Cummins. We had a torrential downpour and when I got in the truck and started, all the water ran down my hand and into the igniton/key module.

Truck shut off and then would not start.

Noticed the red security light flashing. And the radio was asking for a security code.

Dealership wouldnt give the code so it was towed and then reset there.

Everything worked but the start. Wipers, locks, radio.

Something to think about.

Hi DevilDog, thanks for your response. We will definitely consider having it towed to the dealership (which we do now have in Australia). We first want to confirm communications between the OBD and the ECM/PCM, TCM and the ABS module. Will report back in a few days with the finding.


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[Croakes]

I am still leaning towards a wiring harness issue. A connector not plugged in tight, wrong connectors plugged together, bent / dislocated pin in connector, a pinched wire or screw penetrating a wiring harness. All of the modules mentioned are outside of the passenger cabin and have lost communications with the OBD port inside the cabin. I assume you can still communicate with the BCM since it is inside the cabin. Usually multiple module failures or multiple error codes after disconnecting / disturbing the factory wiring is due to that action. I would carefully and thoroughly recheck, clean and tighten all wiring connectors that were disconnected or otherwise could have been tugged on while removing and installing the dash assembly.

I was the "electronics guy" at a Ford dealer for a number of years. I have seen all of the issues I mention with wiring come from the factory or the customer. The screw in a wiring harness was from the factory. Same with a pinched wire. Also saw those and mismatched connectors, bent / dislocated pins when a customer brought in a vehicle. "All I did was replace the radio" and now nothing works was what was usually on the ticket.

Hi Chris, problem solved. you were correct.
One of the plugs had fallen down into the body cavity (see pic). So when they assembled the dash, they thought the plug was an orphan plug that was not used in this truck. I have attached a pic showing the plug and the cavity it fell into. Thanks again for taking the time to help sort this.


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