Electronic stability control

[Bonzoso]

Hi all. A couple of weeks ago I went out to my truck after being out of town for 2 weeks and started it. After start up I get a message to service the esc. Looked in the manual to see if I could find any info. Nothing. So thinking it was just some minor glitch, I took off for work. No problems driving 1/2 hr to work but light on dash stayed lit. Start up to go home same message and light stays on. I got home and decided to take a look under the hood. Lo and behold the battery insulating cover is all torn up. Ahh ha, freaking critter got in while it was sitting. Cleaned out the mess around the battery and found 5 chewed wires from the harness to the battery ground that went to the brake vacuum assist sensor (3 wires), and to some little black box that hooks directly to the battery ground (2 wires). So I take the truck to the dealer, tell them what I found. I leave the truck, they say to fix the wires they are gonna charge $800. I said thanks but I'll do it myself for that money. I pick up the truck and pay $35 for their estimate and go home and fix the wires. Take a short drive the message and light still comes on. I figure it'll take some miles to go out. Bottom line, I've driven about 80 miles and the message and light still come on. Now I'm wondering if this is a warning that won't go away until erased by the shop, or is there something else involved. Anyone have an idea of what is likely going on? I know the manufactures are getting pretty militant about owners access to computer diagnosing. Thanks up front for any ideas or knowledge.

 

[Wild one]

Hi all. A couple of weeks ago I went out to my truck after being out of town for 2 weeks and started it. After start up I get a message to service the esc. Looked in the manual to see if I could find any info. Nothing. So thinking it was just some minor glitch, I took off for work. No problems driving 1/2 hr to work but light on dash stayed lit. Start up to go home same message and light stays on. I got home and decided to take a look under the hood. Lo and behold the battery insulating cover is all torn up. Ahh ha, freaking critter got in while it was sitting. Cleaned out the mess around the battery and found 5 chewed wires from the harness to the battery ground that went to the brake vacuum assist sensor (3 wires), and to some little black box that hooks directly to the battery ground (2 wires). So I take the truck to the dealer, tell them what I found. I leave the truck, they say to fix the wires they are gonna charge $800. I said thanks but I'll do it myself for that money. I pick up the truck and pay $35 for their estimate and go home and fix the wires. Take a short drive the message and light still comes on. I figure it'll take some miles to go out. Bottom line, I've driven about 80 miles and the message and light still come on. Now I'm wondering if this is a warning that won't go away until erased by the shop, or is there something else involved. Anyone have an idea of what is likely going on? I know the manufactures are getting pretty militant about owners access to computer diagnosing. Thanks up front for any ideas or knowledge.

Cheapest and easiest thing to try is to disconnect the negative battery post for a few minutes.Step on the brake pedal while it's off for 1/2 a minute,and give it another 15 minutes or so afterwards,before reconnecting the battery post.If it works you're ahead of the game,if not,you might have to make a trip to the dealer.That's assuming you've found and fixed all the wiring damage.

 

[Tulecreeper]

Cheapest and easiest thing to try is to disconnect the negative battery post for a few minutes.Step on the brake pedal while it's off for 1/2 a minute,and give it another 15 minutes or so afterwards,before reconnecting the battery post.If it works you're ahead of the game,if not,you might have to make a trip to the dealer.That's assuming you've found and fixed all the wiring damage.

Disconnecting the battery I understand is for a reboot, but what does stepping on the brake do? Bleed off any residual current in the wiring?

 

[Daw14]

Disconnecting the battery I understand is for a reboot, but what does stepping on the brake do? Bleed off any residual current in the wiring?

That’s the theory.

 

[Daw14]

It may take a certain number of drive cycles, it seems some other things operate that way .

 

[Tulecreeper]

It may take a certain number of drive cycles, it seems some other things operate that way .

Yeah, there are a number of things that take "a few drive cycles" to go away.

 

[Bonzoso]

Hey all, returning to this post cause I've driven the Ram 2000 miles since the wire repair, with plenty of starts, and the light is still on and I still get the warning every start up to service the ESC. Truck runs fine. No ill effects and no ABS light either. Gotta take the Truck in for PA inspection and would like to have an idea of what could cause this issue before they attempt to hold the Truck hostage for some big bucks. Any further thoughts out there?

 

[Curmudgeon]

Yeah, there are a number of things that take "a few drive cycles" to go away.

My ex-wife.

 

[Scottly]

You could always take it back to the dealer where you proudly proclaimed they wanted too much money and you'd do it yourself...How's that working out for you?

 

[Jimmy07]

Hey all, returning to this post cause I've driven the Ram 2000 miles since the wire repair, with plenty of starts, and the light is still on and I still get the warning every start up to service the ESC. Truck runs fine. No ill effects and no ABS light either. Gotta take the Truck in for PA inspection and would like to have an idea of what could cause this issue before they attempt to hold the Truck hostage for some big bucks. Any further thoughts out there?

Nothing but random guesses until we know what faults are stored in your abs module.

 

[Bonzoso]

You could always take it back to the dealer where you proudly proclaimed they wanted too much money and you'd do it yourself...How's that working out for you?

If you're implying it was a $1000+ job to splice together 5 wires and you would've jumped at the chance to spend that kind of money for something you'd take an hour to do, then that's advice I don't need. And where does "proudly" fit in. And what's bothering you about my post. But thanks anyway. Now If anyone else has any real contributions I'd appreciate it.

 

[Bonzoso]

Nothing but random guesses until we know what faults are stored in your abs module.

So that's where I would expect to find the code.? I don't have a reader that reads those codes but I guess I'll have to get one. That's a start. Thanks

 

[rzr6-4]

So that's where I would expect to find the code.? I don't have a reader that reads those codes but I guess I'll have to get one. That's a start. Thanks

I got mine for $20 on amazon. Write down the codes, clear them, and see if they come back. Even if you do have to go somewhere, no way I'm going to the dealer. You can probly find an independent shop to do it for half that price.