Odd starting issue.

[Ramhemi12]

(Updated with codes at bottom of post)

I went to start my 2012 ram 5.7 this morning, it wouldn't remote start. Got in the truck and the cluster showed "Remote Start aborted, insert key to reset" . So I put the key in the ignition and the engine just turned over... After a few tries the engine starts but only runs for a few seconds then dies. Sometimes it would try to start but wouldn't.

I've had the battery light on for 2 years now. Has new battery. Alternator and starter tested good a year ago.
I checked battery and ground terminal was loose. Cleaned post and tightened terminal down good. Lots of arcing when connecting the cables back up.
Then went and grabbed my spare fob, truck started right up with key in ignition . Would not remote start though.

So I'm thinking it's my main fob battery. Change battery and still same issue. Since it starts with spare fob ,I drive it to go eat. Seems to be running fine, mpg is higher then normal. Get to restaurant and I remote start as I'm walking away, it fires right up. Thinking disaster is adverted, we go eat. Come back out an hour later and it doesn't want to start again. Just turns over. 2nd try tries to run but won't. 3rd try it starts up. It smells like old gas and a little rich only When it's not starting. Get home and use my main fob to see if the truck remote starts. Fires right up first try.

Day 2..
Still same issue but I got 4 codes now. Only 1 permanent

U110C- no fuel level bus message
U0141- lost communication w/ front control module
U1403- Implausable fuel level signal
U110E- lost ambient temp message

 

[Daw14]

If the terminal was loose , the battery was not getting a full charge . How long this has been going on ? Your battery needs a full charge , or truck needs to be driven for enough time to let it charge.

 

[Grams]

This “might” be another 2012 Ram with the TIPM fuel-pump-relay problem.

My 2012 Ram 1500 suffered this failure to start similarly. (altho’ mine did not have the remote-start function…. it otherwise behaved similarly when attempting to start)

The private shop who diagnosed it installed an inline-fused fuel-pump-relay which by-passed the TIPM. This solved the problem (common to that era Rams and Jeeps)

 

[Ramhemi12]

If the terminal was loose , the battery was not getting a full charge . How long this has been going on ? Your battery needs a full charge , or truck needs to be driven for enough time to let it charge.

I did put a battery charger on it after cleaning the terminals. It was fully charged in about 10 minutes. It started this morning with remote start but it struggled to stay running for a few seconds then began to run fine. Looks like I've got battery acid leaking by the + post of battery this morning.

This “might” be another 2012 Ram with the TIPM fuel-pump-relay problem.

My 2012 Ram 1500 suffered this failure to start similarly. (altho’ mine did not have the remote-start function…. it otherwise behaved similarly when attempting to start)

The private shop who diagnosed it installed an inline-fused fuel-pump-relay which by-passed the TIPM. This solved the problem (common to that era Rams and Jeeps)

I have the tipm bypass harness that I bought a few months back . That issue turned out to be a bad injector so I didn't use it. I will try it today to see if that changes anything.

 

[Ramhemi12]

Now it won't remote start again. It keeps saying the same thing. "Remote start aborted, insert key to reset" sometimes it starts with the key, sometimes it struggles to start and sometimes it just keeps cranking.

 

[Ramhemi12]

DTC codes that popped up just a few minutes ago with a CEL.

U110C- no fuel level bus message
U0141- lost communication w/ front control module
U1403- Implausable fuel level signal
U110E- lost ambient temp message