Random Electronic shutdown

[Sparky1707]

Hey all I have a 2014 Outdoorsman with the Pentastar in it. Recently I’ve been having issues with the whole system just failing for a split second and then coming back while I’m driving. Every warning light you could imagine shows up and I even lose power steering but I don’t lose engine power. Low battery voltage light stays on but the thing is the gauge says voltage is fine and I’ve even pulled over and checked it with a meter and it reads good. I’ve checked connections all over the place but can’t for the life of me figure it out. Anyone have any ideas? I’m fairly new to whole repairing my own truck thing so I really don’t know much so any info would be greatly appreciated

 

[Wild one]

Hey all I have a 2014 Outdoorsman with the Pentastar in it. Recently I’ve been having issues with the whole system just failing for a split second and then coming back while I’m driving. Every warning light you could imagine shows up and I even lose power steering but I don’t lose engine power. Low battery voltage light stays on but the thing is the gauge says voltage is fine and I’ve even pulled over and checked it with a meter and it reads good. I’ve checked connections all over the place but can’t for the life of me figure it out. Anyone have any ideas? I’m fairly new to whole repairing my own truck thing so I really don’t know much so any info would be greatly appreciated

Buy yourself one of these old school battery testors,and test your battery.If you're doing your own work,it's worth having one.

https://www.princessauto.com/en/100a-battery-load-tester/product/PA0008494031

 

[Jeepwalker]

I would agree with Wild One ...and not only check your battery but cable connections and grounds too. Check pos cable connection at the fuse panel. When my battery went out I was getting a lot of cluster warnings that I don't normally see on vehicles. But if your vehicle still starts, then that alone is probably a good enough load test. But still have it checked. While they are checking it, have them scan for OBD codes too. Write down what comes up.

Here are some other ideas:
1) Main fuse link
2) Check wiring below TIPM: There are a lot of connectors and many wires below the TIPM. you might want to lift it and look under in case a connector somehow came loose or a rodent chewed a wire.
3) Fuse connection board making good contact? The fuse and TIPM have are a sandwich of boards and contact pins for fuses, etc. have been reports of the lower fuse board sliding down and not making good connection. If all else comes up empty, it's worth looking at.
4) Fuel pump relay? Not sure how likely this is, and I don't recall what the 'while driving' symptoms of a bad fuel pump relay are. But if it develops into larger no-start issues it's something to keep in the back of yer mind. Second link below gives you an idea of how to get to the fuse pins and fuel pump relay. There's also a $12 fuel pump bypass wire you can buy off ebay.

But first check all your cables/grounds/battery. That's the most likely. You need to load-test the battery. If your vehicle does start, then that's probably not the battery. But definitely could be the connections/cables.

This video shows how to raise the TIPM/fuse assembly to inspect the connectors and wires beneath it.

How To Remove & Install Your TIPM (Fuse Box) & Hard Reset - Full Step by Step Tutorial!

Email: [email protected] Call: 818-793-7888 or 818-798-5558Visit our website to shop for tipms and more info:http://tipmrebuilders.comMak shows you how to...

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This video shows how the lower circuit boards and fuse panel go together. You should be able to tell from the top if the fuses and fuse pins are making contact.

Chrysler TIPM Repair, Can You DIY?

Edit: Relay is an ex1-2u1s available with 2day shipping under $20 at vertical VisionsMany Chrysler vehicles made between 2008 and 2014 were made with totally...

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[Phirebeard]

Check the alternator also. You should get around 14V with the truck running. Make sure the plugs and cables are attached properly and not corroded.

 

[NJMOPAR]

If it's the original battery that's your problem.
Try pushing down on all fuses & relays to insure good contact.

 

[Jeepwalker]

Update: The craziest thing happened: I just drove into town to grab lunch, and the SAME thing seemed to happen to my truck. Hadn't seen that before. Suddenly all the dash lights came on for a blink, then went off, like the OP described. At the time, I was traveling ~25mph, and my foot just happened to slip off the accelerator pedal when it occurred, not sure if that had anything to do with it or not. Never happened again in my trip there or back to the house.

When I got home I threw the scanner on and checked for codes. None present. Battery charging fine (fairly new). Looking at my terminals, the + looks pretty clean but there's minor corrosion on the Neg post which I'll clean up. Maybe I'll do a batt load test too for the heck of it. I may need to take my advice and loosen/clean/wiggle the cable connections too.

On these older trucks with a key (mine has), I do remember reading in yrs past there were some issues with the WIN module (key switch assembly). And I know I've had a couple times where mine didn't started right away w/o a wiggle ...like once or twice last couple yrs. Not sure if that's the issue or not. It might be something I need to dig into one of these days. I don't have a heavy key chain (which is an issue with the key switch)

OP, does your tk have a key?

Ram ignition switch/WIN Module repair. Save over $500. No programming required

How to take out and repair your Ignition switch/WIN Module.

www.youtube.com

 

[Jeepwalker]

Update 2: per my truck's dash 'blink' today, I discovered the battery negative terminal was real loose. That's my bad. During the winter I unhook the negative battery terminal b/c I don't drive it. But I put it back on and start/run the tk a couple times over the winter ...to keep the juices flowing and seals moist. Looks like I simply forgot to tighten the neg terminal in the spring. When my foot slipped off the accelerator today, perhaps the sudden jerk was enough to loose battery connection for a micro-second (??). Who knows. A road bump could probably do the same thing with a loose cable/bad connection.

But anyway, I did a battery load test (good & not low -- my batt is pretty new) and cleaned the terminals and clamps, incl reseating the + terminal on the fuse box. The cable ends all looked pretty clean. So I guess I'll drive it a while and see how things go. The loose battery Neg batt terminal could well have been the issue (current flows from neg -> pos).

OP, check some of the things I mentioned. Let me know how your dash blink issue goes and what you find when you start looking. Good luck.

 

[Sparky1707]

Thanks for all the advice everyone, ended up removing a harness that had been tapped in directly through the top of my Power Module that the guy who owned the truck before me put there. Seems to have damaged some contacts, played around and removed the fuse that they had used for this tap in. So far so good seems to have fixed it fingers crossed. Jeepwalker my truck has the programable fob as the key, but I did make some calls to a few people yesterday including the dealer and they did mention that problems with the ignition switch could definitely cause my problems. Gonna keep an eye on it and keep what you said in mind, maybe even go back tonight and double check everything. Thanks again everyone!

 

[Jeepwalker]

Great news!