RF hub troubleshoot procedure

[ironman52]

I have a 2015 Ram 2500 Laramie 4wd crewcab 6.4
I am having issues with ignition, I did some research and it sounds like the RF hub. The problem at this point is intermittent. I have removed and cleaned the ignition switch, does not look like much can be done with that switch.

Is there a way to diagnose if it is the RF hub before spending $$$$$
Also I cant seem to find that part at a parts house or online with the exception of 1 online vendor. The Hub and 2 keys sell for 800+- which seems high.

Anybody had that problem? Any help would be really appreciated Thanks,

 

[Slinge]

Check for corrosion and or water intrusion at the Hub ?

 

[ironman52]

I will, however the hub is inside the cab, I believe its behind the rear seat

 

[Ken226]

I will, however the hub is inside the cab, I believe its behind the rear seat

One of the more common indicators of the famous 3rd brake light water leak, and/or a leaky rear sliding window, is RF hub issues.

Since the RF hub sits directly below the sliding window, behind the liner, directly in the path water would take, were there such a leak.

 

[ironman52]

This truck does not have a sliding window

 

[Grams]

This truck does not have a sliding window

But undoubtedly it has a CHMSL (center mounted stop light) and they are FAMOUS for the gasket leaking water into the back of the cab, rotting the carpet, headliner, causing all sorts of electrical gremlins.
I resealed my 2012 Ram 1500 using butyl-tape (RV sealant tape).

I probably should do that as a preventive measure on my new truck.

 

[ironman52]

Oh I see what your saying, I will check I would not have thought of that Thanks

 

[jws123]

What problems are you having with the ignition what are your symtoms? I wound up replacing my keys and ignition switch on my 2014 This will need to be done on all 4 th gen rams at some point especially any over 100k miles they wear out always fails. Mine would stop recognizing the key as well as sometimes shut off or you would have to push up on the key to start the truck.

 

[ironman52]

1st I went to turn on the truck and their was not responce what so ever. I thought well a dead battery, Cleaned the post and reattached and nothing, I thought maybe the starter but that did not makes sense as that would not affect the display. Then all of a sudden it started. I put it on my OBD reader, and it showed charging at 14 v and no battery code came up.
SO now its starting but i don't trust the issue has been solved. I did put a new battery in the key thinking it couldn't hurt.
I was told that the ignition switch hardly ever fails (key word being hardly which does not rule it out completely) I was also told the RF hub
I don't understand why these parts aren't available online through parts houses or oem?
I did take apart the ignition switch not much you can do with it but it was dirty so I blew it out and reinstalled it.
At this point I dont want to spend 800.00 to replace an RF hub if it does not need it.

 

[Light299]

Does tire pressure for all 4 wheels show correctly (guess what reads that)?

You need to pull the back seats and pull a few plastic retainers to get to the RF hub....it's not a hard one. Probably want to buy a couple new cab vents while you're at it since those certainly fail.

With AlfaODB (and a security gateway bypass cable) there is a diagnostic you can run on the RF hub. I'm assuming you already have those since you'll need them to pull the pin prior to a RF hub replacement.

The RF hub can be got off many mopar online parts suppliers for ~$200. There are two part numbers depending on which type of key you have.

BTW, it is MUCH more likely your key is bad (there's a reason dealers can't keep these in stock). An OEM (TRW) replacement will set you back ~$160 as opposed to a random ebay/Amazon one for like $30. Up to you which way you want to gamble. Again with AlfaODB and an SGW bypass cable you can program the key yourself (hehehe unless the truck already has 16 keys programmed to it).

 

[Randy1]

This truck does not have a

This truck does not have a sliding window

One of my rear cab vents was leaking on my 2018 1500 Laramie. I replaced both of them.