Truck Won't Start and "4wd Service Message"

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dputnam01

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Escondido, CA
Ram Year
2018
Engine
6.7L Turbo Diesel
2018 RAM 3500 w/ 6.7L diesel and manual transmission. Received a "4WD engaging" message while driving last week. Thought I had nudged the transfer case stick. Yesterday the truck would not start. Not the "click click click" like a typical low battery starter motor sound. Solenoid engaged, but truck would not turn over. Also received the "4WD service" message. I had read in the forum somewhere that it could be low battery. Both batteries checked out at 12.5 V. Put them on the charger, but no joy. Being overly cautious, I was going to have it towed to dealer. Tow truck driver recommended we try jumping with his Hi-Capacity system. Truck started right up with no messages. Battery just didn't have enough "oomph" to turn the engine (bad cell?). Let it run for a while to attempt recharge and tried restart, but no joy. Decided to just change out both old batteries with new.
Side-note, the Old OEM Mopar batteries showed they still had 5 months on "free exchange" 36 month warranty. I was standing in line to buy new batteries when I realized this. Called the dealer and they said the truck needed to be brought in with batteries installed so they could diagnose the issue (maybe a charging issue?) before they would consider a battery replacement. Rather than go through the wringer, I just bought new and I am back in business. I will need to keep an eye on things in case it is a power draw, or recharging issue.
 

csuder99

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2013
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Hemi 5.7
Yup, way back I had the "service 4wd system" in a Grand Cherokee when the battery was nearing the end of its life. It would still start the engine but voltage dropped down to 7.some V during cranking causing the transmission control module to throw an error code.

Somewhat odd that the batteries didn't last three years though.
 
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68PowerWagon

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Yeah the batteries now days don't last at all like they used to. I would say easily half the life they were 15-20 years ago. I used to be able to go 8-10 years without replacing. I think 3-5 years is about the norm these days.
 

mtnrider

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Classic bad batteries. You get about 3-5 years out of them at most. And fyi, checking the voltage is not a good indicator, they need to be load tested.

.
 

Burla

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Problem solved congrats.
 

NormB

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2018 2500 SLT
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Cummins 6.7L TD
Classic bad batteries. You get about 3-5 years out of them at most. And fyi, checking the voltage is not a good indicator, they need to be load tested.

.


SO glad I did a search for "service 4WD".

Truck's starting quickly, no problem, will load test later today (I bought a good used Snap-on resistive load tester years ago when I bought my HMMWV, it's saved me a lot of time and trouble).

This JUST started about 1,000 miles ago (I was several states away) intermittently. I recall it coming up when the other battery died shortly after buying the truck (an 8 month old rental) and had it replaced by the dealer.

Fingers crossed here....


thanks.
 

NormB

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Not batteries. They check out fine. I can switch truck into 4WD if I can do it before the "SERV 4WD" warning light comes on.

This came up around 20,000 miles ago, at 40k, dealer replaced differential fluids, transfer case fluid, $850 later, no problems until I hit 60k.

Friend has the official FCA ODB plug-in/bluetooth gadget, I'll check it out tomorrow.

Fluids are good, since when do these need to be changed every 20k?

NB
 
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