dputnam01
Senior Member
- Joined
- Oct 3, 2018
- Posts
- 138
- Reaction score
- 102
- Location
- 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.
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.