Ever work on a car and it gets the best of you to the point you just say, "that's it I quit!" That's what happened on this Hemi Dodge Ram that came in with no 4x4 and the neutral light lit up. No info and service data, no codes and boom it fixes itself and I don't have an answer....
-Enjoy!
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Found her door. Evidently the four wheel drive light is on. You gotta check that baby out. Oh, seat's moving on.
It's all going on. Uh, let's see I Just oops. don't move the seat because it just makes a crutches out. Service: Four Wheel Drive I Saw it pop up there.
but oh, his neutral light isn't it? Yeah, nothing's happening here. By changing the shifter in here, let's do this. Foreign pops up there in the middle it says Service four wheel drive and then it goes right out. Oh there it said.
ESP Bas I had the mind of its own. Let me just do it without starting it. See what it does? Interesting, yeah. Service: Four wheel drive.
But yeah, it's just very, very brief. Take it for a little two and see if that does any. and I don't know. the lights pop on here when we drive it.
it's definitely not in four-wheel drive. be Crow Hopping Pretty matter on these. Corners If it was only knock in four-wheel drive. Okay, so the red neutral light is on.
that's pretty much all we've got to go on. red neutral light and then a brief service Four-wheel Drive message: Go back and see what it has in it For codes, we're going to use the uh White Tech here because we have one and I let that get all hooked up here. I'm quite aware of my email address up here at the Spam email address so you can email your little hearts out there. Uh, let's see says it only has one code so let's check that out and see what it is.
Driver mirror heater control circuit shorted the battery open in the door module. Well, that's not. uh, very useful to us is it? Uh so the four wheel drive on a Chrysler Wow, this is kind of unusual for Dodge Usually you plug in there, everything's lit up. lots of code so it should be here.
Drivetrain Control module right? I Think that's the four wheel drive? Uh, let's see says there's an update on it. Um I don't know what the update is for? Oh no. I'm sorry. it is up to date.
Okay, so that's the new part number current part number: Okay, so there is no I didn't think it I saw the little Mark on on Dodge as if it has a flash available. It puts a little lightning bolt next to it. So our our module is up to date. Um says there's no code so that's quite unusual.
Let's look through some data. Let's kind of check some stuff that's interesting. Transfer case Status neutral: It thinks it's a neutral. Hmm, so that's that's pretty weird.
Service indicator: request fault so let me just shut the key off. Just kind of curious here. so key off on true false. Okay, so it does kind of blip at briefly and I don't know if that's a product of you know, just the algorithm, just how it, how it is.
Um, so that that's interesting. Okay, let's just see if we uh see if we, see anything else in here that gives us any kind of indication of anything. Transfer case, position sensor voltage. Okay, neutral lamp request is on.
All right. So we maybe we can find a chart that gives us our transfer case position sensor voltage outputs. You know, perhaps we just have a transfer case sensor that's skewed. Um, you know, a position sensor even though we're in clearly in two-wheel drive. All right. So front axle is disconnected, which we knew that um, no. Dtc's just kind of going down. We just want to look to see see if we see anything.
It's quite unusual. I don't know I didn't see anything on here for the switch input. You know, the switch down here on the dash I don't see that right off. anyways.
I just kind of want to look. and then as far as neutral, it just has the button here. Well, that button just felt kind of sticky. Oh no.
I guess it's not so I put the actual Transmission in neutral here and see if anything, see if anything changes. just push and hold this neutral button. Okay, I just put it neutral. push the neutral button and now everything's working.
Yeah, hear it out there shifting. so that's really kind of bizarre. But yeah, let me show you here folks. So now I find a dash for Auto Four wheel Drive Foreign.
Go back to two wheel drive. So that's kind of bizarre I wonder why I did that? So now the transfer case is actually in neutral I Just you know, put the actual transfer case in neutral and we can see the transfer case position. sensor voltage is 1.8 So now we'll take it out of neutral here. put it in the two wheel drive transfer case.
Voltage is two point nine, eight sensor voltage. Huh? Yeah. I mean I can hear it all there shifting just fine. So uh, clearly it's working as it should now.
which is kind of Biz I don't know why it was goofed up. Let's just start it and see if we get that light again. ESP Bas I Guess we can just check it right here to see if it, see if that's something normal so it says false. Okay, so that must be normal, must be like a bulb.
Check it does. Okay, so that's always something worthy to note. Yeah I don't know. fixed.
You're just stuck in some kind of funk here. Yeah. I I don't know. That's kind of uh, kind of.
Bizarro I think what? I'll do I mean this is a stupid video at this point. but uh I think what I'll do is I'll just do some poking through service day to see if there's any service bulletins anything like that. but I don't know why it was stuck there with the neutral light on when it seems to shift it I don't know is what it is I guess well I don't really have any advice for you folks I Was looking under the Uh Theory and operation here I Went through all the star cases, the service bulletins. there's nothing nothing really published on it.
Didn't find anybody else having this issue. Uh, you know it makes a note here that no LEDs illuminated illuminated indicate a fault in the transfer case control system. Uh, and if you read through here, it indicates you know that the light will continue to indefinitely flash if it hasn't completed a shift. I mean it gives us some specs on our switches, but nothing really. uh, indicating you know, just your neutral light on and you know it's clearly in two-wheel drive. So uh, don't really know where to go from here when everything seems to function now. sometimes cars are just stupid and that's what we're gonna chalk this one up to. So I think we've done our due diligence.
I'm going to close out the scan tool here like I said I even poked uh like on Identifix looking for some silver bullets to see if somebody else has come across this and wasn't anything published. So let's um, I'm just gonna take her for it too. We'll do some four wheel drive shifts and then we'll give it back to them I Did talk to the customer uh, briefly and he told me that you know he didn't try to put the transfer case neutral. He didn't didn't try anything.
He just went to use four Wheel Drive one day and noticed that it wouldn't go in and notice that that light was on. But for how long? who knows he's the only driver of the truck. No kids, No, nobody else drives it. So yeah, let me hold this.
I Don't know. You want to go inside? Yeah, she looked like a little homeless chair. There you go inside. we're going for a rep.
Hey, there we go. The lights on there. the lights on down here. it's just going to four.
Auto Splashing at us for auto has been achieved. Return your turn signal. here we go four Auto Works Four wheel Drive lot. All right, she's in four wheel peel.
We should be able to tell if it feels like it's binding up. Oh yeah, she's in four guys. Oh, we just came to a stop. We go back to two-wheel driver because this is what it is folks.
Well, we're not gonna make a mountain have a more hell. We'll just give it back to him like this until no problems found. In the words of Billy Currington got his great. Beer is good and cars are stupid I think it's something like that? I Could be wrong.
but don't you guys do me wrong by going into that comment section. Leave me a question. A comment, a concern. Tell me what you think was wrong with it.
Give me your theory. You guys are always good at giving me the theory. So go down there and give me your theory. and uh, just remember.
Oh insty Facebook I mess up my hand signals again, that's for sure just for my reviewers. If I can do it, you can do it. Thanks for watching.
Can't get a new headlight bulb to snap in H13 connector on Dodge. Old plug slides right in, new one stops about 3/4 in. Any ideas?
Seems like this was not even an intermittent issue, just an accidental use of a poorly-understood setting on the switch. But with more and more electronics creeping in, cars are becoming more like computers where sometimes "did you turn it off & on again" can be a solution for these problems.
Customer probably spilled soda on the button
Sticky gummed up switches on my hummer h3 had me thinking my 4 wheel drive was whacked. Turns out, it was just sticky gummed up switches/buttons. Shew.
As someone with a computer degree, I can say other than fuel/air mixing and controlling transmission shifts, I hate computers in cars!
It's not you. I have a 14 ram and this neutral button is stupid. I have been on forums since I bought the truck new, I know all the tricks and tips from reading endless threads. Never have a seen a clear answer for this god forsaken button. I asked Ram and there is no documentation on it, and it's a pain in the ass to figure out how it works. It's not a lockout button. I'd love to know what it's for and what it's purpose is.
Just bought a 2009 and it has become my worst nightmare. Tail chasing for weeks. My theory is the battery went slightly low or that dodge totally sucks.
My guess is that someone found a hidden feature and accidently enabled it.
Kinda like how you can disable the seatbelt chime, via a sequence of things. I don't remember the sequence. But it was something like close the door, ignition on, and buckle and unbuckle the driver side seatbelt like 5 times in quick succession, and turn the key off… or something… And then the truck will stop with the random seat belt chimes. And then to restore it you have to do the sequence again.
My son had a 2021 jeep gladiator that would at times not go into drive. After 2 months at the dealer and a new main computer and trans, the fix was to shut the jeep off when it happens wait 5 mins or so and start it again and it would then go into drive. Needless to say the jeep is no longer with us.
I had an 07 ram that went to the dealer 3 times for an issue with the transfer case. It ended up being a short in the harness. Truck parked and off i was hearing what sounded like an electric motor or solenoid from underneath. While driving it would attempt to shift itself into 4Lo at highway speeds. At one point I had to press the recessed neutral button with a pen because I was stranded. Told the dealer I thought it was a short. They finally repaired it on the third trip. Glad it was a lease. Truck was built on a Monday.
probably just a hiccup in the drive train computer!
My wife had a '05 Envoy XL. Occaisionally, it would say neutral even though it was obviously in 2wd. Turn the knob to reset, it would be fine for awhile. Never had it checked, just knew to 'reset' it and go on our way. When the tranny died, the problem went away with the whole truck. 😉😂
My theory is that it’s a Dodge with 143000 miles on it. Isn’t that like 80 in people years? It was garbage on day 1 nothing has changed.
I'd be worried it has metallic schmutz all over inside the t-case and devices. maybe eating itself/low on fluid?
You didn't even do a visual inspection of the transfer case and connectors or wiggle any wiring. I hope you didn't charge this guy anything, lol.
Gotta love them noisy blower motors also
it's a Dodge, every single one of them make me want to quit.
Should have listened to Scotty Kilmer.
Reminds me of the time at the gm shop a woman had the push button 4×4 was stuck in low and drove it to the shop 14 miles. Having been there done that I removed 4×4 shift motor and motor worked fine. I resynced motor and transfer case and reinstalled. Shift motor operated as designed.
I asked lady if she payed any attention to the tachometer and was it near recline on the way into town. Answer no why. I told her the driving for extended long of high ending revs could cause engine damage. I asked lady why did you have transfer case in low. Answer because there was snow. I explained low was not for snow. 4 hi sufficient. Her response what is low for I responded climbing upbuildings. I handed her her the owers manual opened to transfer case and told her to read and understand how this operates. Nobody up front at that time ever explained the features on their new vehicle. It was sell sell sell
Not a Dodge… just a Ram.
My 2005 dakota did same thing but my transfer case shift motor died causing random shifting in and out of 4×4 low , the nob on dash went bad shortly after causing the neutral button to light up and 4 low to flash unless it was in 4 low then it shut off . Ended up having to replace everything
It's not a dodge!
Time for a reboot?
60°F
I didn’t realize that you can get a WiTech without being at a dealership. That’s pretty tight.
Giver another ground cable. Mechanics choice to where
Possible moisture in transfer case sensor?
Same with mine, pushed the button two times went away 5 years ago. Never came back
I had this same issue with a customer car, ended up being the 4×4 module inside the dash failing. It would work then it wouldn't. One time it set a junk code for something that clearly did work but kept setting that code, was able to determine it was likely a bad solder joint on the board because if the connector was flexed hard enough one way it would work again but no loose terminals. Needed dealer programming so we just referred them there for part and labor and last I heard it's been problem free since then! It was a generation older than this one but very likely the same root cause. You could try pulling the 4×4 module, stripping it from the case (easy) and shove it in the oven for a solder re-flow attempt.
Dig the Lancaster Archery hat!
Saw one, where ya had to use a ballpoint pet to get it into transfer case neutral. Wtf?! Was a 2021 1500 tradesman. Grossest thing ever.
God I hate rams 4×4. Never a 4 low. Especially 1500. Had to go with a 2500 PW to get 4h and l .. on the floor. With electronic lockers etc.
My 09 chevy silverado 2500hd recently did basically the same thing. Swapped the relay in the fuse box, it went away. I ask??????
electrical gremlin
its a Dodge
Or a brake switch
Before watching the video. My guess is a bad cluster, bad connection/ ground, or a Tipm module. Or it's a Chrysler. Or also an alternator ripple issue.
Its a dodge just kick the dash light goes out along with complete functions to the dash ( no lights no problems anymore lol dodges will run forever but fuck they love to throw codes and rust the fuck out sad too as chrysler is my favorite vehicle maker
Short between the driver's seat and the steering wheel
Another Dodge/Ram electronics "glitch"
I'm a GM guy and over the years I've experienced similar temporary issues. The latest one was just last week "SD card failed to load" and data rich tech features were all blank – Nav errored out, Street speed limits blank, etc. So shut off the car and came back after everything had time to fully shut down and everything was alive again. So, Poo happens and then Poo goes away all by itself. Wouldn't it be nice if more of our problems did that? Fun video. On to the next broken vehicle.
Yup, modern cars are sooo much better.
Reboot! Just have to figure out the sequence…
Putting it in neutral knocked the "Stupid" out of the computer! 😵💫
Caper lock
Computers are just machines so the codes can become corrupted so as I have done just disconnect the battery to reset the computer. That will clear any memory problems with the codes and then clean the connection on the battery and any ground wire. An also low voltage in the computer will screw up the system. Yes computers are stupid and the people who program them as so the bean counters cut corners on the manufacturing of the vehicle.
Love the content but really starting to dislike the clickbait.
Possible a servo that was too cold or ‘gummed up’ as we used to say, but with nothing posted on-line in the forums, etc, it will need to repeat the issue before any real diagnosis. If it is a real issue, it will repeat…
Not sure what is wrong with the old manual shift lever. My 12 ram had that and it worked everytime in 10 years as long as my arm worked.
Confucious say, "If it has t*ts or wheels, it will give you pwobwems".
My Aspen did that after I had to tow it for a failed fuel pump. But I had to put it into neutral to tow. I guess not being touched for 11 years made it stick?
I know exactly what's wrong with it. It's a Chrysler product. BOOM! Done. I say the same thing about 1996 and newer Ford's too though. They make a lot of junk these days.
The late 90s ram pickups used to have a weird problem where the ECU would stop communicating with trans control unit, only the dealership could fix. because to fix both units had to be reflashed at same time. Looks like the bug is still there just it doesn't immobilize the vehicle any more. Intermittent faults are the worst.
I think the owner is most likely a democrat. My wife is one. When it stops moving she buys a new car.
Her prius is a plug in so I never changed the oil. 77k on original oil. Who knew it has a ICE. LOL
It's a frickin Chrysler/ Dodge POS!!!!!
I like to check all the chassis grounds about once a year. I've had several problems show up in the past that turned out to be an intermittent ground wire. Nothing at all wrong with the equipment except something wasn't seeing a hard ground for whatever reason (corrosion, loose or broken wire, etc). I also go through my rig occasionally and pull/clean every electrical connector I can get my hands on.
I don't know how you folks in New York get by with all the corrosion from salt. Maybe best to trade your rig in every two or three years
There's a saying among software engineers: If a component magically starts working, it will magically stop working again sometime, without notice.
Quick question, I have a 2010 Dodge Ram 1500 I am kind of puzzled with an issue I am having with my Ram. Every vehicle I have ever had when you press the brake pedal with the ignition off the brake lights will turn on. For some unknown reason i must have the key in the accessory or on position for the brake lights to work. Any input would be appreciated !
Sounds like a feature 😁
Thanks for all the lessons and your unwavering optimism!!
EVERY DAYs a SCHOOL DAY with S.M.A!
as I learn something new EVERY day from watching you working Eric.
im extremely grateful you do what you do!! God Bless.♥
No day is complete without my hearing my favourite diagnostic legend say:
"…and remember….if i can do it, you can do it….Thanks for watching ."
🥰
I had a jeep commander was going crazy I ended up putting ignition switch and fixed everything the resistors in it must’ve went bad
It wouldn't surprise me if they have calculated how many repairs they can generate before they make something more complicated.
Not a fan of the "dial a gear" shifters. I prefer the tactile sensation of a Honest-to-God shifter handle
Did they not try it when it was recalibrated
Dodge 🤷🏼♂️
Dodges are always recommend that you put the trans in nutreal before turning on 4wheel dr
DOES THE TRUCK HAVE A TOW MODE THAT LOCKS IT IN NEUTRAL?
Theory = Poopy
Freaking Chryslers shifter dial is annoying as heck and who makes it to where you have to pull the steering rack to replace the starter
Hi Eric, had the same problem, I cleaned up ground wires in back of front tire, wham-o, it now works like a charm, who'd a thought, have a great day
Spent 7 years as Mopar tech and 9 out of 10 diag this was the story and 10 out of 10 vehicles would come in with the same issue and all 10 get a different fix.
LOL truck was in tow mode. I suppose a kid playing around with the buttons could throw it in tow mode unwittingly.
I think it was owner operator.
I have no idea and no theories… but my opinion is it was useful to see this.
Useful to see that even pros can only investigate so much and occasionally there is just a ghost in the machine… until perhaps it manifests later as a more permanent issue.
Thanks for sharing. 😎👍
Random lights and messages are the bane of programmers.
Years ago I did an overwrite of blank space on a couple of drives on my computer and odd behavior just went away. Like a ghost, never to be seen again.
The algorithm that's just how it it is 😳🤨 – YES , to troubleshoot and diagnose todays vehicles – you need a computer to talk to a computer 😒😐
It's a Dodge
"Well there's your problem lady! It says 'Dodge' right there on the tailgate!"
Cars or the Engineers that design and the VP's that Ok the build ? 😁😉
Me thinks the owner put it in neutral and didn’t realize it?
You are not alone the same kind of crap has happened to me. I throw my hands up and say ''I don't know cars''. There has to be a clan of gremlins that live in some vehicles that cannot wait to be exposed to us, human mechanics! They see an opening and pow!! it's in your lap with you pulling your hair out until it ends as yours did. Take a deep breath, and let it go, you did good and go to the next vehicle. Merry Christmas to you and your Family!!!!
Loose but bring the steering wheel! 😂
My best guess is burnished contacts on the switch or relay from not using it regularly. Cigarette smoke or air pollution does this. I see it alot with electronic things taken from storage that worked fine before being stored. Maybe an electrolytic capacitor in that circuit is leaky and reformed itself when you cycled it several times.The old saying "Use it or lose it" probably would be applied here.
divine intervention Mr Eric O 😉
Working on almost any Dodge makes me want to quit!!
Hey Eric, do you charge a customer for the diagnostics when issue corrects itself? Only curious here. I use a mechanic down the street from me for all my work. Been dealing with them for about 20 years. He doesn't charge me as we've been doing business with them for so long.
Merry Christmas to you and your family!!!
I think You're right I think it is just a glitch that reset itself or you reset it I think you're right and nothing big that's a macomputers are funny things I guess
So on the slightly older dodges. If you put in 4wd it has to be either in park or neutral. If you put it back into 2wd without having it in nuetral I think it throws a fit.
Seems like that’s what you almost did there. I wonder if they have the answer right in the owners manual for shifting in and out of 4wd.
You put the transmission in nuetral then shifted the transfer case in to 2wd auto then shifted the transmission into park I think.
This goes out to everyone what a good year for a dodge ram? I had a 2009 it was brilliant no issues. I got a 2015 nothing but issues
I was watching the Kari Lake trialand I had to stop and come to where the world makes sense. Don't quit Eric I could not take it.
I think The Jews did it.
"Sometimes car are just stupid." Quote of the century. Good stuff as always.
Too much stuff being controlled by computers.
Damn hard to fix something that doesn't stay broke long enough to fix.
Typical Ram/Dodge/Chrysler cold weather glitch.. sometimes the battery voltage gets a little low in the cold weather and they'll pick up a slow to respond systems check on startup, I usually do a battery load test and ask them if it's an every day driven vehicle. lots of times they're not driven regularly and the battery drains to near threshold voltage, they'll still start but due to the newer (slow to respond charging systems in the newer vehicles) they'll glitch on startup and store all kinds of crazy codes and won't work correctly until they have been cleared.. and some systems auto reset and store the code.. overly complicated systems like these are a pain in the butt! "if I wasn't already bald I'd have pulled my hair out years ago lol" great video as always!
Eric , when I have and issue like that intermediate drivability problem. And there is no pattern failure that appears on identifix I look for the ground point in that circuit and I look at the connectors, and some times by wiggling the ground or the plug to the unit you can simulate the problem. Ford calls it the wiggle test . Good luck
This is what you get when you have computers in cars… or computers in anything for that matter.
Eric, On my 2009 Dodge Ram the Service 4WD always blips on during the key on, then it goes right out. I think it may just be a quick check it does. The only difference is my Neutral light is not on and it goes in and out of 4wd with no issues.
Whenever I find myself chasing ghosts like this in modern computer-controlled-everything cars, no.1 suspect is always the 12V battery. Was it, or is it, either discharged or weak. Sometimes computers can get themselves confused by a low voltage spike and need some 'encouragement' to snap out of it, so even if you can find nothing wrong now, perhaps the battery was low at startup when the fault occurred, and has charged in the meantime.