Engineersaab54
New Member
- Sep 21, 2019
- 11
- 5
- Truck Year
- 2016
I bought a one-owner, 2016 RAM 1500 Eco diesel w/34,800 miles on it a couple of months ago. Was loving the truck, until 10/11/19, fortunately only 26 miles from home at the start of a 900 mile trip, got odd engine sound, slight vibrations, high-rev/limp mode, white smoke pouring out from under the hood and out the pipes, and "Service Electronic Throttle Control" warning light. We were almost at an exit, so we "limped" off the freeway. Did not have the presence of mind to check and record engine temps. Thought it was on fire. Have extinguisher in the back, but smoke cleared upon opening the hood. Exhaust pipes are coated w/white dust and tiny white pellets.
After a minute tried to start it to see if SETC light would reset, as per Owner's Manual instructions. Massive white smoke plumes again, so turned it off immediately.
When wrecker arrived (four hours later! - Chrysler roadside assistance was worthless; my own insurance company more responsive but picked the wrong towing company to respond), we were able to start the truck and drive it up onto the tow bed - no smoke. Got to the dealership late Friday afternoon on the 11th. Researched this issue over the weekend, and told the dealer that the fix might involve new injectors, new turbo and EGR cooler, new sensors here and there, etc. Dealer said they had NEVER had to replace injectors at 36,000 miles. $125 for initial tech time.
The following week they cleaned the injectors and replaced a sensor, along with the can it had welded itself into, and updated the software. Mostly covered by warranty, except for $250 for the sensor, or something (don't have the bill, yet). Still limp. Getting a turbo issue code. But "let's change out the fuel filter, first, before we replace the turbo." $175 fuel filter - old filter was at about 75% life used up, if that. Changed the filter - didn't help.
They are replaced the turbo, and the EGR cooler, under warranty, after waiting a week for one of the 1,300 EGR coolers on back order in the United States to arrive. On 11/1, Friday afternoon, they informed me that "all repairs have been completed … but the truck is still in limp mode." They now want to replace a few more sensors. Still under warranty.
Anybody else have this issue accompanied by the smoke under the hood and residue in the pipes?
Anybody have a 'real' fix? Online forums indicate FCA doesn't really have good answers for this, yet, short of replacing the engine. Anybody successfully gotten FCA to replace an engine? I hear the 3rd generation, 2020's are supposed to have all the bugs worked out.
After a minute tried to start it to see if SETC light would reset, as per Owner's Manual instructions. Massive white smoke plumes again, so turned it off immediately.
When wrecker arrived (four hours later! - Chrysler roadside assistance was worthless; my own insurance company more responsive but picked the wrong towing company to respond), we were able to start the truck and drive it up onto the tow bed - no smoke. Got to the dealership late Friday afternoon on the 11th. Researched this issue over the weekend, and told the dealer that the fix might involve new injectors, new turbo and EGR cooler, new sensors here and there, etc. Dealer said they had NEVER had to replace injectors at 36,000 miles. $125 for initial tech time.
The following week they cleaned the injectors and replaced a sensor, along with the can it had welded itself into, and updated the software. Mostly covered by warranty, except for $250 for the sensor, or something (don't have the bill, yet). Still limp. Getting a turbo issue code. But "let's change out the fuel filter, first, before we replace the turbo." $175 fuel filter - old filter was at about 75% life used up, if that. Changed the filter - didn't help.
They are replaced the turbo, and the EGR cooler, under warranty, after waiting a week for one of the 1,300 EGR coolers on back order in the United States to arrive. On 11/1, Friday afternoon, they informed me that "all repairs have been completed … but the truck is still in limp mode." They now want to replace a few more sensors. Still under warranty.
Anybody else have this issue accompanied by the smoke under the hood and residue in the pipes?
Anybody have a 'real' fix? Online forums indicate FCA doesn't really have good answers for this, yet, short of replacing the engine. Anybody successfully gotten FCA to replace an engine? I hear the 3rd generation, 2020's are supposed to have all the bugs worked out.
