Things that make you go Hmmmmm!

mdstudey · 11-04-2019, 03:36 PM

I have a 2008 Dodge with Cummins engine. My problem has nothing to do with the engine, but electrical. The batteries are a little over two years old.

The issue is DH drove the truck yesterday, no problems with starting, plenty of cranking power. About 6 hours after parking it the alarm goes off. He goes out with the keys and gets it to stop. Comes in and about 5 minutes later off again. This time I had the keys and had to hit the unlock in order to get the alarm off. Then 1/2 hour later off it goes again and hit the unlock button again. So pulled the positive off the two batteries and no longer a problem.

So step one is we are going to have the batteries tested and replace the battery in the remote. If neither of these steps fix the problem, what could it be? No one was messing with the truck. We live in the country and have never lock our cars, so no one would be able to trip the alarm. Halloween is over, but Mildred (former house owner) could be messing with our heads. She does walk around here stinking the house up with cigarette smoke (we are non smokers)

Is there anything else we should check out?

Flywithlloyd · 11-04-2019, 03:40 PM

Mildred does sound fun. . . [emoji2379]

**Mr. Dan** · 11-04-2019, 03:54 PM

Have you seen mice, rats, squirrels, other sharp toothed rodents around? When they chew insulation off of wires, unpredictable electrical things can happen.

dodgemark · 11-04-2019, 03:55 PM

And it’s Cumins not comings lol. If you did radio update recently it could be it didn’t take correctly. I’ve heard it can do some weird things

Tapex · 11-04-2019, 03:59 PM

Could be your battery in one of the key fobs needing to be replaced.

**Mr. Dan** · 11-04-2019, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dodgemark

And it’s Cumins not comings lol. If you did radio update recently it could be it didn’t take correctly. I’ve heard it can do some weird things

Nope, not Cumins, either. Try Cummins with 2 Ms and no G.

mdstudey · 11-04-2019, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dodgemark

And it’s Cumins not comings lol. If you did radio update recently it could be it didn’t take correctly. I’ve heard it can do some weird things

Thanks for the correction.

mdstudey · 11-04-2019, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tapex

Could be your battery in one of the key fobs needing to be replaced.

DH lost his and only have one. But maybe I need to shake out his chair. Wouldn't surprise me if Mildred hid them there.

dward51 · 11-04-2019, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdstudey

DH lost his and only have one. But maybe I need to shake out his chair. Wouldn't surprise me if Mildred hid them there.

Perhaps the lost remote is in a chair and the alarm button is getting pushed by sitting on it? Think back to where everyone was sitting when this happened. If there is a common location for each alarm event, that is the place to start looking.

Tapex · 11-04-2019, 05:12 PM

X2

Quote:

Originally Posted by dward51

Perhaps the lost remote is in a chair and the alarm button is getting pushed by sitting on it? Think back to where everyone was sitting when this happened. If there is a common location for each alarm event, that is the place to start looking.

D W · 11-04-2019, 05:30 PM

Mildred has the other fob, and is now living in your head, rent free!

just kiddin'

Lins · 11-04-2019, 08:01 PM

Start with the batteries as mentioned. Does the dome light come on on it's own occasionally or when the alarm is going off? Not sure what else would trigger the factory alarm other than the door handles which should trigger the dome light.

robbiels7 · 11-04-2019, 08:22 PM

The fob batterie will have nothing to do with the problem. Maby low voltage on the truck batteries but if it cranks ok i bet they are fine. Dodge, Chrysler,Jeep in those and many more years have tons of problems with what they call the tipn. " body control module" if it is in the tipn it will need to be programmed once replaced. The only other thing could be is a door ajar switch. Are interior lights coming on when this is happening?
By the way i am a ASE master technician not just a you tube guy lol. let me know if i can be any more assistance.

robbiels7 · 11-04-2019, 09:44 PM

If you need the actual name for the module it is the total integrated power module.

Quote:

Originally Posted by robbiels7

The fob batterie will have nothing to do with the problem. Maby low voltage on the truck batteries but if it cranks ok i bet they are fine. Dodge, Chrysler,Jeep in those and many more years have tons of problems with what they call the tipn. " body control module" if it is in the tipn it will need to be programmed once replaced. The only other thing could be is a door ajar switch. Are interior lights coming on when this is happening?
By the way i am a ASE master technician not just a you tube guy lol. let me know if i can be any more assistance.

GalsofEscape · 11-04-2019, 09:46 PM

i

Quote:

Originally Posted by robbiels7

Dodge, Chrysler,Jeep in those and many more years have tons of problems with what they call the tipn. " body control module" if it is in the tipn it will need to be programmed once replaced.

to be precise - it is TIPM (Totally Integrated Power Module)

I found out about the TIPM when I described an issue i was having with my 2011 Durango not always starting on the first attempt but roaring to life on the second and the service writer said "TPIM" without any hesitation. Yep - it was recalled for the fuel relay in the TPIM.

robbie corrected it -

robbiels7 · 11-05-2019, 11:48 AM

Yes you are spot on the caravans and some other models also have the same issue.

Semperfi24 · 11-05-2019, 12:08 PM

Definitely check the batteries. I bet its only one of them. I'd put the positive back on just one of them and see what happens. Then remove that positive and put the positive on the other one. One of them should set the alarm off like you are experiencing. That is common for all alarm systems. If the vehicle senses a loss of power from the batteries, it assumes someone is disconnecting the battery as a way to by pass the alarm. I had a car many years ago that did the same thing. Bought a new battery, never saw the issue again. If you are replacing one battery, you might want to just replace both (I assume same age), but you could probably get away with just one if you can determine which one it is

jaycmpng · 11-05-2019, 01:59 PM

Don't Know if it's the same but the DW had. Hyundai, the alarm kept going of for no reason. Changed battery in key fob, problem gone!
Give it a try, fob battery is cheaper than truck batteries.

CedarCreekWoody · 11-05-2019, 05:24 PM

Recently my Ram began doing a remote start and locking the doors randomly. I changed to my wife's key fob but the problem continued. I took it to the dealer and he asked if I still had the original fob, which I did. We popped it open and could see where a contact had burned and was going bad. Even though I was using a different fob the original one was still within range of the truck. It was randomly sending the erratic "remote start" signal and causing the false starts. We removed the battery from the BAD fob and problem solved (although it cast $175 to replace.) Perhaps your missing fob is buried in the chair and sends signals when it is inadvertently moved.

woo10-210 · 11-05-2019, 08:07 PM

Walked into the garage from the house on more than a few occasions and poked the door opener on the wall to only hear a horrible noise and see the garage door stop. The liftgate on the DW's small SUV had been opened against the garage door while it was closed. Also had her car alarm go off in the garage unexpectedly a couple of times. The fix was to insist she takes her key fob out of her jeans before sitting down on the sofa.

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