2nd/3rd/4th TIPM Failure!!!!

[Hilldweller]

They took a picture of the inside of the smartbar wire box:

[RustyPW]

I would put some dielectrical grease around that blue gasket. Just for insurance.

[Pit Slave]

More important, you should rinse off a connection before you remove it or reassemble/plug it in. It takes the smallest amount of contaminant/dirt to create a breach in the seal causing further contamination and/or water to enter the cavity where the contacts are.

I see they are still using tin plated contacts with gold pins on the electronics end. That means more care should be taken about preventing any amount of moisture from coming in contact with the round cavitys and mating pins. If any water comes in contact, you should dry it off. Make sure the plug is dry before reconnecting it. I like to use a hair dryer to heat and evaporate any moisture in the plug. DO NOT USE A HEAT GUN!

[Hilldweller]

More important, you should rinse off a connection before you remove it or reassemble/plug it in.

I would've.
But, as long as they're the only one's who've touched it and it's still under warranty (and on Mother Chrysler's radar), I'm not touching it at all.
They worked on it. They took the picture. They didn't follow a basic "best practices" protocol that any shadetree mechanic would have.

In fact, if I'm going to install the driving lights I have, I'm not even going to use any circuit as a relay trip. I'm just going around the TIPM/canbus nonsense entirely. I've never had to do that with any other vehicle that I've had.

[Hilldweller]

It just crapped out again on the way in to work.

Not even one week at home with the new TIPM.



I've got blood pressure issues; I don't need this crap.

[Ken G.]

Holy crap!! That is ridiculous!! I've got an '11 PW and now this thread is making me worry! Have over 24k on mine so far and no troubles (keeping my fingers crossed). There HAS to be something wrong with the wiring system!! No way that you'd have 3 bad TIPMs in a row! One thing I'm glad I did was that I got the Maxi Care Extended bumper to bumper warranty on mine. It doesn't cover stuff I break when wheeling, but would cover this. Man....I sure hope you figure out the root of this problem and I'm sorry you're having to go through this! Best of luck...wish I knew a solution to offer.

[Hilldweller]

I want another vehicle.
I like my dealer but I don't trust the truck.

Three times is too much. Especially two failures with 300 miles of each other.

It was getting such good gas mileage since the repair too. Pity...

[Ken G.]

Man...real sorry about that. Sounds like you should at least be able to fall under the Lemon Law.

[Hilldweller]

Man...real sorry about that. Sounds like you should at least be able to fall under the Lemon Law.

GA lemon law goes to 24 months or 24,000 miles.
I've asked to be considered since the initial failure was at 19,000 miles but I don't think it qualifies.

I'm begging Mother Ram to show me some mercy here.
I have friends with classic Land Rovers who are driving more dependable vehicles. They point and snicker.
My buddy has a Defender 110 pickup, Defender 90, & Range Rover Classic ---- all running at the same time. His teasing will be merciless...

[Hilldweller]

yikes, find another dealer! I got $19,500 for my 2005.

I've tried several dealers and the best I can get is $24K.
They whine about it being 2 years old (it's a 2011 and the 2013s are just around the corner) and having 28,000+ miles. The pinstripes and banged-up rockers don't help too much either.

And they're all thinking the same thing too. "I don't want to sell this ticking time bomb to somebody and make it my problem..."

[Pit Slave]

What exactly do you mean when you say "failure" of the TIPM? What are the symptoms of it, is it flashing lights, no lights, or what? What speed were you going and were there bumps in the road? Just trying to come up with a solution of the real problem that's going on. I don't think the TIPM is at fault, it's something else in the system causing the damage. Almost leaning towards a faulty wire harness.

[Hilldweller]

What exactly do you mean when you say "failure" of the TIPM? What are the symptoms of it, is it flashing lights, no lights, or what? What speed were you going and were there bumps in the road? Just trying to come up with a solution of the real problem that's going on. I don't think the TIPM is at fault, it's something else in the system causing the damage. Almost leaning towards a faulty wire harness.

This time: No bumps in road. Dry conditions. Everything worked at 0400 going to gym but at 0615 on the commute to work the lights on passenger side no workie.

[04Ram2500Hemi]

Other than a couple of very minor warranty things my 2012 has been great (driver side door seal, and then the steering column would click when I turned the wheel). I honestly think somebody had a bad day when they put your truck together, and something is causing the TIPM to die on you. If I were you I wouldn’t want the truck anymore either. However, you mention the character marks that is has from being used as a truck, and folks aren’t going to want to buy one that has seen some trail work when they can get a new one for close to what yours will sell for (the dealer may only give you $24K for it, but you know they are going to sell it for much more than that).

My question is this- when the TIPM goes out is it always the same set of lights that die on the truck?

[RustyPW]

Can't believe you had 3 of them go bad. What's the time frame between the first one and this one?

[Pit Slave]

seems like eight and a half minutes Russ.

now I'm more certain it's either a relay failure or a faulty wiring issue in the splice or crimp connections. What is happening here is the safety feature being triggered by a fault in the system. It's shutting it down because it thinks there is a problem that needs to be prevented from causing a fire or other issue. that failue just might be a real problem elseware in the truck such as a short in the wire harness.

In laymens terms, you can keep replacing the fuse, but if you don't pull the fork out of the outlet, it will keep blowing out.

[TwinStick]

Sorry to hear this issue raised it's ugly head again. I'm going with Pit Slave on this, there has to be another problem & the blown TIPM is the result. Time for HQ to send a wireing guru out to the dealer & find out WTF is going on, also show the Dealer WTF they should have done in the first place.

[Hilldweller]

My question is this- when the TIPM goes out is it always the same set of lights that die on the truck?

Yup.
...I don't blame dealerships for low-ball trade figures; I understand. That doesn't stop the emotional response that rises though. It's like telling somebody their kid is stupid or something...

Can't believe you had 3 of them go bad. What's the time frame between the first one and this one?

Jan 9th first. May 31st second. June 20th Third.
My dealership is doing their level-best and I respect their effort. I've even got a Jeep JKU as a loaner this time to help soften the downtime.

The issue has gone up the flagpole and was saluted by Mother Chrysler. I'm putting my trust in them and the process. Hopefully they figure it out or replace it.
And if they figure it out, I hope they have the ethical sack of nuts to back it up with a lifetime warranty. It will take that sort of thing to maintain my enthusiasm...

[FirerescuePW]

Not sure about 4th Gen, but on 3rd there is a large plug/splice connection under the truck below the driver's footwell. Look that over for obvious damage. It's in a place where it could take a hit.

Sent from an undisclosed location.

[cruz]

Man...real sorry about that. Sounds like you should at least be able to fall under the Lemon Law.

GA lemon law goes to 24 months or 24,000 miles.
I've asked to be considered since the initial failure was at 19,000 miles but I don't think it qualifies.

I think that very much qualifies it since they haven't fixed it from the first repair.
I also agree that the problem lies elsewhere in the system.

[Hilldweller]

Man...real sorry about that. Sounds like you should at least be able to fall under the Lemon Law.

GA lemon law goes to 24 months or 24,000 miles.
I've asked to be considered since the initial failure was at 19,000 miles but I don't think it qualifies.

I think that very much qualifies it since they haven't fixed it from the first repair.
I also agree that the problem lies elsewhere in the system.

In GA law, they get one last chance to remedy the problem anyhow ------ and I'm hoping that they would do the right thing and offer me a buy-back if they can't fix it with certainty.
I know I'm putting a lot of faith in their inegrity but I feel like they're earning it as we move along. I've dealt with other manufacturers in the past that have been horrible and dishonest from the get-go. My dealer and Jonathan have been nothing but classy all the way.
I just wish they'd find the problem or move forward quickly. It's being in limbo (so often and long) that makes you crazy.

[Hilldweller]

Just got an "oops" call from my service advisor.
Ready to pick up.... ....they "left something loose". Says it's working fine now.

What the dip? I'm nauseous...

[Cactus Red]

[Says it's working fine now.

HERE'S TO HOPE AND CHANGE...

[FirerescuePW]

I know you trust them, but have them show you what was loose. Is it possible they left it loose the first time tbey worked on it? That would explain multiple "failures".
Good luck, and keep us posted.

Sent from an undisclosed location.

[Hilldweller]

I know you trust them, but have them show you what was loose. Is it possible they left it loose the first time tbey worked on it? That would explain multiple "failures".

First thing I thought too.
But we'll never know, will we?

Mother Chrysler wasn't very helpful and even said some things that demonstrated a general lack of knowledge about their products, warranty, GA law.
This whole thing has me pretty sour. The talk with the Chrysler rep ticked me off the most; I'm still digesting it all.

[MSparks909]

I know you trust them, but have them show you what was loose. Is it possible they left it loose the first time tbey worked on it? That would explain multiple "failures".

First thing I thought too.
But we'll never know, will we?

Mother Chrysler wasn't very helpful and even said some things that demonstrated a general lack of knowledge about their products, warranty, GA law.
This whole thing has me pretty sour. The talk with the Chrysler rep ticked me off the most; I'm still digesting it all.

Sorry you're having such bad luck lately with the 'Wagon. Hopefully the issues get sorted out once and for all.