Anyone with 03 -07 Dodge Cummins in FTC or NoCo

[clang]

I have a 2004.5 Ram 2500, heavily modded. I have a Smarty programmer that is throwing a connection error - can't communicate with the ECM. Truck runs great, no issues or codes, the ECM tests out fine, the Smarty just won't communicate with the control module.

I'm trying to figure out if it is my Smarty or something to do with all the mods on the truck. I would like to connect it to another truck to see if it can communicate with the ECM. That will at least tell me if the programmer has issues, or my truck is the issue.

I would need a truck running the OEM program.

Thanks

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[mtnbkrmatt]

I've got an 03, but I'm in gunnison. Double check all your fuses.

[clang]

Originally Posted by mtnbkrmatt

I've got an 03, but I'm in gunnison. Double check all your fuses.

Thanks for the suggestion. I've been through the whole IPM, checked every fuse and relay, and cleaned every contact. Checked the wiring harnesses (did find two wires that had abraded areas and exposed copper, which helped fix an unrelated issue with the tranny).

[mtnbkrmatt]

I figured you had, but thought I'd mention it. I worked on an 06 1500 once. It had blown a fuse, so the owner pulled the fuse labeled "spare" and stuck it where the blown one was. Then the radio wouldn't work. Turned out the radio ran through the spare fuse.

[jjustj]

i get down to boulder and ft fun once a month or so what kind of time would that take?

[clang]

Originally Posted by jjustj

i get down to boulder and ft fun once a month or so what kind of time would that take?

About 10 minutes. I need to connect the Smarty to the OBD2 port and see if it will connect to the ECM. We don't need to change anything, just see if it will connect.

[SaharaJp99]

Find a dealership with a used one and take it for a test drive!

[_cy_]

Originally Posted by clang

I have a 2004.5 Ram 2500, heavily modded. I have a Smarty programmer that is throwing a connection error - can't communicate with the ECM. Truck runs great, no issues or codes, the ECM tests out fine, the Smarty just won't communicate with the control module.

I'm trying to figure out if it is my Smarty or something to do with all the mods on the truck. I would like to connect it to another truck to see if it can communicate with the ECM. That will at least tell me if the programmer has issues, or my truck is the issue.

I would need a truck running the OEM program.

Thanks

9 Seven 0 three 72 one 33 one

you need to speak to Smarty's customer service. there's a possibility, how ever small of screwing up another truck's electronics.

[clang]

Originally Posted by _cy_

you need to speak to Smarty's customer service. there's a possibility, how ever small of screwing up another truck's electronics.

It was the Smarty dealer that asked me to try it on another truck before sending it back to them.......

[_cy_]

Originally Posted by clang

It was the Smarty dealer that asked me to try it on another truck before sending it back to them.......

talk to tech support at Smarty manufacturer .... not the dealer.

[thump_co]

Originally Posted by _cy_

you need to speak to Smarty's customer service. there's a possibility, how ever small of screwing up another truck's electronics.

That would be a really nasty bug. A decent programmer should have to get an error code free connection before they'll even read settings, and then will only write after doing a backup of the OEM fw and multiple confirmation prompts and key cycling.

[clang]

Originally Posted by thump_co

That would be a really nasty bug. A decent programmer should have to get an error code free connection before they'll even read settings, and then will only write after doing a backup of the OEM fw and multiple confirmation prompts and key cycling.

This is the way the Smarty works. It first attempts to talk to the ECM on the truck. If it can, and it's not VIN locked to another vehicle it asks you what you want to do. It does nothing without many button presses and confirmations from the user.

At this point it can't seem to talk to the ECM on my truck. It throws a comm error that Smarty is telling me indicates the unit either can't talk to the ECM, or other electronic signals are interrupting the communication (or the unit is bad). My ECM is good. I have had it tested, and like I said the truck runs like a champ, no codes and no warning lights.

What I am wanting to do is just see if it can successfully communicate with the ECM on another truck. Mine is currently running the stock program, so the unit is not locked to my truck.

These are great programmers, I have had a couple for various year trucks, but they are known to have trouble connecting to 2004.5 and 2005 trucks. It has something to do with the way the ABS system communicates with the ECM, and disrupts the communication to the programmer. Any mods to the truck, like aftermarket fuel pumps, transmission control modules etc can make the problem worse. My truck has all of these.

If it works fine on another truck, I'm just going to wire a second minimal OBD2 port to the ECM specifically for the programmer.

[LostAussie]

I have a stock 03 in Johnstown.

[clang]

Originally Posted by LostAussie

I have a stock 03 in Johnstown.

Is there a time this weekend I could swing by and give this a test?

You can call me any time.

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Thanks

[eakins]

so?