Leak in the back of the cab

This may be caused by a leaking sealing gasket around the third eye brake light. I used some RTV gasket maker on the existing sealing to fix the issue. The rear seat would get damp after a rain and the cause was not visually obvious.

Annoyance - Horn honks when the driver's door is open, the vehicle is in reverse, and the steering wheel is turned to some degree

I read that this is actually a feature. Bizarre.

Prevent the Alarm from Chirping/Honking

The Dodge Owner's Manual is wrong. To prevent the horn from honking:

1. Stand outside the vehicle with the doors closed
2. Press and hold the Lock button for 4 seconds, but no more than 10 seconds
3. While holding the Lock button for at least 4 seconds, Press and Release the Panic button once
4. Release the Lock button

Repeat the previous instructions to re-enable the chirp/horn feature.

Prevent the Headlamps from illuminating for a minute when unlocking the doors

This feature was added at some point during the 2006 model year. When the unlock button on the key fob is pressed, the headlamps will illuminate for one minute. This is not the same feature as the parking lamp flash that occurs when the fob is used to lock or unlock the doors. The owner's manual does not include information on how to turn off the headlamp feature. I have read that a yellow slip of paper was included in the manual that told how to deactivate this feature, but I don't think so. That slip of paper may have been to disbale the parking lamps from flashing. To prevent the lights from turning on when pressing the unlock button on the fob, you'll probably need to visit the dealer or an independent shop that can write to the TIPM.

Totally Integrated Power Module (TIPM)

Sadly, the all but completely incompetent electrical engineers at Chrysler/Dodge replaced the simple fuse box design with this integrated power distribution module abomination. The module is known to have many, many problems. The module is at least $390 to replace.

TIPM Failure Mode - Intermittent/Complete Loss of Control of Heat, Defrost, and Air Conditioning

Under the following conditions:

• Vehicle engine is running
• May be idleing or driving

My truck had a problem where the following would occur:

1. The heat, ventalation, and air conditioning (HVAC) controls would be inoperative
   • The Air Conditioning (A/C) light goes dark (if the A/C or Defrost were already on)
   • The A/C compressor clutch disengages and the vented air starts to warm
   • The A/C button is inoperative
   • The HVAC temperature control knob is inoperative
   • The HVAC vent selection knob is inoperative
   • The mirror heat button is inoperative
   • The aux power outlet stops working, the cig lighter power socket still works
2. The fan speed knob still works
3. The airbag warning light illuminates on the dash
4. A single chime sound is heard

The temperature control knob becomes inoperative, so whatever temperature setting is selected stays set until the controls start to work again. If the A/C was on, then the temperature will start to rise in the cab, but if the heat was selected, then you'll still have heat. If the defrost was on, you'll still get air blowing toward the glass, but the A/C is no longer working, so the air will get humid and the glass may fog. Essentially, the temperature knob is controlling the air blend door, and the blend door will stay in its last position regardless of the position that the knob is turned.

The problem started off to be intermittent, so on long trips the HVAC would stop working for 5-10 minutes, and then start working again. When the system started working again, the airbag warning light would go dark and the HVAC controls would be functional. Over the course of a few months, the problem became worse and worse until the controls/HVAC didn't work at all.

Active TIPM Codes
B2215 FCM Internal Fault
B210E Battery Voltage High
     Failed Test: Greater than 16v for 5-6 Seconds
B210D Battery Voltage Low
     Failed Test: Less than 9v for 5-6 Seconds
B18BB Window Control Circuit Low
B191D Window Control Circuit Overcurrent
U0164 Lost Communication with HVAC Control Module
     Failed Test: No Bus Signal for 2-5 Seconds
     Possible Causes:

• Can Bus B Circuit Open or Shorted
• DTCS Related to Battery Voltage, Ignition, or VIN Messages
• ECM Not Configured or Configured Incorrectly
• A/C Heater Control
• A/C Heater Control Power and Ground

Stored TIPM Codes
C1002 Brake Pedal Switch Circuit High
     Failed Test: The TIPM monitors the B29 Brake Lamp Switch Output Circuit for 3 minutes once the set conditions have been met (Key Off, Doors Closed). If the Primary Brake Switch Signal is still active, the stop lamps are disabled, and code C1002 is set. The stop lamps are reactivated when the request is present during the next key cycle.
     Possible Causes:

• Faulty Brake Pedal Switch
• Brake Pedal Switch harness is open or shorted
• Brake Pedal Switch circuit poor electrical connection
• Faulty Totally Integrated Power Module (TIPM)

B165E Park Lamp Control Circuit Open

• Left Park Lamp Bulb
• Right Park Lamp Bulb
• Front Control Module
• Park Lamp Relay Control Circuit Open

Active Airbag Codes
B212D Ignition Run Only Input Circuit Open
U0164 Lost Communication with HVAC Control Module
     Failed Test: No Bus Signal for 2-5 Seconds
     Possible Causes:

• Can Bus B Circuit Open or Shorted
• DTCS Related to Battery Voltage, Ignition, or VIN Messages
• ECM Not Configured or Configured Incorrectly
• A/C Heater Control
• A/C Heater Control Power and Ground

As far as I was able to determine, the symptoms indicated a TIPM failure, so I bought a remanufactured TIPM from Dorman and the issues went away. A tip on the Dorman part is to check all of the fuses. Several were missing on the unit that I received. Interestingly, there is no way for the dealer to troubleshoot the TIPM issue and ensure that a replacement TIPM is the fix. They just replace the TIPM based on the symptoms. Most of the issues associated with TIPM cannot be diagnosed with a factory manual and/or dealer diagnostic scanner. The preumption is that if the diagnotics in the manual don't indicate an issue and the issue remains, then the TIPM should be replaced.

TIPM Failure Mode - Intermittent/Complete Window Failure

An additional TIPM related issue that I experienced was an intermittent failure of the windows to roll down. Eventually, the the problem became worse so that the windows never worked. Naturally, I had one window down when this total failure ocurred and I ended up having to remove the door panel and jumper 12v directly to the window motor to roll the window up before the rain damaged the interior. In combination with the HVAC failure, the truck was no longer safe to drive, because there was no heat, no defrost, no AC, and the windows couldn't be rolled up or down, even in an emergency. Something that is interesting about the failure is that the window switches never were lit in the time before I replaced the TIPM; even when the windows were still functional. After replacing the TIPM, the windows switches glow green.

A final note on the window circuit diagnosis: I used the factory manual to try to diagnose the window issue. The factory manuals are wrong. There is no circuit breaker in the instrument panel wiring harness near the parking brake pedal. There also isn't a power window circuit breaker in the junction block. the TIPM controls the circuit, so ignore these possibilities presented in the manual.



   Last update: Dec 7th, 2019