[lewis511]

HI,
so today, suddenly truck wont start, 2016 Ram1500 sport 5.7. Worked fine an hour earlier, but now the gauges will click and the fan will try to start, dash showed 'press clutch to start' (its auto), though that seems gone now. Dash also says service electronic brake system, abs system, trailer brake system. It does need and oil change and the rear brakes are toast ( which is why I had driven it earlier, to get rotors and pads) could this be causing the issue?
Also the door locks only work randomly and the front window buttons wont open front windows, but the rear ones and real slider work.
I did check the battery with a volt meter, it's at 12v, terminals are clean and tight.

 

[142504]

Sound more like an electrical gremlin of some kind to me. Could even be something simple like low battery voltage, either because the battery is having problems or because the terminals or ground connections are dirty. These trucks are so dependent on clean and adequate electrical voltage that they can act up in all kinds of strange ways if they don't get it.
That's where I'd start, anyway. Check the battery, or substitute a known good one, and make sure all terminals are clean.

 

[lewis511]

I forgot to mention, I did put a volt meter on there and it showed 12v. terminals are clean and tight.

 

[142504]

I forgot to mention, I did put a volt meter on there and it showed 12v. terminals are clean and tight.

Simply measuring unloaded voltage is not an adequate test for battery integrity. And anyway, a reading of exactly 12 volts does not indicate a fully charged battery. Full charge would be 12.6 or above with no demand.
If your reading was 12.4 or less, that's not even close to a fully charged battery at all.
If it was 12.00, the battery is around 75% discharged.

To be sure of your battery's integrity, it will need to be properly load tested. If it's not convenient to do that immediately, you could try a known good battery from another vehicle if one is handy.

 

[lewis511]

Oh I didn't know that, ill double check in the morning. I don't have another battery option, but if this is discharged I have a charger I can put on. Thanks

 

[142504]

OK. Maybe leave the charger on overnight if that's convenient, then try again tomorrow. Be aware though, that even if your battery charges up to where it's showing a full charge of at least 12.6 volts, it still may be problematic if the voltage drops precipitiously when under load.
Internal battery problems can cause that to happen, and only a good load test will really reveal if that weakness exists.

 

[lewis511]

Thanks for your help

 

[142504]

No problem.
With a bit of luck, this could well be the source of the issue. It could be Other Things too, of course, but ensuring clean and adequate electrical power is where to start in your situation.

Do let us know how it plays out when you get time. Comment thread narratives which begin with a problem and end with a solution are what makes vehicle forums really helpful.

Welcome to the forum, btw!

 

[lewis511]

You were right 9k', I left the charger on and at some point in the night gave me an error code that something was wrong with the battery. I don't have a load tester, so I took it to a shop nearby and they tested it, it was toast. Other tests and things to note for others reading this: accessories turned on, radio came on sometimes, no power to controls for front doors(windows, locks) but rears all worked and the lights turned on. When trying to start the truck with lights on, the lights dimmed and flickered, they did not cut out completely. Starter only made one solid click and then nothing, never multiple clicks.

 

[142504]

So you're up and running?
If so, that's great. Glad it worked out, and thanks for coming back to complete the narrative.

 

[lewis511]

yep, put in a new battery, fired up and back to normal. weird how they work totally fine one minute and then don't an hour later when you turn it back on. haha, guess that maybe be a key sign to something electrical.

thanks for your help, I need this truck for work, so the down time is really stressful! Wish I had more knowledge to help others, I guess if anyone's got welding questions, let me know! haha