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2020 eTorque problems?

securityguy

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Also the new etorque is whisper quiet, makes zero noise, which is the way it should be, and is really nice. I am thinking this may have been caused by the fact that my truck sat on the lot for a year and a half, and maybe the bearings in the etorque dried out? Don't know for sure but sounds reasonable I guess.
My eT is super quiet too. However, I really don't think your truck sitting that long caused the issue. Happy it's fixed and that it provides you years of trouble-free driving my friend!
 

PaulieWalnutz

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Do you guys keep a charger on your trucks in case of failed batteries? Plug in type trickle chargers ? Lithium battery jumper packs? Replacement battery? If so what types .Picking my truck up within the next week (hopefully) and want to have all “necessary “ stuff beforehand.
 

securityguy

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Do you guys keep a charger on your trucks in case of failed batteries? Plug in type trickle chargers ? Lithium battery jumper packs? Replacement battery? If so what types .Picking my truck up within the next week (hopefully) and want to have all “necessary “ stuff beforehand.
You should need NONE of what you mentioned at all.
 

MannymanX

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Do you guys keep a charger on your trucks in case of failed batteries? Plug in type trickle chargers ? Lithium battery jumper packs? Replacement battery? If so what types .Picking my truck up within the next week (hopefully) and want to have all “necessary “ stuff beforehand.
I have this guy in my truck: https://www.amazon.com/NOCO-GB150-U...0&sr=1-1-f5ebfd8e-82c1-4b4e-97d5-2aa47aa18b69

BUT, not for me. It's for helping other people...
Actually, The only time my battery died, it didn't help me because the truck wouldn't run, even after a jump-start...
So no, you don't need any of the things you mentioned for when the eTortque craps out on you, they're not going to solve the problem :D
 

wallyuwl

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I started this thread and am now returning to it to post. I bought an etorque about 4 months ago. Hated the driving characteristics of it at first, mostly the regenerative braking. Over time it has smoothed out a lot.

I probably won't keep it past powertrain warranty, and will opt for a 2024 or so without ET or 20s and with the 33 gal tank and BUG. I bought the deal, not the truck.
 

securityguy

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Got mine last week and I’m enjoying it, the auto on/off is super smooth and so are the shifts. I barely notice the difference in braking.
Yep...same here. Breaking is not noticeable at all (and I have had regen breaking before) and the Auto S/S is the smoothest I've ever driven. Loving my 2021.
 
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Willwork4truck

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My eT is super quiet too. However, I really don't think your truck sitting that long caused the issue. Happy it's fixed and that it provides you years of trouble-free driving my friend!
Sitting causes other issues (lot rot) but likely not that...
 

Hydroblueguy

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Finally got my truck back after 2 1/2 weeks. They had to replace the 48 volt battery pack (pn 68372205AC) which was internally defective and the 12V battery which went completely dead. If I had my way, I would have forgone the e-torque option but I couldn't pass up the fantastic deal on the truck. I would have liked to keep the electrical system "less high-tech" for when I have to eventually make a repair down the road. I don't think I will keep the truck much past the warranty period......I usually keep my trucks for 200,000+ miles. It was great to get back to driving it again.
I’ve had other issues, but nothing etorque related. However, the issues I’ve had and what I read others are having, I wouldn’t keep any of them past the 3/36000 period!
 

Willwork4truck

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I’ve had other issues, but nothing etorque related. However, the issues I’ve had and what I read others are having, I wouldn’t keep any of them past the 3/36000 period!
Any? Uhh, dont think so for me... Course extended factory warranties do help some. 🤔

I’m going to jinx myself (knock on my wooden head) and report zero issues in 12K, it is 20 months old and basically a garage queen... (“but dad its cold outside, I wanna’ stay in the garage and play on my 12” screen”). 🙄
 

Hydroblueguy

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Any? Uhh, dont think so for me... Course extended factory warranties do help some. 🤔

I’m going to jinx myself (knock on my wooden head) and report zero issues in 12K, it is 20 months old and basically a garage queen... (“but dad its cold outside, I wanna’ stay in the garage and play on my 12” screen”). 🙄
Glad to hear it, hope it stays that way. I only put about 8000 on mine a year too.
 

Nails

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All the newer 3.6s I’ve come across with or with out have egr. And yes it like a diesel designed egr
 

Johnny5

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Mine is a 2019 and was built September 2018. Almost 23,000 flawless miles. No problems whatsoever. I get 18-20 MPG combined and 20-23 easily on the highway with cruise control going 70-80mph.
This is the only car that i actually like to stop at lights with lol... I'm actually excited every time i get to a light and i have to stop and wait for a minute, just so i can see the eTorque system in action, shutting off and starting the engine back up. They did an amazing job with this system and it's smoothness. Even after more than 20K miles, I'm still impressed with it.

For the guys that are complaining about the bad MPG, seems like you have low mileage. I started to get good fuel efficiency after around 10K miles.. Give it a few more months and it'll get better.
I've had my 21 etorque for about a month and 2k miles now with no problems. I checked everywhere for issues and seems like they were spotty in the 19s so I went for it. I believe Manny is right about the mileage though. Mine has slowly crept up to 16-17 in 2k miles so I hope it gets better. I was thinking there was a shorter break in period but I guess time will tell. To my understanding the difference in our rear ends isn't too much mpg wise.
 

ccowley

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My 2021 etorque has been a consistent issue. The truck died at about 10,000km and they figured it was a faulty battery so they replaced it. Died again at 20,000km and they thought a software update would fix it but it was back on the tow truck in a couple days. They replaced all the connections on the media center as they thought there must be a draw there but I was back on the tow truck for the fourth time in a year today. They are now saying its likely the etorque and are replacing that system. We shall see but this 2021 Laramie has been the most unreliable vehicle I have owned!
 

MannymanX

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My 2021 etorque has been a consistent issue. The truck died at about 10,000km and they figured it was a faulty battery so they replaced it. Died again at 20,000km and they thought a software update would fix it but it was back on the tow truck in a couple days. They replaced all the connections on the media center as they thought there must be a draw there but I was back on the tow truck for the fourth time in a year today. They are now saying its likely the etorque and are replacing that system. We shall see but this 2021 Laramie has been the most unreliable vehicle I have owned!
Ouch that sucks!
Make them buy it back. LEMON.
 

Johnwi

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Lots of threads on eTorque and problems in 2019 models, even at under 1000 miles. How are the 2020s? Are they still failing at high rates?
i Have a 2020 Ram 1500 Limited eTorque. My issues started at 17,120 miles. My truck was hooked up to my trailer which has an electric trailer brake. My truck was parked with trailer hooked up for 24 hours. I went out to start the truck and it was dead. I hooked up my battery charger to my starter battery and fully charged it . After my starter battery was charged, the truck started but the engine light stayed lit. I drove 2.5 hours home and during the drive, I had several indicator Lights and warning tones intermittently going off. I can’t remember which ones. I took the truck into the dealership the next morning and the dealership told me the truck literally died just as they were pulling into the garage. After a few days of trouble shooting the issue, they determined that the lithium eTorque battery needed to be replaced. It took another couple of days to get this approved from FCA. The dealership told me the part was shipped and it took another week in a half to receive the part. There were excuses about shipping and tracking numbers from FCA and why it was taking so long. I was told the new battery was close to $4,000 if I had to pay for it but it was covered under my warranty. It’s a nightmare to get to the battery as they have to remove the back seat and real liner to get to it.
This past November 2022, my wife was supposed to pick me up at the airport but said my battery was dead when she tried to start my vehicle which had not been driven in 4 days. Mileage was around 40,000. I talked her through jumping the starter battery with my jump pack that I always have in my truck now because of the unreliability of my truck starting. I had her hook up the battery pack and leave it on the battery for 10 minutes before starting. The truck started but the engine light stayed on for about an hour as she was driving the 2 hours to pick me up. About 3 weeks later, same thing happened again. Last week January 7, 2023 my truck was parked for about 20 hours outside in single digit temperatures. Mileage on truck is now about 47,000 miles. I started my truck and it turned over rather slugishly but I attributed that to the cold temps. I got in my truck and drove the 18 miles to the store. I noticed as soon as I left that the engine light was on. I arrived at the store, turned the truck off and did my shopping. I left the store and then drove to the convenient store about 6 blocks away. i received another audible warning and A visual message on the dash. I parked my truck at the store and ran in to grab a gallon of milk, came out and my truck would not start. I tried again and it wouldn’t turn over completely. I tried a third time and nothing. I got out of my truck and grabbed the jump pack in my back seat. I noticed a electrical type smell or order from something that may have heated up near the rear seat. I hooked up the jump pack and tried to jump my truck but it wouldn’t quite turn over. I tried again only this time I left the jump pack hooked to the battery for 10 minutes. The truck turned over and started but the engine light remained on. I drove the 18 miles home and immediately hooked up my Ctek battery charger to my starter battery. My truck sat outside in single degree temps until next morning with charger connected. I disconnected my charger as the battery was fully charged the next morning. About an hour later, I started my truck with the remote start and it started and ran for about 10 seconds and shut off. I went outside and entered the vehicle and started it again and it stayed running but engine light stayed on again. I drove about 5 miles and stopped at two stores but left the truck running at all times because I didn’t want to get stranded. Left truck parked outside overnight in about 15 degree temps. Next day truck started but engine light was still on. I read another post about someone having a truck topper and an auxiliary 12 volt plug in the topper. i Have the same feature in my Leer topper So I decided to unplug it to see if this is a possible parasitic drain on my eTroque battery. It’s only been 2 days but I will monitor this to see if the issue goes away. I’m assuming the only way the eTorque battery can charge is if the truck Is running and moving. My AGM starter battery was tested and it exceeds specs so no problems there. My assumption is if the eTorque battery is dead, you’re dead in the water and can’t start the vehicle unless you have a jump pack or cables. Your starter battery can be fully charged but if the eTorque battery is drained, you can’t start the truck so my advice is to always carry a jump pack. This is an aggravating constant problem that I haven’t been able to diagnose nor has the dealership. Early indications of this issue are the sudden audible and visual warning lights that come on unexpectedly, engine light stays on, remote running boards dont’stow immediately like usual, truck starts sluggishly. Be advised, if these things happen, you’re eTorque battery is drained or not functioning properly and you will probably get stuck if you drive a short distance and shut the truck off. I now also unplug my electric trailer brake from the truck when parked for several hours as I can’t trust the eTorque battery because of possible parasitic drain. I’ll advise if I see any improvements with functions now that the 12 volt power block is disconnected from the truck. Sorry for the long winded explanation but this is a frustrating and unpredictable problem and I hope sharing my information can help other truck owners with this terrible issue.
john
 
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Johnwi

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I woke up this morning and checked the battery voltage on my truck with my ANCEL Bluetooth battery monitor. The device is hooked directly to the battery and provides battery status directly to your phone via App. Battery status was at 12.95 volts so I hooked up my battery charger to starter battery. My truck sat for 24 hours in a heated garage and I made one trip yesterday of about 15 miles. I guess it’s time to call the dealership and have it looked it again.
 

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securityguy

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I woke up this morning and checked the battery voltage on my truck with my ANCEL Bluetooth battery monitor. The device is hooked directly to the battery and provides battery status directly to your phone via App. Battery status was at 12.95 volts so I hooked up my battery charger to starter battery. My truck sat for 24 hours in a heated garage and I made one trip yesterday of about 15 miles. I guess it’s time to call the dealership and have it looked it again.
There is nothing at wrong with 12.95V if the truck is sitting and not running. Now 11.8 - 12.2V may be an issue. You should get 13.4 - 14.0V with the engine running.
 

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