“Stop/Start unavailable, service stop/start system” 2019 Ram 1500 Laramie

[drogers1188]

I have a 2019 Ram 1500 Laramie with 74k miles. I am getting messages saying “Stop/Start unavailable, service stop/start system”, “service parking brake system”, as well as “blind spot alert unavailable, service required”. Does anybody know what is causing this? I brought it to the dealership and they said it is a short in the rear tail lamp. I took both tail lamps out and the contacts look perfectly fine. I’m not sure what to do next.

 

[Darksteel165]

Need a new 12V battery

 

[drogers1188]

The battery would be causing these issues?

 

[Darksteel165]

The battery would be causing these issues?

Very likely.
Original battery?

 

[drogers1188]

Yes, it’s original. I’ll change it out tomorrow and let you.

 

[drogers1188]

I changed the battery today to a brand new interstate battery and it is still having the same issue. Any other thoughts?

 

[Darksteel165]

If you took it to the dealers ship and they claimed it had a short in a taillight maybe disconnect both and start it up.
It seems like you have a bad battery.

Check it out tomorrow morning, sometimes these trucks need a 24 hours or so to get normal after having a bad battery replaced, too many silly electronics.

Also do you have a code scanner or gotten it checked?

 

[drogers1188]

I hooked it up to a code reader, but it said there were no codes. The check engine light isn’t on so I think that’s why it doesn’t show any codes. I’ll try disconnecting the tail lights. I disconnected them both already just to look for corrosion, but they were clean.

 

[Darksteel165]

If the short is IN the taillamp, removing it should remove the short. obviously you can't drive without taillamps but that would confirm it.
I wonder if you are not able to get all the codes, should be throwing something with those errors on the dash I would think. I know sometimes need to toggle between scanners\apps to get everything. Torque pro doesn't pull much electrical codes but Bluedriver was able to see codes that I replaced my Silverado's rearview view mirror with aftermarket (it had on-star so it was stating problem with the onstar on the mirror).
Bluedriver also showed a short error code on my fathers 06 Yukon for his driver side heated seat (which did not work) and my regular ODB2 scanner with Torque didn't pull any codes on it.

 

[youngjkin]

Did you find a solution? I'm having the same problem. Star/stop will be disabled and blind spot error will come out. I read the code. there's also short circuit for left rear lamp.

 

[6of36]

Did you find a solution? I'm having the same problem. Star/stop will be disabled and blind spot error will come out. I read the code. there's also short circuit for left rear lamp.

There was another thread I read the other day, that the 12" screen, the power windows, and something else weren't working. It ended up being his left tail light. These electrical systems are very complex, and the strangest problems cause the strangest symptoms. The things aren't even on the same fuses. It somehow jacks the computer.

 

[Darksteel165]

Did you find a solution? I'm having the same problem. Star/stop will be disabled and blind spot error will come out. I read the code. there's also short circuit for left rear lamp.

OP hasn't been back since his last post and this was his first thread so unlikely we will ever know.

 

[youngjkin]

The battery just died this morning. Had to call roadside to jump start it.

I finally located this short circuit under the rear passenger seat. It melted the rubber and burnt the carpet. It proves the error code from blue driver of a high/low system voltage and short circuit for rear left lamp.

Sent it to dealer. They will take a look Monday morning.

Will update.

 

[Darksteel165]

View attachment 161482

The battery just died this morning. Had to call roadside to jump start it.

I finally located this short circuit under the rear passenger seat. It melted the rubber and burnt the carpet. It proves the error code from blue driver of a high/low system voltage and short circuit for rear left lamp.

Sent it to dealer. They will take a look Monday morning.

Will update.

That's crazy.
Any signs of water?

 

[6of36]

Rather than calling that a short, it looks more like a loose ground that would arc, causing heat. I think when the new truck shows, I'm going to recheck every connection. Multiple problems are caused from loose grounds on these forums. I wonder if this problem is from some idiot at the factory having the wrong fastener put on this ground, like they did on the steering ground at one time, causing many problems.

 

[youngjkin]

That's crazy.
Any signs of water?

Nope. it surprises me that the connector is just covered by carpet. Looks like a fire hazard.

 

[youngjkin]

Rather than calling that a short, it looks more like a loose ground that would arc, causing heat. I think when the new truck shows, I'm going to recheck every connection. Multiple problems are caused from loose grounds on these forums. I wonder if this problem is from some idiot at the factory having the wrong fastener put on this ground, like they did on the steering ground at one time, causing many problems.

You are right. I think it's loose ground. I'm just concerned if it's caused by other shorts/ground in the circuit but the symptom just happened here. I'm not a electrician. Hopefully, the dealer can figure it out.

 

[Darksteel165]

Nope. it surprises me that the connector is just covered by carpet. Looks like a fire hazard.

It's a pretty typical setup. Those connectors aren't suppose to spark or catch fire.
Definitely scary to have happen out of the blue.

 

[6of36]

You are right. I think it's loose ground. I'm just concerned if it's caused by other shorts/ground in the circuit but the symptom just happened here. I'm not a electrician. Hopefully, the dealer can figure it out.

When a ground is loose, it can arc, causing high amp draw, and heat. With the electronics in these vehicles, that can cause many problems. That doesn't look like a very good connection it has. Like I said in previous post, I wonder if some idiot in the plant changed things without engineering approval. My exwife's current husband was an engineer for Stellantis, designing fasteners. ( who knew that was really a thing? ) He told me about some idiot substituting bolts from something else on the trucks, in place of the proper bolt, to try to stock fewer types of fasteners, without engineering approval. Thousands of trucks had to be recalled, to change the bolt, because it caused steering loss.

 

[Kicker]

When a ground is loose, it can arc, causing high amp draw, and heat. With the electronics in these vehicles, that can cause many problems. That doesn't look like a very good connection it has. Like I said in previous post, I wonder if some idiot in the plant changed things without engineering approval. My exwife's current husband was an engineer for Stellantis, designing fasteners. ( who knew that was really a thing? ) He told me about some idiot substituting bolts from something else on the trucks, in place of the proper bolt, to try to stock fewer types of fasteners, without engineering approval. Thousands of trucks had to be recalled, to change the bolt, because it caused steering loss.

I hope that guy is sweeping floors someplace now.